Why do you want to work in equity sales?

"Because I want to be Neo in The Matrix. Let's face it. Computers are taking over the equities industry and you guys are kind of screwed. But I'm stupid and I want to take the red pill. And I want to be here on the day that a computer takes over my job, which is probably in two or three years."

My knowledge of this is about two steps away from your role. I was the quant who worked for the traders who worked with the salespeople. I'd overhear their conversations but someone like me would probably defer to someone who works in institutional sales.

In all seriousness, say that you like the rush of a deal. Ideally you've had some sort of experience selling stuff before that you can draw on. You like the idea of helping clients, understanding clients, understanding the business, and trying to line up deals that work for your clients and the business.

It would also be a plus if you can somehow show them that you are good at not always leading people directly to the truth, which is something many unsophisticated college kids tend to do. I'm not sure I am going to say that most institutional salespeople can lie effectively when they need to, but you need to understand your role in the flow of information. Traders will sometimes screw clients, and even though you need to be looking out for your clients' best interests, you also have to preserve the client relationship. Telling them "hey, we screwed you" or "hey, you can do better elsewhere" or "hey, we like having stupid clients like you because you make us more money" may not always be the best way to do that.

An institutional salesperson, of course, will NEVER EVER EVER admit that they are a good liar or that you need to occasionally be a good liar to be good at that kind of a role. So if someone from sales comes on here and claims you don't have to be good at controlling the flow of information to be a good salesperson, I'm not deferring to them on that. (I would, however, defer to an institutional trader.)

Given that this is an S&T role, I'd prepare for a stress interview, particularly from some of the traders. Just remember that you don't always have to fill in the gaps in the conversation and to think twice before you say something but then to say it with conviction. You don't need to blurt anything out at any time in these interviews to get the job, although it will be tempting to do so. Traders respect being direct, but as a potential sales hire, you're going to need to show that you know when to not be direct. In some ways, you're selling yourself in this interview. If you were selling pharmaceuticals, you wouldn't want to tell the doctor about the side-effects unless he asked. You wouldn't want to tell the pension fund about all the times GS has screwed them on pricing. So whatever else, this is a sales interview; don't volunteer negative information.

So with all of that I'm not sure you want to get hired into this job now. Between knowing that part of sales and trading is about not always being able to tell the whole truth the whole time to possibly going into a dying industry (at least equities), I guess you're going into this interview with your eyes wide open.

@EdmundoBraverman

From a long term career perspective id advice against it, hell even SS ER.

Source: alum that I've been friendly with for a few years. The industry is changing; while my school has a fairly weak network some of the guys that went onto do well for themselves worked in equity sales. They now are in between jobs. Both were at big firms