Hong Kong and Shanghai ER vs Boutique/MM IB Internship

Hey guys,

Need some advice here. I'm right now studying in a target in Singapore and my eventual goal is to break into IB. I'm now undecided between 3 possible alternatives:

1) Take 6 months off school to do an internship in a local (Singapore) bank ER (Shanghai/Hong Kong)

or

2) Take 6 months off school to an internship with a local boutique IB/PE

or

3) TRY to find a local boutique IB/PE thats willing to let me do a part-time internship (eg. come in twice a week and possibly weekends) for 4-5 months during my semester.

The underlying question is: Does a BB IB in Singapore value Equity Research an internship in Hong Kong/Shanghai or value a local(Singapore) IB internship at a MM or Boutique firm more? I'm not too sure if the overseas (Shanghai + Hong Kong) experience will be deemed valuable. I know I kinda posted this before really need more advice =//

Thanks in advance! (:

5 Comments
 

If you plan on working in Singapore, I would pick option 2. You want to know about the position as much as possible to see whether they will provide full time offer after internship. For Hong Kong/ Shanghai, is the internship with a BB? If you want to do IBD (M&A), ER internship is not going to help that much. You still want to do an internship that focus on transaction experience, which is not ER.

"I am the hero of the story. I don't need to be saved."
 
sxh6321If you plan on working in Singapore, I would pick option 2. You want to know about the position as much as possible to see whether they will provide full time offer after internship. For Hong Kong/ Shanghai, is the internship with a BB? If you want to do IBD (M&A), ER internship is not going to help that much. You still want to do an internship that focus on transaction experience, which is not ER.

@sxh6321: It is not with a BB. However, it is with a well-known commercial bank in Singapore. Also, right now I am a freshman and I'm about to go for a summer (non-SA) internship in Equities Sales in New York. How should I position that to a potential IB hirer?

Thanks!

 
Best Response

If you were still in Freshman year, I would say that it doesn't really matter. Try working at as many different part of the banks (front office role) while you still can. That will probably give you a better idea on what you want to do. You might not like IBD and prefer ER. Take your time to explore and really learn how investment banks operate in a big picture (CEO viewpoint), rather than focusing on function and department level.

If you have to pick jobs between developing market vs. developed market, always pick the latter. My mentors have been telling me to get work experience in major financial hubs like New York and London before I move back to Asia. That's just my 2 cents. I am working at New York City. Let me know when you are in town. If you have specific questions, PM me. I will be more than happy to help.

"I am the hero of the story. I don't need to be saved."
 

The experience overseas should be valuable in Singapore. I've never lived in any of those countries but have a good amount of experience in Asia, the US and Europe and have been invited to interview at a couple of firms in Singapore. Most of the Singapore research is ex-Singapore (all other Asian countries, it just happens that the firms are based in Singapore) so experience in other countries is probably going to be well regarded at most shops, especially if you have language skills. I don't know which of the 3 you should choose, but it mostly depends on whether you want to do ER or IB.

 

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