Hello Everyone, I will be working FT in ER at a BB starting this summer in NYC but recently I was emailed by HR for opportunities to work in research roles outside of the US. I have the opportunity work in Hong Kong, Singapore, Mumbai, London and San Francisco. This was really unexpected and I surmise that my bank would like to keep as their analysts in other cities rather then rescind their offer. I would like to solicit some of the pros and cons in working in each city and if you personally would take the opportunity. Also for those of you who worked in research or SA in foreign cities, what was it like and how is research done differently there. Thanks in advance, guyjer
guyjer, SF is still within the US even though it may not seem like it. Are the positions with the same firm you are signed up with in NYC?
I know that. I was just listing the cities that are available. Yes it is with the same company. I’m part of the incoming '09 class and my best guess is that they do not want to rescind offers so they are asking ppl to move to other cities. The opportunity came up abruptly and I have never thought of myself working abroad but the more I think about it, the more it excites me. I just want to solicit as much information I can before committing to anything.
Well if the positions are within the same firm you have to ask yourself; a) do I want a FT gig after the summer with this firm? b) if so which market will afford me the best opportunities? Have there been cuts at the firm(of course there have)? Which areas were hit hardest? Which areas will recover? How can I position myself within the firm to ensure I stick around and ultimately can succeed? Answer these questions and you’ll know where to go.
After you’ve thought about brianr’s points, it’s then probably personal opinion, but I would go for: Singapore Mumbia London Hong Kong But then I enjoy exotic countries and spend most holidays backpacking around third-world countries. If you were more keen to go somewhere more familiar and/or are not that keen on third-world countries it would be London I guess. Tough choice though, it all comes down to your personality really (excluding all the stuff about the better opportunity etc etc -eg a few years in India might not do much for your career, but then does it matter at this early stage of your career? A great life experience may more important than the best job)
Aren’t there huge tax spikes in London right now? So bankers in there get killed with their salaries. Think about it when you get full time offer in the same city as you had your SA stint at.
what’s your background? UG or MBA? i work with ny equities, but london seems really cool too. some of my colleagues are in san fran and they say it’s awesome.
Undergrad. I have been calling everyone i know and it’s becoming a toss up between London and Honk Kong. Mumbai is a definite no, if I was going to choose Singapore then I might as well go to Hong Kong and in San Fran there is nothing but tech and media. Brianr I am not an SA so your first question is moot and for your second question London and Hong Kong would provide the best opportunity. Aside from that I am trying to get enough information so I can answer your follow up questions.
I’ve lived in London twice and loved it there. Very easy to meet people, and it’s just a fun city. I don’t know much about Hong Kong though, having never been there.
go to HK. the China experience may prove to be invaluable later on in your career.
London is great: High taxes, Salary is competitive, Healthcare and quality of life is good; weather is ok, rains a lot. The London economy will lag as soon as US bounces back. Hong Kong is actually fun. Lots of people, but a real culture shock if your used to the US; emerging city with financial talent. If I had to chose, I would go with London. That’s me.
It would be a toss up between london and hong kong, Hong Kong would provide more exposure to a growing market and culture but london is essentially the centre of the world when it comes to finance. London and Hong Kong are both really cool cities but completely different. If you like cheap consumer goods then HK is the place to be, if you want to live in a place where you can communicate with the locals in english then London is your city. Personally, Id lean to Hong Kong because I’ve always wanted to live there and its a really fast paced city. Also its on the pacific rim and when I come back to my hometown, Vancouver, hopefully I’ll have developed some business contacts there so I can start my own business and commute between the two cities, thats the dream atleast. Also I like dim sum/cantonese food and chinese girls so thats a definite plus over bland curry flavoured everything and females of the pasty persausion.