Anonymous wrote:DD just got an offer to work at Goldman Sachs after she graduates from college next year. She'd be on a trading desk. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions? Frankly, I'm a little worried about the stress, but recognize that this could be a great opportunity for her. I'm particularly interested in what women do after two or three years at GS or a comparable firm.

I work for a big Wall St firm now (though not in trading). The trading floors definitely still have the bro culture but it is more subtle than it used to be. It' wont be nights at the strip club, but she should be prepared for frat boy behavior. People who survive their first few years and have good people skills have good internal mobility, because you really learn to understand markets which is valuable all over the firm. If your daughter makes a point of finding a mentor, developing relationships - especially outside of trading - and making people notice her., she will have a ton of options after a few years. Many of the top leadership (like, 1-2 levels down from CEO) started on the trading floors.

It's a wonderful opportunity. I spent about 20 years working for a WS Firm. The stress is there, but what job doesn't have stress? She can go lots of places after having that job. WS work can open lots of doors.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's August, so the only way your DD would have gotten an offer is if she was a summer intern. So why are you asking? She should have all the knowledge to make the decision herself - don't helicopter.

Not true. Sometimes they extend offers at the end of the summer

Not for the job described. Recruiting is in the fall.

Interns usually find out whether they have offers after the summer ends. Fall recruiting is for those who did not accept offers after summer internships or did not receive offers or who did not intern.

Yes, that is what the original quoted post says.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's August, so the only way your DD would have gotten an offer is if she was a summer intern. So why are you asking? She should have all the knowledge to make the decision herself - don't helicopter.

Not true. Sometimes they extend offers at the end of the summer

Not for the job described. Recruiting is in the fall.

If the job is truly sales and trading, that is. Not an admin or back office job sold as a trading job.

I received my analyst offer in the summer. After an internship. It was not a middle or back office role.

Good for you, now read the original post you are quoting and work on your detail orientation.

Anonymous wrote:Stress will be there. But depending upon the desk could ratchet way up.

Overall, not really an opportunity to pass by. She's young and the stress is manageable. At least she won't be an analyst trainee where stress, boredom and long hours will kill you!

Trading desks are even more male-dominated than M and A. I hope she has a thick skin and a high tolerance for "bro talk."

Anonymous wrote:It's not female friendly..... it's gotten better but it's still a toxic work environment. As long as she has thickskin she will be fine. You basically have to act like a "man/guy"

I haven't been on a trading desk in a few years, but as long as she knows that the guys don't mean harm she will be ok. They play pranks on each other, silly stuff like that. It's quite entertaining.

Anonymous wrote:I've worked at a smaller investment bank, although not on the trading desk. Will it be stressful - yes. Will it be an amazing experience in terms of future career prospects - also yes. If nothing else, having GS on her resume will look really good. I think most people end up leaving after 2-3 years to get their MBA.

Not sure about the MBA, but it's an amazing opportunity, and one that could make her millions. It takes a special kind of person to be a trader, and it still is a man's world. I would be prepared for a lot of joking on the desk as well as some very inappropriate stuff that the guys joke about.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's August, so the only way your DD would have gotten an offer is if she was a summer intern. So why are you asking? She should have all the knowledge to make the decision herself - don't helicopter.

Not true. Sometimes they extend offers at the end of the summer

Not for the job described. Recruiting is in the fall.

Interns usually find out whether they have offers after the summer ends. Fall recruiting is for those who did not accept offers after summer internships or did not receive offers or who did not intern.

I received my sales and trading analyst offer at the end of summer too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's August, so the only way your DD would have gotten an offer is if she was a summer intern. So why are you asking? She should have all the knowledge to make the decision herself - don't helicopter.

Not true. Sometimes they extend offers at the end of the summer

Not for the job described. Recruiting is in the fall.

If the job is truly sales and trading, that is. Not an admin or back office job sold as a trading job.

I received my analyst offer in the summer. After an internship. It was not a middle or back office role.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's August, so the only way your DD would have gotten an offer is if she was a summer intern. So why are you asking? She should have all the knowledge to make the decision herself - don't helicopter.

Not true. Sometimes they extend offers at the end of the summer

Not for the job described. Recruiting is in the fall.

If the job is truly sales and trading, that is. Not an admin or back office job sold as a trading job.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's August, so the only way your DD would have gotten an offer is if she was a summer intern. So why are you asking? She should have all the knowledge to make the decision herself - don't helicopter.

Not true. Sometimes they extend offers at the end of the summer

Not for the job described. Recruiting is in the fall.

Anonymous wrote:It's August, so the only way your DD would have gotten an offer is if she was a summer intern. So why are you asking? She should have all the knowledge to make the decision herself - don't helicopter.

Not true. Sometimes they extend offers at the end of the summer

It's August, so the only way your DD would have gotten an offer is if she was a summer intern. So why are you asking? She should have all the knowledge to make the decision herself - don't helicopter.

A job at Goldman will open plenty of doors for her. She can go do a MBA next, go to the tech sector, go run a non profit. Plenty of things. This is a wonderful start.