What s&t desks do y'all think have the best hours?

What S&T desks do y'all think have the best hours. I interned on the FX sales team last year and had a blast (8-6 PM at the latest) but I'm returning as a first year analyst who's first 9 months are rotational on 3 different teams. I'm not even sure what to use as a reference because I'm sure much of this depends on my company which isn't AS sweaty as others (for example I was told FX was going to have diabolical hours but it didn't for my company).

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Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s a breakdown of S&T desks and their hours:

  1. Sales Desks: Sales roles generally have better hours compared to trading. For example, sales analysts often work from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM, with some client entertainment after work. However, as you progress, hours can improve significantly, with associates and above often working 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM and having more autonomy over their schedules.

  2. Fixed Income (FI) Sales and Trading: FI S&T professionals typically work 50-60 hours per week, with no weekend work, making it a manageable lifestyle.

  3. FX Sales: Your experience aligns with the general trend for FX sales, where hours can be 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM or similar, depending on the firm. FX desks are known for being intense at some firms but more balanced at others.

  4. Physical Commodities Trading: Hours are often 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM, with occasional weekend work if there are production issues or billing needs. This desk also offers the perk of being able to leave early for activities like golf.

  5. Equities and High-Yield Credit: These desks can vary widely in hours, but they are generally in line with the 50-60 hours per week range seen in FI S&T.

Ultimately, the hours depend heavily on the firm and the specific desk culture. Since your company seems less intense, you might find that most desks offer a reasonable work-life balance.

Sources: Fixed Income Sales and Trading 101, Sales and Trading - A Comprehensive Guide, Sales in S&T - What's the catch? (best job in banking)??, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/trading/sales-and-trading-hours-by-product?customgpt=1, Sales and Trading - A Comprehensive Guide

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

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