33 Comments
 

after lev fin, then HY cap markets, maybe a syndicate desk...depends on what you want to do...usually you don't have a choice

 

My suggestion is don't join Capital Markets, it's the worst group ever and the work is beyond mundane. It makes Banking look like F-1 racing.

 

Contrary to what Phucked says, the very reason a lot of people join CM is because the work is anything but. You work with both your client and investors and are the bridge between S&T and Banking. No cubes, but a trading floor environment means there's never a dull moment.

Not sure how your bank is structured, but ECM and LevFin are in CM at my bank. I'd recommend them along with any of the fixed income coverage/product groups.

Hours range from 12 - 18 (pushing banking in LevFin/ECM)

 
Best Response

Unlike pitchbitch, I actually work in ECM. Contrary to what people say, there is no "client interaction", you're an excel monkey but unlike Banking, there is no quantitative modelling experience alongside to teach you valuation skills, actually analyze a company etc.

It's more like backoffice work and exit opportunities are non-existent. Especially with the current market and the new PE/HF tax, you think PE/HFs are gonna want a CM banker ?? with no modelling experience, you're destined to remain in ECM/go back to B-School.

Trust me son, don't do it. Do Banking and you won't regret it.

The base is same as banking but the bonus isn't, in the current market should range between 50-60K.

 
CompBankerI'm sure there are people out there that would rather be in ECM than IBD though.
Pardon my ignorance, but isn't ECM part of the investment bank along with M&A, DCM, FIG, Sales & Trading, etc.?

Can someone clear this up for me? This is getting confusing.

 
CompBankerPhucked, didn't you get placed in ECM last week?

http://www.ibankingoasis.com/node/8032

I personally am not too familiar with ECM. I'm sure there are people out there that would rather be in ECM than IBD though.

What exactly is your point ? Yes, I did get placed in ECM and I hate it, I'm trying to warn others instead of trying to be a smartass like yourself.

Hell, even e.research is better than ECM.

 

He could very well be in for a rude awakening. I know when I was at Lehman, the DCM & ECM group came in way before all the other bankers -- around the same time as salesmen and traders. Also, they left around the same time as most of the people on their floor.

At Lehman, ECM & DCM are part of the Investment Banking Division. They are part of the Global Finance "Super Group" that also includes LevFin and Risk Solutions. I might be forgetting something...

 
EuroMonkeyThey do indeed. For info though, roadshows can be done for many kinds of large scale operations. It's basically pulling out the big guns to sell a story to investors (m&a, ecm, dcm).

luke77, seems like you didn't really get an answer above. You should be more specific as to your options and type of focus you'd like to have in your job.

To be more specific, I am at one of the big BB banks. Anyone with much knowledge of the big banks will be able to tell which one from this post, but the groups I have narrowed it down to now are:

Credit Derivatives CDO's Mortgage finance (encompasses both prime and subprime) Commercial Real Estate Finance Asset Based Finance Global Structured Solutions (basically provide unique financing to large companies/governments)

Capital Markets does include both ECM and leveraged finance (and our ecm guys get heavy modeling experience, that's the majority of what they do), but I'm not interested in going into either group. As far as what I want to focus on, I really don't know - I have no real preference for a group that is going to be doing mostly modeling vs. client presentations, etc. because without having done either type of work I don't really know what it will be like. I guess I'm looking for the most "interesting" groups, if that's possible...

 

not mocking/being an ass, but do you really think you've gotten a thorough experience in just a week? i don't doubt that you may have had a horrible experience for the short time you've been there but do you think that's going to reflect on all of ECM?

 

Well, I've been here almost a month now. And was told straight up that there would be no modelling/valuation work in the job. I guess the dissapointment of not being placed in banking hasn't yet worn off. I should point out as a disclaimer that I work at a MM bank, so my experience doesn't necessarily apply to the BBs. Even so, I see no upside at all by working in ECM.

 

some cap mkts people become traders, or at least the path is very open to them if they want it, which is cool; so HF is a very strong possibility from what i understand, but it is a different line of work. valuation work / "modeling" (in the ibanking sense) is ultimately useless if this is the goal.

 

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