Li, Yuchen
The decision of the buyer or seller
In the job search process, classmates who have interned at a second-tier company will inevitably face the decision of whether to go to the buyer or seller in the end. From my personal understanding, the roles of the two sides are more distinct in the early stages, but they will converge in the later stages, with the ultimate goal being the same. Sellers are more responsible for connecting with listed companies and industrial resources to provide services to buyers. Buyers, on the other hand, need to compare companies and industries through these resources and make choices to achieve their targets. Because of the different roles, the requirements for abilities for newcomers in the industry will also be different.
It is best to start at a TOP15 buyer at the beginning, mainly because on these platforms, you can quickly access most of the resources in the market and have priority access to exclusive information and perspectives. With the support of the platform, newcomers in the industry can quickly broaden their horizons and enhance their abilities. Sellers have a greater demand and more opportunities compared to buyers, and to some extent can focus on one or two specific sectors and some companies.
Advancement process in job level for sellers
Compared to the investment capabilities and growth paths of buyers, sellers have a clear advancement process in terms of job level. In general, in the first year at the seller, you will take on more research responsibilities, but I believe that being a seller is not a job that separates research from services, but a process of spiral upward progression, entering a positive cycle. Since seller research is oriented towards commercialization, only by exchanging ideas with more and better colleagues can you hear more voices and improve your cognition. Therefore, it is necessary to go out for roadshows and research.
After a year, sellers may need to bear more pressure on performance and therefore need to do something different. On one hand, they should strive to handle two companies with high attention, and on the other hand, they should not miss out on any wave of 20% or more level increase. Even if they do not fully understand the logic of the current increase for the time being, at least basic services such as expert services and company research can be provided, and continuous feedback can at least ensure you have the opportunity to survive in the competitive seller industry, while a passive state can easily lose your competitiveness quickly.
