IB Opportunities in Shanghai?
Hey everyone,
I’m currently about to start a Master in Corporate Finance at LUISS, with a second year at Fudan University in Shanghai through their double degree program.
Just wondering if there are realistic chances to break directly into investment banking in Shanghai after this path, and more generally how the IB scene looks over there for someone with a European background.
Thanks a lot for any insights, appreciate it!
You are not getting if you are not Chinese. In fact you are not getting in unless you got connections to CCP.
I am never the sort of person who speaks in absolutisms, but unfortunately, unless you are native Shanghainese (so that’s not just a Chinese native speaker, but then Chinese and a Shanghai native on top of that) and say “nong hao” for your “ni hao”, I’m afraid you have a snowball’s chance in hell of breaking in. So much of the work is local capital markets oriented, with almost no non-Mainland deal flow, so language is key. Someone had a comment about CCP connections … couldn’t say but probably true …
They don’t want you, they don’t need you and they’d rather you weren’t around. This is because of the river of local talent finding their way back to the mainland from HK and further afield who have western educations and experience.
Hong Kong, same story. Singapore on the other hand … doable, very.
Now that said, some people do break into, but they’re unfortunately “paid to be white” (some clients like this). They’ll come to a lot of meetings, be featured in marketing materials, but will do no meaningful work and not be paid anywhere close to a decent wage. Not what you want…
How do I know all this you might ask? I, like you, am of European background and moved to Shanghai with the intent of breaking into IB in Asia after going to another school in China. I did end up breaking into IB and had a good long run, but not in China.
Jia you!
Isn’t Singapore impossible for non-Singaporean citizens?
Unless you're Malaysian Chinese
Damn. UK Semi UG + UK Target Msc (LBS\LSE) white guy with good boutique IB experience, do I have no shot? No work visa in Singapore. Have long term partner in SG and have spent time there and love it
Suena como una oportunidad muy interesante LUISS + Fudan es una combinación poco común y eso, en sí, puede diferenciarte. Dicho eso, la banca de inversión en Shanghai es un ecosistema con sus particularidades, y acceder como candidato europeo puede ser posible, pero no sin retos.
Most comments above are BS. You don't need to be native Shanghaiese. In fact, nobody cares because if you aren't Beijing native, you are basically not the top caste there. But even that, it doesn't matter much in IB.
No need connections to CCP because if you are big shot, you would have started your own PE at 24 rather than working for some banks for peanuts. Even the connected princelings in IB in HK are known for their uselessness, cannot originate and many only stay there to leech their family fame. The ones who can monetize family connections would have gone to PE or HF or start their own business.
However, most headcounts are in HK or Shanghai. And to cover China, close to native fluency in Mandarin is needed. Even HK or TW ppl many couldn't make it. Many calls are entirely in Mandarin with different accents and poor call quality as most guys either talk in a big room or using shit tier headsets. If you aren't native, you can't really understand what they are talking. You also cannot write proper emails and slides, which makes you a liability to the team. Lastly as one gets senior, he need to be the same group to schmooze and get along. Either you are white who parachute from NY as MD doing admin and non-China origination rather than origination with title of head of some BS APAC sector or product teams or you just cannot survive.
Alias qui omnis harum nobis vero hic fugit fuga. Excepturi laborum ullam laudantium magni est. Et ratione assumenda et laborum corrupti. Rerum doloribus fuga laboriosam nihil illum deleniti quia. Voluptatem cumque quas dicta.
Ipsum aspernatur numquam at voluptatibus eum dolor quas quis. Recusandae temporibus non officiis consequuntur aliquam libero. Nemo consequatur optio quos tempore est.
Qui perspiciatis repellendus quibusdam sunt sed sint. Et omnis nobis asperiores sint debitis. Odio nihil autem blanditiis sequi.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...