Private equity --> trading (advice appreciated)

Hi monkeys,

Would love some advice from the forum here.

I started my career in FICC sales and trading c.5-6 years ago (straight out of university). However, my bank was going through some pretty bad turmoil at the time and coming from a working class background I felt that I should choose something more stable instead of risk being laid off at such bank.

So after 1 year of FICC sales and trading, I transferred to an MBB and then Private equity. However, I know that I still love trading and really don't enjoy the process of MBB/PE.

In hindsight it was a naive / highly risk averse decision at the time.

For anyone that's taken a bit of an unconventional route (back) to trading - would love your advice on best approach to getting back into sales/trading division of a bank.

Background: Top UK target university with 4.0 GPA equivalent and MBB/PE experience noted above. 1 year at a BB in sales and trading as well as a couple of sales/trading internships.

Thanks a lot!

299 WSO Academy Sales & Trading Session Reviews: 4.86/5

Class of '28 Apr 2026 Cohort

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“My mock session with Joyce was genuinely useful and very targeted. Rather than generic advice, she caught specific delivery habits I need to fix before my Superday. First, she pointed out how often I lean on filler words like "like" and "emm", and gave me a clear fix: pause instead of filling the silence. Second, she told me to slow down my pace overall, which should make my answers sound more confident and easier to follow. Third, she flagged that my opening warm-up came across as a bit stiff, and coached me to be warmer and more personable in the first few minutes so I build rapport before the technical part starts. All three points are things I can practice immediately, which is exactly what I needed at this stage of prep. The session felt focused and honest about what needs work, and I came out with a clear practice list. I would happily book with Joyce again for another round closer to the Superday.”

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Class of '29 Nov 2026 Cohort

4.56/5

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“I had a great experience speaking with him and genuinely appreciated the time he took to share his insights and experiences. He was extremely knowledgeable about the Sales & Trading industry and did a great job explaining different aspects of the role, the industry, and what it takes to build a career in this space. He communicated exceptionally well, was approachable and kind throughout the conversation, and made it very easy to ask questions and engage in a meaningful discussion. I particularly appreciated that he provided actionable advice and practical takeaways that I can apply as I continue exploring opportunities in Sales & Trading and preparing for internship recruiting. He was also very accommodating when it came to scheduling the conversation. Overall, it was a very valuable networking experience, and I am grateful for his willingness to share his knowledge and offer guidance to someone early in their finance career.”

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3 Comments

WSO Monkey Bot

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3y

Principal in PE - LBOs, bummer your thread hasn't had a response yet. Sometimes bots are smarter than humans anyways:

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You're welcome.

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

Jimbus

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3y

Hey, based in UK happy to chat about FICC space and recruitment & mkt.

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Principal in PE - LBOs

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Authored by: Certified Private Equity Professional - PrincipalCertified Private Equity Pro

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Private equity --> trading (advice appreciated)

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Private equity --> trading (advice appreciated)

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