GS BJ vs Citi HK

I am IBD summer internship Offer from GS BJ and Citi HK. Would really like to hear some perspectives from someone who's worked in the banking industry before in HK. In the future I would like to work in China mainland, either PE or some in-house M&A team. I need to make the decision really soon.

23 Comments
 

Thank you for your reply. My main concern is if GSGH is as prestigious since it's located in Beijing. Also I am not sure about the work split b/t HK and BJ team. Do you have any information on that?

 
Best Response

Yes. GSGH will have contact in the deal process with most of the business that involves China. Consensus is that for GS, emphasis at jr level for China-related deals is being shifted from HK to BJ.

Regarding prestige, yes HK is a more "prestigious" finance hub than BJ and most banks' China JV counterparts reflect that (UBSSUBS, First CapitalJPM). Usually the proxy for "prestige" can be reflected in pay. GSGH is the only BB JV in Beijing (AFAIK) that pays global pay. This should be enough to tell you that anyone who knows anything about China IB will not give you a reputational discount if you go to GSGH ASSUMING your career is in China.

That said I turned down GSGH because I am uncertain of whether I want to be in China forever, I hate Beijing (health problems), and because I know that my product is M&A, and GSGH deal pipeline (even now) is ECM DCM focused. But if u don't mind what product (blank slate) and you want to stay in China, I think GSGH is a no-brainer at this pt....

 

I dont want to pass an opportunity to have GS on my resume plus BJ is a great place to live except for the environment issues.

 

Before you choose - do check with juniors that are working there. The challenge at times with the APAC offices, especially HK / Shanghai / Beijing is that those teams spend most of their time translating work done by the sector and M&A teams from London or NYC! I know my firms HK IBD team finds themselves in that situation all the time and even more so for our Beijing team.

 

I don't know what kind of firm does this. Most BBs I know have dedicated back office translation teams for this kind of stuff. Unless there's a special circumstance (e.g. Tight deadline) FO staff will not do heavy lifting translation work for their own offices, let alone overseas offices...

 
"scroogemcduck"

I don't know what kind of firm does this. Most BBs I know have dedicated back office translation teams for this kind of stuff. Unless there's a special circumstance (e.g. Tight deadline) FO staff will not do heavy lifting translation work for their own offices, let alone overseas offices...

That's like saying "Every BB has a creative services team and analysts don't have to charts and slides"

The so-called "special circumstance" is actually most of the time. The truth is that the translation services will still require lots of proof reading from someone who understands the context of the situation. On top of that, to say you don't do heavy lifting translation work for overseas offices is even more ridiculous - if it was produced in the HK office, they'd do it straight into Chinese and not require translation in the first place.

Time is not something that is in abundance...let alone f*** ups from a 3rd party.

 

I think the pay is the same (from my internship offer letter). What's the different focus you just mentioned? Also where did you get your information? Many thanks.

 

oh haha that's what i meant... so you've probably already signed with one of them (it sounds like you signed with GSGH to me)? If that's the case, it'd be absolutely ridiculous to go back on the GSGH commitment to go to Citi.

Lemme guess, you've got a buddy at Citi pulling you towards Citi? Don't listen to him/her -- word on the street is, citi is shitty

 

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