Starting Out In Fixed Income: Buy Side vs Sell Side

I just landed an entry-level position today in Asset Management (Fixed Income Analyst). Salary is lower than BB entry level salary.

What are the differences between this and something similar on the sell-side (Credit Structuring, Credit Risk, etc) in terms of pay / growth / exit opps to HF / PE / B-School?

I have heard that it's better to start on the sell side, since it's more intense, you learn more, and they have formal training programs. Can anyone shine a light on that?

For the record, yes I have used the search function but all I could find were threads on Equity Research.

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Best Response

Not sure I'd say the sell side is more intense or a place you learn more. I guess it depends on the firm, but plenty of buy-side shops (especially the BBs) have organized training programs and give you plenty of responsibilities even as a 1st year. As far as exit opps, if you look at the job description of HFs in particular, they require experience on either the sell-side or buy-side, so I don't think it really matters as long as you're good at what you do. I think the same would go for B-school. PE tends to get more sell-side because of the normal ibanking-PE path, but if you really wanted to make the switch, you could (I have several friends who have done it).

 
ElijahPriceGuys, this is with a mutual fund, not a BB. Thanks.

So, would you be working on internal research on fixed income products that the fund was looking into buying?

looking for that pick-me-up to power through an all-nighter?
 

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