so what's ER really like now, anyway?

Background: I did an IBD rotation program a bunch of years ago, which included a 3 month rotation in equity research.

I enjoyed research.

I liked learning about new industries, new companies, new technologies, etc.

Writing came relatively easily for me, and the modeling was not as crazy as in PE (once you have a model for a company, chances are you can re-apply it later).

A) So what is the industry really like now?
When I talk to professionals in the industry now, they complain that the job has changed.

I hear:
a) it's become an equity sales job, that they are spending nearly all of their time on calls with the buy-side,
b) that the pay has gone down a lot,
c) that buy-side is now being billed directly for research which makes things harder...
d) that they fear too few people read their research these days, as opposed to buy-side writing their own research
e) is there a huge amount of time pressure, to write, to generate ideas, and to do so quickly?
f) pressures on rankings
g) pressure to generate unique insights that can move a stock or benefit from some insight
h) how can you get insight anyway without having material non-public info?

And how does one generate real insights in research these days?
My former employer was well-known for being a maverick, doing a lot of primary research (surveys, etc.), and of writing thematic books (new industry initiatition top-downs, etc.).
How can that be leveraged?

B) If I do want to re-join this part of the finance industry (I'm in PE now, turned 40 recently, but I did seem to enjoy the research and writing aspect)
a) is it even possible? Do I really have a chance, especially if I haven't published in a decade?
b) how can one try to re-enter the industry if one has ?
c) Would anyone even take me seriously?
d) And what might my path to getting back in look like? Network, have a sample report that I write up, and pass around to recruiters and others?
e) How can I deal with not having the benefit of starting as a junior making mistakes and trying to promote up?
How can I try to wedge in as a mid-level?

 

Hey earthwalker7, sorry about the delay, but are any of these useful:

  • Off The Beaten Path: Commercial Banking to Private Equity (The Non-Traditional Route) modeling companies of interest. I've probably done close to 20 models on my own now and this really ... I ultimately got, I was referred by three (!!!) private equity professionals to the same position. I sent an ... Hey everyone. The ink has just barely dried on my accepted offer to join a boutique private equity ...
  • Breaking into buy-side equity research- my experience research." I came in knowing that sell-side research is likely the best way to break into buy-side research ... market cycles. What was my experience like in sell-side research? It's pretty miserable. You're ... , so I really just had to tough it out for a while. Although the quality of
  • Career Ladder: Equity Research vs. Investment Banking- (A Definitive Guide, Part 3) fairly early for equity research. So, I leave it to other commentators to fill in the career path beyond ... Hey everyone...sorry to take so long for part 3 of equity research vs. investment banking. For ... IB, feel free to fill in the path to ED and MD. Equity Research The best thing about equity re
  • The Path to Least Resistance: Why IB May Not Be What You Really Want so good. Now we're going to get into the ugly part and I will take counterarguments and ... out of school), the same way Homo Sapiens use to think what actions would bring him dinner to the ... don't want or pursuing the path you don't even know what it's like. Time is a precious thing, ...
  • Exit-Ops: Equity Research vs. Investment Banking- (A Definitive Guide, Part 2) market knowledge goes, you get way more experience in equity research. By my third year of ER ... but if you're really aiming for asset management, I'd recommend the ER route. Private Equity ... wrong. There are a ton of people from IB working for hedge funds etc, but I ran into so many more with ER
  • From Private Equity Associate to VP in Private Equity banking if they want to break into private equity. It is by far the simplest and most effective way to ... you targeting, what are some names you're targeting, things like that. One of the ways I think ... what private equity is really all about: convincing other people you know what you are doing. Senior ...
  • Overview of the Equity research Industry how equity research works, and what purpose it serves. Let me start off by giving you some information ... on my background. I've been working in equity research at BB for close to 7 months now for ... are a few really good analysts that everyone listens to what their research has to say. Corporate ...
  • What would you like to know about Equity Sales / Research? what it's REALLY like to work in the equities sell-side business at a BB. For starters, I'm ... Relationship with Research What is an Equity Research Analyst- It's an information business, really ... - Equity Research and what they do (and differences between US vs Asia
  • More suggestions...

You're welcome.

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

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