DB HR Recommends Exploring "Summer Alternatives" for SA

Along with the frustrated incoming DB interns in the other thread, I have reached out to HR multiple times for feedback on current plans. In my latest call, I pushed further asking about the potential alternatives for us. After breaking past the BS, she made an offhand comment on preparing "summer alternatives" in the event SA is disrupted. I followed up asking if this meant in terms of housing/technology or the entire internship itself but she kept being vague. I know when they shut down their Houston office, they gave no notice to the incoming SA and canceled their internship with only the offer to interview for FT.

Maybe I am reading too much into this, but I do not understand why they can't give us a straight answer less than 10 weeks before the internship was supposed to start? I am hoping for the best, but honestly am starting to creating a backup plan.

216 Comments
 

Highly doubt that they would say the former. Definitely need the OP to clarify but highly doubt it. HR probably meant alternatives in the sense of doing a virtual program like PWC possibly

 

That's just f'in awful. Even the smallest of boutiques shouldn't do that (at the very least, let the kids intern for free so at least they can put it on their damn resume.)

 

There must be DB analysts here furiously spreading BS and throwing MS

Fact of the matter is DB gave zero notice until right before the internship, shut down the office and left all the interns hanging. LinkedIn was flooded with posts from UT kids trying to find a last minute internship. Pretty sure a few went viral and still should be public if you search for it.

 

All right, cancel the internship. I don't give a fuck. But they damn better hand out FT offers.

 

DCM guy, I feel for ya... you seem pretty stressed out about all this. Can't blame you -- every day, you hear news from other, smaller shops... and DB just doesn't seem to care.

 

Well he never confirmed what he said when he meant summer alternatives. He probably misinterpreted their tone

 

Pretty sure OP is just reading into the standard “alternative option” response banks have been giving otherwise db is just going to completely ruin the last bit of reputation it has left

 

Just got off a call with HR for DB SA in London. Still very minimal information provided which is getting quite frustrating as other banks have already made decisions regarding summer internships. It seems for now they are going by the assumption that the internship will go as planned (in person) while still monitoring the situation for alternatives. I find it difficult to believe that an in person internship will happen especially when considering that people will have to travel from all around the world to attend. HR said that we will be getting more information next week, although they said the same thing last week... Any further insights are welcome!

 

Damn, this is interesting. Do you mind expanding on what was being talked about during the hour long deliberation?

"Markets can stay irrational longer than you can stay solvent."
 

DB SA London and HR have said they're fully committed to holding the programme as promise, but they are looking at start date possibilities, whatever that means

Good sign?

 

No, but they 100% said they're considering "possibilities with start date" - so like insinuating that they may have flexibility in start date. They haven't considered anything remote but they have all their employees working remote, and that they are functioning nearly as normal.

What are your thoughts?

 

Think this means it could be a shortened programme with a later start date, possibly end of July - end August? And hopefully in-person

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Considering the fact that they haven’t updated any plans to substitute the placement day most importantly is pretty suspicious.

Think about this for a second:

  • “Do not book any flights or accommodations” = even though DB’s internships should technically begin in a little over a month on June 1st like other Wall Street banks, this means they’re not projecting an in-person on the original start date. It takes people a pretty good amount of time to try to find flights and accommodations especially if this is an international bank... So this definitely confirms it will be a virtual start, push start date, or complete cancellation.

  • They sent out a statement to all groups from NY office to SG office stating their plan is in progress and will be updated soon = there is a collective decision being made on virtually all groups/desks. Aka there is an underlying issue/concern aside from covid itself that is making the overall bank question whether or not it is feasible to conduct the internship program. If virtual was such an easy option, they would not hesitate to move forward with that outlet like other BB’s and not wait so last minute for that statement.

  • DB has had a history of closing shop and letting go of employees and interns with no hesitation or prior information. That just goes to show they will make decisions discreetly through upper management and execute hastily after a decision has been made. This means if you were to find out any new updates about the internship program, there’s a pretty good chance it will happen at the very last minute. Be ready to wait a little longer.

Looking at the overall culture and past history of the firm *(ex: how they previously made decisions, group performance.. etc) * you can pretty much tell that DB is trying to hold this out for as long as they can while at the same time keeping their options open for the sake of their bank and not for you.

Just being realistic here. Keep your options open and prepare for the worst; no one is safe from this bullshit.

 

Literally only 2 BBs have moved to fully virtual, and the Europeans in general have not said much. Chill.

 

Just got off a long call with HR (APAC). They're finalizing things and most likely we'll hear by end of week/next week. Indicated that it's very likely we'll have late start + virtual internship and changes to "assessment for graduate opportunities" (obvs didn't go into detail but I suppose that means there wil be more interviews/projects after the summer/end of summer to access who gets a return offer? HR also said summer interns "will be prioritized for 2021 hiring" - sounds like auto FT is off the table? :/ ). Also mentioned possibility of a Plan A + Plan B. Whatever decision they make will most likely be implemented globally, and that things are changing so rapidly that they want to remain "flexible".

 

Thank you for the update. APAC incoming intern too, but IBD. Is this applied to IBD as well?

I would assume "assessment for graduate opportunities" could be more about projects like those they had in previous years? I believe our interview process was basically identical to the graduate one, and I even had a regional head as my interviewer, so what's the point of having interviews again?

Anyways it's good to hear something from them.

 
"Intern in IB - Gen" I would assume "assessment for graduate opportunities" could be more about projects like those they had in previous years? I believe our interview process was basically identical to the graduate one, and I even had a regional head as my interviewer, so what's the point of having interviews again?

Just hopped on the phone again for some clarification cuz this whole thing is driving me nuts lol. Nothing is finalized yet but HR raised examples of maybe additional interviews or evaluation based on projects or even additional events (I'm guessing like a supersized insight day? Or like an ultra intensive networking thing?). Anyway HR said all this stuff will be addressed in the announcement due this/next week. oh and also decisions will most likely be aligned across business lines i.e. probably IBD too

Btw, which office u at bro?

 

The app is trash. They just promote their own bullshit on it. No useful data whatsoever

 
"Intern in IB - DCM" The app is trash. They just promote their own bullshit on it. No useful data whatsoever

HR does their job and promotes firm content to incoming interns: the horror

also, how would you even define useful data? daily updates from Christian Sewing and livestreams of their decision-making process? a weekly announcement that says we're all getting FT offers?

the app ain't much but at least it shows u who's in ur intern class and how many peeps are there - to me at least thats pretty useful

I think the fact is that ur just an immature fucking tool ranting online because his future employer's app for interns won't reveal confidential information

 

Why did you even accept the offer if you hate them so much? They are communicating weekly with us and being very helpful, much more than other banks.

 

Agreed. From what’s been on the news lately with company cuts happening after conference calls etc, this sounds unpromising. Hopefully I’m wrong though. Best of luck man, keep us posted.

 

Just got that. Are they still going to be cutting folks? Still dont know why they want to have a call.

 

HR had a call with the SAs London a couple of weeks ago. They basically fielded questions, concerns etc.

 

Internship is 100% happening. It will be fully virtual though and much shorter. Check the DB app guys

 

Realistically though if the program is being shortened this much what can they do to provide FT offers. Re-interview interns? This program seems to be much shorter than other programs from the likes of BAML, MS, GS, etc...

 

Possibly. Don't think they can even do a case study type project for evaluation given that the program is so short. The first week will probably be similar to training so that will be one week where you can't do anything. Also if they do interviews what will be the purpose since it'll be the same as the SA 2020 interviews.

 

FT Analyst training scheduled for London in August is now virtual via app.

 

Friend said DB app(?) was updated. Internship is now fully virtual, 4 weeks long, only 4 weeks pay but candidates are ‘eligible’ for a full time offer upon completion. No idea if that means auto FT but I wouldn’t be surprised either way. 4 weeks isn’t a tremendous about of time to evaluate anyway especially if there’s only 4 weeks. You defo won’t do any ‘real’ work.

 

I don’t think so. “Eligible for full time offers at the end” seems more like they’re saying interns will still be able to receive full time offers but no guarantees.

 

Anyone call HR to verify if that means auto fulltime? Maybe it will depends on divisions

 
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Honestly at this rate, we should all be thankful we still have an internship going for us even if it’s a max 4 weeks - a lot of other people have had theirs cancelled entirely. The full time offers are contingent on certain factors structured in the program, which I’m sure HR will communicate with us about over email.

Relax guys/gals, you have the internship. Finish classes, pick up some new skills, network within/outside the bank, and enjoy your summer until the start date. This is great news despite all the circumstances happening in the world and within DB.

 

Yup, if they give auto-FT offers then you know what, I'll say the sacrifice of 6 weeks pay is a worthy one. If not, then it's just a complete dick move

 

I agree with this completely. The world is very different today than it was just 3 short months ago. People should be happy they are safe, healthy, and still have the opportunity to secure the job. The worst part about this for SAs is being unable to immerse in culture and determining for yourself if this is the line of work for you. Banks cut people left and right during the crisis and then some, so FWIW, all prospects/interns should be happy you still have a job.

I'm not ignoring the momentary financial hit of 4 weeks of pay vs 10, but this is absolute pennies compared to your trajectory of earnings in this industry.

EBITDA rules everything around me
 

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