BB SA S&T – What desk to choose?

Hi all,

I will be at a top BB doing SA (S&T) this coming summer and haven't chosen a group yet. Placement is coming up and I have a solid foundation with a lot of alumni on different desks that are decent and willing to help out with advice etc.

How do I best learn about all these different groups (as there are a TON of different desks) and how to best choose what is interesting/good for me? Not all desks give an FT offer as I understand (based on spacing etc) and not all desks are ultimately interesting. For example, I think I would like to be at an equity desk for sure, but there are differing variations. Furthermore, I'm just not entirely sure about all these different ones that exist and how to learn more about them. There is just so much, and we only get 2/3 rotations.

Any advice on how to choose, monkeys? Tips/tales from personal experience? Advice for being a top-notch SA? Thanks!

6 Comments
 

i would definitely try to get a rotation on both equities and FICC as well as a trading desk and a sales desk. the subculture and nature of work can be dramatically different in these different areas and its good to get exposure to more than one asset class. i'd also try to get experience working with an OTC product as well as something more liquid and traded over an exchange.

 

Biggest range possible and try to identify which teams would care enough to engage with and develop a rotator. Last thing you want is to waste a year being nothing more than someone's pricing and report monkey.

 

Fugit possimus ullam in qui explicabo accusamus. Et et corporis perspiciatis dolorum. Magni et dolor eum recusandae voluptatem.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (50) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $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

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...”