Investment Banking Intern . Help !

[darkstellar]

I am thinking about taking an internship in the investment banking sector and have been asked, would you rather be an Analyst or Sales?

My two main questions:

1.) Ultimately, which has the potential to make more money and move up the "ladder" quicker? Analyst or Sales?

2.) Which of those two would you choose as a business student trying to enter the investment banking sector and make it very successful?

Thank you so much!!

[shaggy]

Sales and Analyst are two very different jobs with different skill sets.

If you have a knack for Sales, that's fantastic, but if you don't have a knack for it IMO it's hard to advance in sales.

My BF was an analyst and honestly he would never have made it in sales.

[bigdaddybus]

Agreed with what Shaggy said.

Are you a salesperson? Do you love long hours? I would guess the potential for more money is in sales, and also a larger percentage chance of burnout and being fired for not meeting sales quotas or not growing sales as fast as peers.

I am a technical analyst for a large financial services firm. I would hate being in sales.

[darkstellar]

Agreed with what Shaggy said.

Are you a salesperson? Do you love long hours? I would guess the potential for more money is in sales, and also a larger percentage chance of burnout and being fired for not meeting sales quotas or not growing sales as fast as peers.

I am a technical analyst for a large financial services firm. I would hate being in sales.

Thank you both very much for your insight. I love talking to people and I am very persuasive - I feel that I would be a great fit for sales. However, everyone I've spoke to - even friends who are analysts, say the analyst position is the route to go. However, I always keep hearing the longer hours at work are those who are analysts not those who are in sales.

I saw somewhere that analysts spend 80-100 hours per week working, therefore they get paid slightly more.

I just can't find the truth though lol. All in all, which position spends more time working?

[shaggy]

If you're good at sales, go for it!


My BF wishes he'd been able to do sales. He picked an area of analysis that's fallen out of favor.

[pennygirl]

What an exciting future! Analyst role will afford you the option to move into other more lucrative positions at the bank including, if you are a true rock star, portfolio management. The analyst hours are LONG! I've been to Goldman and saw their employee bathroom which had hair dryers and robes and littered with employees belongings in it because they many times SLEEP OVER! Yes, it's a lot of work. Once you get to associate it gets better but the hours are still long. If you are willing to do that, go for it....but....you have to love it. Many people get burned out after 1 year. If you don't love it, it doesn't matter what the money is. You can get rich either way so you really should look at your self and decide what you would prefer. Good luck! Will you be in NYC?

[snafu]

Since you are outgoing and enjoy talking to people, I'd suggest sales since it is more flexible and you can move up much more quickly. If analysts often work 80-100 hrs weekly, imagine the potential in sales for those likewise adding hours. I believe women are more comfortable talking to a women about finance as men are sometimes condescending in tone or attitude which gives you an added advantage.

Wishing you well whatever you chose.

[anthai.lu]

Safer? Go the analyst route but be prepared to have no social life whatsoever. The first 2-3 years are horror but if you can stick it out, it'll open major doors.

Sales - Much tougher but if you can pick it up, definitely the better of the 2. You'll be much more client facing and closing big deals and bring on new clients will get you moved up quickly.