Analytics Desk (core product customer service)
Pros
Well taught (but fast paced) introduction to Financial Markets, how they work and what firms work in them - lots in my analyst class had no financial education and went on to be successful During training (2-3 months) you study late; but once in the role hours are very fair - all shifts with no long term projects; Analytics is truly a 9-5 and lots of my friends used the evening to attend night school or study CFA Resources for continued learning are everywhere - from online in house courses or just some more senior people in your dept. You can take them for coffee and they will very likely teach you what you ask If you start in New York you will be hired with a large class of 25-40 people, this will become your first and largest network of friends and colleagues; many I am still close with personally
Cons
I left before Mayor Bloomberg returned as CEO, but when I was there it was not easy to get promotions or raises. Everything money related happened at year end and unless you were very proactive with your manager and speaking openly about the raise you wanted or the bonus you wanted and backing it up with reasons why you werent getting it. Company is full of ""good old boys" who had been around since the really large growth days - they rose to their level of incompetence and are taking nice salaries - these are either FOM (friends of Mike) or close to it - to get anywhere good you need their help; very political. The job (analytics desk) can be a bit boring and stressful - when I began reps started general trouble shooting (is the issue technology or financial) and passed along to appropriate groups. Being the first wave for 6-9 months exposes you to demanding and sometimes verbally abusive clients (finance is an eat what you kill world and lots of our customers live and breath it)