What is the best DCM desk?

I secured a DCM SA position at a big balance sheet European bank (HSBC, BNP, Santander).

I was told I’ll be placed in one out of the three sector teams: DCM IG Corporates, DCM Financial Institutions, and DCM Sovereigns and Public Sector. I have to state a preference in two weeks and I’m struggling.

For now, I’m ruling out DCM FIG as it feels too sector-specific. DCM Corporates seems like the one that does the most interesting, varied and “technical” work where I will learn the most. That said, I find politics / macro topics much more interesting so I may like SSA more, but I also heard the work is very surface level.

How should I go about picking my preferences? Does anyone have any insight on how the work of these teams differ? Thanks!

 

Does it matter that much? I’d rather avoid giving too specific information, and I’m more interested in the type of work these groups do, which at the intern level is probably the same across banks?

 
Most Helpful

Corporates or FIG 100% 

One thing I will tell you about FIG, people here always say they're afraid of getting pigeon-holed in it, but it the largest IB Fee Revenue driver of all IB industries by a massive margin. In other words, there are worse places to be pigeon-holed than the biggest (and among the most resilient) addressable market in IB.  

 

For sure. Source data below, but just to put it into context. Financials IB coverage has brought in $26.2B of fees globally YTD. This is over 3x the closest runner up (Government & Agencies at $8.2B) 

I personally just don't know much about SSA. I'm also US based so I tend to have a heavy biased towards private sector clients, because that is where all the fun is, in the US. Maybe out in Europe it's different.  

https://markets.ft.com/data/league-tables/tables-and-trends

image-20221228110600-1

 

OP isn't asking what bank is the best for DCM, he's saying that he's already got an offer at a specific European bank, and he wants to know which DCM sub-group, within said specific bank, is the best. 

FYI, OP, your post title makes it sound more like you're asking which banks are the best for DCM

 

Pariatur iste est inventore quasi. Quia sit voluptas consequatur quo esse.

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Lazard Freres No 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. 25 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 04 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (21) $373
  • Associates (91) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (68) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”