Internal transfer after a year?

How difficult is it to transfer from a BB NYC office to HK after a year? What is the usual procedure for this? Will it piss off the people in NYC who hired you?

24 Comments
 
AstonMartinHow difficult is it to transfer from a BB NYC office to HK after a year? What is the usual procedure for this? Will it piss off the people in NYC who hired you?

Not sure how it works but it seems pretty easy when you look at how high the % of people in HK offices are relocated from NY / London offices.........

 

it depends on your group, and the needs of your skills at said office. At most BBs its 18 months in first role after you first join, and 12 months in any subsequent roles as a minimum before they want you to apply for internal moves.

However all those minimums go out the window if someone high enough thinks that you are needed somewhere, so work hard impress people, and the opportunities will come.

 

I would say its possible within the firm but looked down upon. the only time Ive seen it done in house is when a group was dissolved and they liked the analyst so they let him pick his new group as long as they had a need.

 

I know two first-years who transferred to another IB, but they had to start as first-years again...and you also want to make sure you don't burn any bridges with the firm you are leaving, because the people are likely upset you're going to a competing firm

 

You actually want to stay in merchant banking. Trust Chow on this ;) Next you can move on to comparable work in PE and say to the merchant bankers: "SO LONG GAY BOYSSSSSSSSSSS"

 

should have done it before, now you'll probably burn bridges.

why u want to move back so badly asap.

========================================= We are excited to formally extend to you an offer to join Bank of Ameria
 

Thanks heaps for the replies guys.

Just to clear things up: I was born in Asia (in the city of the BB I am currently working at) and am a non-US citizen. My understanding is that the BB's have international sponsorship opportunities in place for hard-working employees that take care of the VISA and immigration issues etc - at least, that's what they pitched to me in the interview.

So it's not really a matter of if, but more of when best to ask and how to secure.

Am keen to get your advice!

 

Get to know some of the seniors in NY that can vouch for you if possible. If there's any ADR deals going on and an American MD is coming to HK, try to get in on those deals.

Also, keep in mind that some banks have stricter regulations than others. Getting a work visa in the US became substantially harder after TARP.

 
Best Response

From what I know, there are two types of visa that foreigners can potentially apply for: H visa and L visa. If you do not have a US based college degree, you are automatically disqualified for H visa. You will qualify for L visa, but it depends a lot on if the HR in the US is willing to handle this. In most cases, the answer is no unless you are a senior executive.

Frankly, if you are really interested in working in the US, get a MBA and apply for associate positions. Internal transfer is unlikely in your case.

PS: Do NOT ever believe anyone when they are trying to sell their own bank. Clearly, every bank will try to make them look better than other banks and you should expect a lot of BS like this. Reality is it is much easier to move from US to Asia, but never the other way round.

 

In all reality, I don't hear of any HK analysts coming to work back in the states once they start their stint abroad. The exception is coming back for b-school and then recruiting again.

 

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