Research Associate

Stephens typically hires recent college or MBA graduates with professional experience and self-starter skills for research associate positions. As a research associate, you will use a variety of techniques to provide up-to-the-minute detail for company and industry specific news. Research associates work hand in hand with highly skilled senior analysts to provide quality service to institutional clients.

Research Associates employ a variety of techniques to provide value-added research to our clients including:

  • Building and maintaining financial models for companies under coverage
  • Writing company and industry specific research reports
  • Communicating with our institutional sales force and providing information to institutional clients
  • Developing relationships with senior management teams
  • Using grass roots research techniques like channel checks and participating in industry trade conferences to learn more about industry trends
 

Ideal candidates looking to join our research team will have these qualities:

  • Hard working and highly driven personalities
  • Strong analytical, written and communication skills
  • Mentally quick on your feet, and able to think outside the box
  • Willingness to travel
  • Desire to pursue the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation
  • An MBA or relevant work experience
  • Advanced knowledge of MS Word, Excel, and Powerpoint
 

The Interview Process

First round interviews consist of a set of interviews with members from different areas of our capital markets group.  Interviews generally occur at our Little Rock office.

Offers are made shortly after the interview process.

During your interview, be prepared to discuss:

  • Why you are interested in sell-side research
  • What about Stephens culture appeals to you
  • Your experience, skills, and resume
  • Your strengths and weaknesses
  • Your decision making abilities
  • Your accomplishments and failures and what you learned from both
  • How your peers would describe you
What to Expect the First Year

A Research Associate’s Perspective:

During my first year at Stephens I spent time learning about the industry I covered, writing reports and building financial models.  The senior analyst I was paired with was still building a coverage list so also spent time traveling to meet company management teams, learning the company’s story first-hand, writing initial reports, and giving presentations.  Now that I’ve spent a great deal of time learning about the industry, I have even more of an active role on the team.  I now also spend time discussing industry trends and company specific news with buy-side analysts and portfolio managers.

Frequently Asked Questions 

  • How am I assigned to an industry?

  • Stephens places associates based on department needs, the associate's skills and knowledge of the industry, and the associate's pairing with an industry’s senior analyst.

  • How much travel is involved?

  • Traveling can vary depending on the senior analyst with which he/she is paired.  Associates will travel with senior analysts on some trips to tradeshows or to meet company management.  Senior analysts travel much more frequently meeting with portfolio managers and company executives and when the senior analyst is traveling, the research associate will play a larger role.

  • What are the hours like?
    We work hard to provide our clients with a best in class service. Our daily morning sales meetings begin at 6:45 A.M. CST so that we can ensure our clients have all the information they need well before the market opens.
  • Will I have a good chance at becoming a senior analyst?
    Stephens likes to promote within and has promoted a number of research associates to senior analyst.  The firm’s goal is to help the research associate build the skills necessary and become a senior analyst within 2–5 years.