How Hard is it to Lateral to DCM / ECM or Coverage from a Sales / Trading Role?

I am coming up on a year in a sales / trading role of a top BB on a bond desk. I have become interested in working in banking but understand that going from my current role to coverage right away could be difficult. I have a really good understanding of debt markets + bank regulations + macro financials because of the work I do for my desk and for those reasons want to try and move to DCM or FIG. I have talked to people and know I have genuine interest in joining one of these investment banking groups.

What would you advise me to do if I want to get into a job on the banking side? Should I try recruiting at other banks if I have a good pre full time background (perfect GPA / top non-Ivy / good internships) or try and go internal? I want to know what angle to use so I can pitch myself to potential groups with open spots.

1 Comments
 

A dolor quidem nostrum laboriosam magni inventore dolor itaque. Et quia provident sit corrupti quae occaecati voluptatem. Et ratione ad cupiditate voluptas qui.

Rerum rerum deleniti modi est. Qui aut nihil officia dolorem. Omnis voluptas sunt ut voluptatem dolore.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan No 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (45) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”