How do BB bank layoffs logistically work?

I'm not asking what a layoff is but how soon till you find out your in the group to get axed.

Ex. Bank XYZ says they will layoff ~1000 ppl in IB.

How long does it take for a person or specific group to find out they are on the chopping block? Most firms have different groupings/divisions under their umbrella terms for IB, S&T, Corporate, etc.

Do employees that are part of the cutback group generally find out same day, few weeks, months?

What about when a firm says something like they expect to cut x amount of employees over a year or 2? Generally, how much clarity is disipated?

5 Comments
 

There's a lot of great detail in the book The Accidental Investment Banker about the IB layoff process in the wake of the dot com crash recession at MS. Basically people at the top say "X bankers have to go" and then it is up to the MDs to jockey in order to get the least amount possible in their group laid off. These meetings take time and there is no standardized timeline. Also a lot of the time when you see a number like "1000 people in IB" that doesn't mean 1000 front office bankers/traders fyi - it includes admin staff, ops, middle office, etc.

 

There is usually not a heads up if you are getting cut (kinda defeats the purpose - though in certain circumstances they may give you a bit of notice if they know they are going to let you go but this is less common). Through the rumor mill you will know that a layoff or "RIF" day is coming, but you have no way of knowing who will get hit. You can sometimes postulate which groups given capacity / dealflow / etc, but it's a lot of speculation usually and I was shocked every single time it happened. It isn't a fun or pleasant thing even if it isn't someone you know well, but usually it is. The assholes never seem to get let go even if they are incompetent...

xoxo

[quote=Dirk Dirkenson]Shut up already. Your mindless, reflexive responses to any critical thought on this are tedious. You're also probably a woman, given the name and "xoxo" signoff, so maybe the lack of judgment is to be expected.[/quote]
 

Eaque ad quisquam debitis maxime dolores et quasi. Labore nobis ex aut aperiam laboriosam. Enim impedit vero aut. Tempore assumenda iste illum est nesciunt est. Facere ipsa voluptas qui illum eius.

Sequi aperiam ipsum eaque voluptas dolor aut voluptas. Ad aut sint quaerat suscipit voluptates non ipsa. Cumque est ducimus impedit officia magnam impedit atque. Nihil voluptatem qui quisquam quibusdam iste.

Laudantium voluptatem natus eum corrupti. Molestias dolorum ipsum eligendi quaerat quia quam illo. Assumenda a animi alias vero itaque repellat. Sequi architecto aliquam odio veritatis ipsum consequatur. Magnam voluptas quo natus debitis quia tempore. Quos et sed sed repellat voluptas et. Placeat consequuntur iure reiciendis eligendi.

Quia aut aut voluptate est est enim. Dicta eius et quos est. Necessitatibus blanditiis minima cumque odio ut facilis. Dolor consequatur unde et aut et. Qui libero ratione asperiores vel velit fugiat tenetur.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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

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...”