"at will" job/internship contract.

I'm graduating Dec. 2013. I've signed to start with Bank A in June (middle market IBD). I've recently been accepted into a 6 month internship program that ends in July with Bank B (JP/Citi/DB corporate finance), which would be great to do for this "gap time". As you can see, there is a timing conflict.

Want to do both, not sure how flexible either is. I'm less inclined to "disturb" the full-time place.

Do both, then quit the internship early? (contract says it's "at will"). Contracts also clearly says the exact start and end dates.

13 Comments
 

Virtually all "contracts" you'll get are going to be at will. They care fire you and you can quit. Doesn't make either better though...

The truth is, you need to be very straightforward with Bank B, and let them know that you'll have to end in June to go to Bank A. If you really want to go to Bank B, I suppose you could wait until after you start working to break the news, but that could be awkward.

June is pretty early though, most banks I know host their training in mid july early august.

 
Dren

I suppose you could wait until after you start working to break the news, but that could be awkward.>

Yea...wondering how bad this would be. Maybe mention if after a few months on the job of exceptional performance.
Haters gonna hate
 

What are the implications of knowingly signing something that you won't be able to commit to? ie contract says end date July 5, I can only stay until June 5.

Haters gonna hate
 

At-will is standard for an internship contract. I don't see why they could not be flexible, especially since it is a 6-month internship. My understanding is that the July 5th date is the NTE (not-to-exceed) date for that given position (of course they could retain you, but you'd have to sign another contract.)

Just be up-front

Array
 

The internship is at a better bank and one that I would really like to break into full-time. Also, I need the money to live for that 6 month period.

Haters gonna hate
 
advantageplayer

The internship is at a better bank and one that I would really like to break into full-time. Also, I need the money to live for that 6 month period.

Hold on, you have a BB IBD gig that starts full-time this June, and you're trying to work for six months at another BB IBD as an intern? And this second bank doesn't know that you're going to be a grad and start full-time somewhere else in a few months?

This is a horrible idea.

1.You're setting yourself up to get your offer pulled from Bank A. They're not going to be cool with you interning at their competitor for 6 months. Especially since you're going behind their back. If you need money, you should just ask to start early or work out a way to get your signing bonus faster.

  1. Bank B is going to be super pissed that a) You're leaving the internship early, b) You're not actually a college student, and c) You lied to them all this time. So that's going to shitlist you there forever, and potentially at other places.

What's the end-game, renege with Bank A to get a job with B? If you want to do that, you should have declined their offer and delayed graduation to go through normal SA recruiting. Or just lateral once you've started full-time work.

 

Don't be stupid, you have the potential to really upset both banks. Bank A won't be pleased that you're interning somewhere else as it seems that you'd be hoping to obtain an offer from there and jump ship. Bank B will be upset because you are already committed to another bank and thus are ineligible for fulltime employment and could have access to information they wouldn't want Bank A to have.

Your only option is to play it straight. First speak to Bank A, explain your situation and see if you can start early or if they can advance your signing fee.If this is not possible, ask if they object to you interning at another bank. If somehow they don't, explain things to Bank B and ask if they are cool with it as well.

In case you can't start earlier at Bank A and either of the banks doesn't want you to intern at Bank B, just find a job to cover the period in between. Take any kind of job even if it doesn't appeal to you, you know its only temporarily and that will make it bearable. Just don't risk your offer with Bank A over an internship.

 

I'm 100% set on working at Bank A in June (BMO/RBS/WF/HSBC investment banking, but I'd also really like to do this internship that ends in July (Citi/CS/Db/JP corporate finance intern).

My idea is to do the internship, come back to work at lower tier different bank ibd for 2 years, then try to break into ibd at higher tier bank, having previously worked there and developed contacts.

Haters gonna hate
 
Best Response
advantageplayer

I'm 100% set on working at Bank A in June (BMO/RBS/WF/HSBC investment banking, but I'd also really like to do this internship that ends in July (Citi/CS/Db/JP corporate finance intern).

My idea is to do the internship, come back to work at lower tier different bank ibd for 2 years, then try to break into ibd at higher tier bank, having previously worked there and developed contacts.

So much for "both BB IBD"

 

Natus eos voluptatem repellat quis vitae. Aperiam dolorem officiis velit autem in non molestias expedita. Facere ut numquam ut corporis. Qui rerum rerum exercitationem repudiandae est. Est reprehenderit recusandae et est ipsa.

Haters gonna hate

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”