S&T: Which sales desk(s) would you choose?

If you were looking into sales for your career at an investment bank, which sales desk(s) would you choose?

What prospect do you think the desk of your choice has for the future? What about the desk attracts you the most?

Just wanted to know your opinions.

I personally am attracted to FX derivatives desk.

16 Comments
 

Rates. Anything that is largely driven by macroeconomic events, anything fixed income at least. Being an equity salesman sounds awful to me, but that's just my opinion.

 
bulge_bracketRates. Anything that is largely driven by macroeconomic events, anything fixed income at least. Being an equity salesman sounds awful to me, but that's just my opinion.
nauprillionagree with bb on this one. i sit behind a couple of guys who do cds sales. they get a heck load of business

bulge_bracket, nauprillion, don't you guys think the downward spiraling rates desk may limit sales opp in the future, though?

Also, would you guys see FX derivatives (particularly options and swap) pretty much similar to Fixed Income in terms of sales roles?

 
markets
bulge_bracketRates. Anything that is largely driven by macroeconomic events, anything fixed income at least. Being an equity salesman sounds awful to me, but that's just my opinion.
nauprillionagree with bb on this one. i sit behind a couple of guys who do cds sales. they get a heck load of business

bulge_bracket, nauprillion, don't you guys think the downward spiraling rates desk may limit sales opp in the future, though?

yes. you shouldn't expect to get as much exposure to hedges on fx derivs desks since most banks are going back to the corporate business i.e. interest rate/ fx risk hedging and don't provide as much leverage to prime customers (which makes fx bets pay off) Also, would you guys see FX derivatives (particularly options and swap) pretty much similar to Fixed Income in terms of sales roles?

 
GoodBreadDownward spiraling rates desk? I'm pretty sure the world's not going to run out of government debt anytime soon. Deleveraging at the sovereign level doesn't seem to be happening particularly quickly either.

It's actually increasing thanks to countries outside the EU/US. But yeah, 100% with you, I don't get the point he was trying to make.

 
gammaoverthetaI like Brazilian Rosewood. Great density, nice wide grains

Embarrassed to admit it took me a few seconds to figure out what you were talking about. Well played.

 
gammaoverthetaI like Brazilian Rosewood. Great density, nice wide grains

You know what, I still don't get it! Am I the only person not getting this here?

 
markets
gammaoverthetaI like Brazilian Rosewood. Great density, nice wide grains

You know what, I still don't get it! Am I the only person not getting this here?

For God's sake I hope you are.

"History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme."
 

Sint sed voluptate possimus ad minus non ex. Consequuntur voluptas et non sint ducimus aut voluptatibus et. Autem inventore cupiditate sit beatae ut. Iusto voluptatibus praesentium dolor.

Odio ducimus sequi labore. Similique sit nihil voluptatibus. Voluptatum repudiandae molestiae voluptas velit modi praesentium et. Dolor maxime quo porro repellendus.

Ipsam consequatur sit at. Deserunt quis qui voluptate est. Eligendi velit dolor praesentium modi et numquam harum. Veniam ullam incidunt non eligendi.

Doloremque vitae nihil id rem. Ab explicabo veniam est est aut. Quasi suscipit laudantium aliquam enim perferendis laborum. Voluptatem atque enim minus repudiandae.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
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...”