Careers at Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley offers career opportunities for students, graduates and experienced professionals. As it is one of the leading global financial services providers, competition for roles at the firm is fierce.
Morgan Stanley has seasonal undergraduate intakes as well as off-cycle internships. It also offers full-time graduate positions and off-cycle graduate internships.
The graduate training programme is three years in duration and allows an entry-level candidate to gain experience working in one of Morgan Stanley’s product, industry or regional coverage teams.
The opportunities available will depend upon location and work area, but there are generally openings across six areas: institutional securities, investment management, wealth management, company management, operations, and technology. Institutional securities and company management also offer experience under sub-divisions.
The full range of student and graduate opportunities currently on offer can be explored via the Program Finder. By answering a few questions about your skills, working style and area preference, you’ll receive a tailored suggestion of potential program matches.
Current openings at all levels can be explored through the Morgan Stanley Basic Job Board. For experienced professionals looking to re-enter or change career, Morgan Stanley offers programmes such as the Return to Work or Military Veterans scheme.
Refreshingly, the Return to Work scheme is open to both men and women who have taken a career break of two years or more. With opportunities across 16 different work areas, it is structured as a 12-week paid internship that may lead to an employment offer.
There is also a separate sector page specifically for engaging technology professionals on the firm’s website. This points to technology opportunities for students, graduates and experienced hires.
The company prides itself on a culture that values diversity of perspective, intellectual talent, and collaboration. It particularly stresses the key balance between individual intellect and teamwork – both are recognised and valued equally.
Morgan Stanley Application Process
For many student or graduate hires, the Morgan Stanley application process begins on campus. Morgan Stanley runs campus events to attract and engage new talent. If you are interested in joining the firm, it is a great opportunity to meet current employees and learn more about what a career with Morgan Stanley can offer.
Once you are sold on the culture, values and opportunities provided by Morgan Stanley – whether via the website or at a campus event – to secure a role you will need to begin the multi-stage recruitment process.
The firm receives a high volume of applications for each program or job vacancy, so uses a suite of online psychometric tests to streamline the applicant pool before the video interview stage.
If you impress at the initial interview, you will be invited to attend an assessment centre. Each of the steps in the process is broken down below.
Morgan Stanley online application
The first stage of the application process is to apply to your chosen vacancy online. You’ll need to register and set up an account in the Application Centre.
To apply, you will need to submit your CV and cover letter. Your CV should demonstrate strong academic achievements and your cover letter needs to display clear motivation for applying to work with the firm and within your chosen area.
Applications are reviewed as received, so applying as soon as possible is recommended.
Note that, in one recruitment year, you can apply for up to three programs in each of the three regions: the Americas, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and Asia.
Morgan Stanley Aptitude Tests
Morgan Stanley numerical reasoning test
After submitting your online application, you will receive an invite to complete a series of online psychometric tests. The first of these will be a numerical reasoning test.
These numerical tests assess a candidate’s ability to solve basic mathematical problems under time pressure.
The questions will be multiple-choice and contain maths of up to GCSE level. They commonly include percentages, fractions, averages, sequences, ratios, and interpretation of data in graphs and tables.
Practice is the key to a high score in these short, timed tests, as familiarity with the format and question types will help with both speed and accuracy.
Morgan Stanley verbal reasoning test
You will also be required to sit a verbal reasoning test to assess your comprehension skills. These tests consist of several passages of text and a series of directly related questions.
The questions will be in multiple-choice format and test your ability to interpret and make inferences from given information. You will likely have to determine whether a certain statement is ‘true’, ‘false’ or if you ‘cannot say’, based upon the provided information.
The test assesses your ability to apply reasoning and logic to the written word, so read the passages carefully before making a judgement. Many statements will be purposely ambiguous.
Morgan Stanley logical reasoning test
The logical reasoning test assesses your ability to interpret non-verbal content such as numbers, patterns and shapes.
Questions will require candidates to select the next figure in a given sequence from a selection of options.
A hybrid of numerical and diagrammatic reasoning tests, logical reasoning tests your ability to think laterally and rapidly recognise and reapply governing rules.
As this is not a skill used often in everyday life, practising logical reasoning is a sensible way to accustom yourself to the questions.
Morgan Stanley error checking test
Morgan Stanley’s error checking test assesses your ability to review work under time pressure. You will be provided with a data sheet of numbers and asked to compare these to another sheet.
The task is straightforward – you are looking for and highlighting discrepancies – but it requires acute attention to detail and focus under pressure.
The errors will likely be small and easy to overlook; you will be required to make 32 comparisons within a few minutes. Approach the task in a calm and confident manner, and avoid self-sabotaging by becoming flustered.
