GPA for a Sales Position in S&T and How Hard It Really Is?

megafundguy

know a guy with a 3.1. S&T doesn't care about Gpa or pedigree its about ability.

Totally untrue. GPA is very often an indicator of achievement and ability. You should be smart enough to prioritize what's really important in life. Just like on the trading floor... Do what you want on your time off and act a fool, but don't let it affect your work.

Don't listen to morons on this site that barely squeezed by.

How much for a 3.9?

Do you know anything about BlackRock? Going to need to be a lot more specific. For which group? What exactly do you want to be doing. I'm reasonably sure there isn't a position called "sales" per say. Also, Goldman Sachs and BlackRock aren't exactly aren't comparable companies.

From the sounds of it, you're still really early in the game, just concentrate on getting that gpa as high as possible and worry about the requirements come junior year.

GPA: the higher, the better What you do: SELL SHIT

Savvy?

Sales of what? Institutional sales? PWM?

???

Sorry, forgot to mention.

Yes, institutional sales - in terms of handling clients, pitching stocks to them, etc.

Please let me know if you have some idea.

Thank you.

I know they are going to prefer a CFA + Top School + Great GPA. I would think anything above a 3.5-3.6 would be acceptable as long as you're well-rounded individual who is not only analytical, but good with people. At the point where you have earned your CFA, went to grad school, GPA may not be as important.

Rothyman is right on, although 3.4-3.7 is usually the sweet spot. Lower or higher they might get worried. If you are a boring book worm that's not involved in activities, they probably won't be too interested. They also like athletes and competitors who live by the work hard / play hard motto

Sales is probably the least academically selective subfield I've encountered in finance, just going off the backgrounds of the sales people who cover us. Like JS said former athletes abound.

That is not really a field you enter into straight from college. There are a few analyst programs, but they are very selective depending on the firm and type of institutional sales. Even if one entered into this type of program it would be eons before you began even pitching at small businesses.

Institutional sales people are very senior, and extremely well paid. The sales people who advise 1bil plus companies will be the brightest of the brightest.

Sub 3.5.

Buddy of mine with a 3.0 has an offer from ML PWM

Rothyman-the sales desks that cover us have analysts straight out of undergrad like any other bank group. They may not have their own clients yet but you can definitely work in institutional sales without previous experience.

How do you start, do you assist the senior people at first and later get your own client portfolio?

Most (all?) of our primary coverage are VP and up; the junior people (analysts and associates) seem to be mostly responsible for assisting the more senior people, they'll pick up the phone if the senior person is busy and they man the desks/cover us when the lead is out. I assume that they are phased into "owning" their own accounts over time.

Well I dunno how comp works for the more junior level people, I assume they get bonuses like other junior bankers. I know at senior levels they get credit for making sales, which is why a lot of our salesmen love to try to cross-sell other asset classes. Junior people get to go out with clients sometimes, too, and are often at the larger receptions/parties that these groups hold. I've been at dinners/sporting events etc with people around my age who I assume are either analyst or junior associates.

Seems like fun... do juniors often quit because there maybe too much pressure? What do you really need to know when entering the field, and what makes people successful? I'm trying to get a feel for the job here.

3.5 minimum

less if you're at a top target or have incredible connections and/or networking skills but don't let it drop below 3.0

3.5

its S&T why would the gpa requirment be any lower for sales. as mentioned keep it above 3.5 or just network your ass off.

3.54234445609876543456786543

above 3.5 cutoff, higher if non target. Pretty much just like any BB position.

Something tells me to expect search function rants shortly.

Thank you everyone.

One question: I am interning at Goldman this summer for their Asset Management division (I am a sohpomore BTW). I applied with a 3.88 but my GPA fell to 3.64 since I ended with a 'C' for a horrible course (hate that course).

Next year, I want to shift to S&T (Sales - Equities). Will GPA matter a lot? Because even if I get A/A-s, my GPA is going to stay at 3.67.

What do you all think? I really want to experience Equities sales (because I think I really have what it takes for a salesperson) and I don't want to leave Goldman if they offer me another Summer position, next year.

Please let me know what you all think.

Thanks a ton.

If you have Goldman on your resume, then you're set...a 3.67 GPA is plenty high..only thing you'd need to do is interview prep (i.e. personal sales pitch)