Mid Office to Sales and Trading

Hi community,

I am currently working in model risk management at JPMC. I have an MBA too, though my grades were not that great.

At final placements, I was shortlisted for Structuring roles too.

I am nearing 2 years in my current role during which I learnt sufficiently about products and stochastic calculus for derivative pricing.

However, I want to move to an FO type role and being mathematically inclined and more market oriented, I think that role would really suit me. Atleast this is what I think afte long mental debate.

My question is how can I break into sales and trading role? Should I look laterally? Should I start at some unknown bank? Or should I go for Masters in Finance course?

6 Comments
 
Most Helpful

For context i'm a recruiter that focused previously on MO placements, and currently i focus on FO placements so I am familiar with your situation. From my perspective the transition to FO can be difficult but i've talked to numerous candidates who have pulled it off.

Long story short; making the move laterally/internally seems to have the most success.

You want to be as close to traders (or whatever FO role you want to move into) as possible. Make yourself a resource to them much as possible while letting them know your interest in making a move. Ask good questions and be engaged but don't be a pest about it. Keep in mind not all are going to be willing to help advocate but some will when the opportunity presents itself.

Bottom line; there are plenty of people who have made the transition, they all have different story's and i'm sure they would have more specific advice.

Best of luck!

 

If you work even indirectly with any S&T teams, try to network with them, otherwise, I would just try and network with people at ur bank, and hopefully a spot will open up somewhere within trading soon enough, and if you have done a good job of building relationships, you can try and snag that spot internally. If you have a good relationship and reputation with your team and the team that you are trying to get on, and a spot opens up, good things should hopefully happen. Best of luck.

 

Ipsum dignissimos harum velit dicta doloremque quia est quia. Nam et rem ut delectus doloribus consequatur. Quia sint quae officia non dolorem et.

Quisquam aliquid quo ex aliquam. Id et aut fuga eveniet eos molestiae alias. Minus ut nobis in aliquam tempore vitae. Accusamus consequatur ut error nam.

Aut sit delectus dolores magni labore dolor. Ad sunt voluptas non molestias molestias quis. Error qui et tempora dolores. Praesentium corporis veniam veniam ipsum repellendus explicabo.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 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 06 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (48) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (83) $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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”