Keep on being rejected by S&T (I want), keep on being interviewed for IBD (I don't want). Why is it so hard to switch from IBD to S&T?

This is an experience I'm going through as a final year student.

I have a capital markets internship under my belt, and I loved it. 

What I'm not so keen on are the long hours and the absence of a constant lifestyle. So, logically, I've been applying for S&T roles instead because the product group I was handling is esoteric (think debt-based securitisations) and a strong part of the S&T division while the lifestyle hours are more amenable for someone who wants to start a family in the next years with my significant other.

However, I get no call backs from any S&T programmes / events etc. 

The only thing I'm being interviewed for at the moment are more IBD-related OC roles in capital markets and M&A. 

I've done everything to the point where I've gone and full blasted my CV for sales and trading as much as I could have (courses, extracurriculars, strong asset class knowledge) but no replies. 

I want to gather some ideas as to why I can't seem to make the switch from IBD to S&T ahead of a grad role next year. I am looking to apply to summers but clearly if it isn't working at the moment, I'm going to have to consider looking at myself and seeing what's up. 

It's definitely a rare circumstance that I've not seen anyone come across and it's definitely bugging me. 

7 Comments
 

nutmegger189

You might need to provide more clarity as to where you are in your career lol.

Are you a student? Graduated? Etc.

Sorry, on me! Final year student. 

 

Going into final year, so I graduate next year.

There have been a few like at GS, JPM, MS, DB in their markets divisions (JPM definitely has an OC for markets, GS had more of a mentorship scheme like MS and DB had a series of in-person events over the summer but I got placed in their O&A series of events, not FIC whilst I was contacted for an OC in their O&A division as well). 

I couldn't land a single markets related role though. However, if I apply to anything that's IBD related, I yield better chances. 

I'll see what I can do: you are right that it's not indicative but I thought that given I already did IBD, I'd be considered at minimum for S&T given I have Cap Markets related work in my CV and that I did handle the stress of IBD to land a return offer. 

 

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