Comments on: The Investment Banking Sell-Day

By: IBanker

IBanker — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:49:21 +0000

Generally speaking, HR tries to get most, if not all incoming analysts into one of their top 5 or so choices – if there are 13 groups, you don’t want to be in #13. Essentially, in order for you to get one of your bottom groups, you would have to be ranked really low, and the group you ranked really low would have to be ranked really low by all of the other analysts as well (which is often not the case). For example – you see ECM and DCM as the least desirable – I know many analysts who are in those groups and put them in their top 3-5, if not higher – lots of deal, client interaction, and often better hours (especially if referring to high grade). That said, one of the analysts I know was placed in his next to the last group choice – most of the analysts I know, however, were placed somewhere in the top half of their choices if not much higher.

By: ds

ds — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 16:20:56 +0000

What happens if an analyst gets ranked last by all the groups? Do they get placed in the least desirable group? (guessing along lines of ECM/DCM)?

By: IBanker

IBanker — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:24:58 +0000

Generally speaking, the sell-day is all about fit and interest – from both sides. In other words, how they feel you will fit in the team and how interested they are in you, as well as how you feel you will fit with a team and your interest in said team/industry/product. I’m sure that occasionally a technical question or discussion has come up, but it should be on the very rare side of the spectrum. You can absolutely discuss the product/industry and the market – but it won’t be like a test/interview where you are grilled on technical knowledge. If you’ve made it to the offer and accepted and are now at the sell day, you are not going to be tested any further – you are capable of handling the job and the analytical/grammatical/stress of the job – the question is not a matter of personality fit and such. Additionally, the groups will have the incoming analyst resumes to go through as well combined with the impression from sell day to make their decisions.

By: banker88

banker88 — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 04:21:26 +0000

Great post again. I was wondering what the odds are of getting asked any technical questions during the sell-day? Presumably groups like M&A, LevFin, FIG, etc. do a lot of modeling – so would they try finding the Analysts with the strongest technical skills (by asking about their summer internships, etc.)? Is there any point in reviewing some technical questions or practicing modeling? Or is the sell-day really all about how well you get along with the groups and whether you would fit in with the people?