Observations from IB recruiting: Associate level
I thought it would be a good idea to share my observations, and my boredom, on IB recruiting at the associate level.
On-campus recruiting: Associates look so happy. I want to be a banker. Nothing like making some money and looking this happy.
The elevators at Credit Suisse offices on Madison sure feel like they are going to fall apart. Are they as old as they appear?
Dammit, my emails to Citi bankers keep getting returned. Oh wait another downsizing. No wonder.
Ahh, that’s why the BAML building has all those windows. Otherwise they don’t see the light of day. Now I know where all the non-targets end up.
Sign reads: Goldman Sachs On-Campus Presentation Today: Yes, I’m so there. Oh not for recruiting but for the food. Thanks for the lobster dinner and by the way here’s my middle finger douchebag. Hopefully that just got me on the GS Elevator Gossip.
Thanks for allowing me to visit Mr. MD at UBS. I was so glad I took 30 minutes out of my life to spend time hearing you complain about why the industry sucks and people shouldn’t go into banking.
Without a doubt Barclay’s has the best free pens.
One word to sum up Lazard: Weirdos
Office visit: Damn, analysts and associates look miserable. Analysts look tired but they still have that glow. It’s clear that deep down they still have hope but associates just look pissed. Forget my first observation. Maybe I don’t want to be an associate.
Haha, brilliant.
Entertaining and well written.
WOW - I looked down at my desk and realized I still got that Barclays pen from a career fair in 2010
Just the right size tip and ink release right?
that's what she said
Dude, Lazard used to always bring Jimmy Johns.. Do they still do that?
Unfortunately we just had a quick visit from a few bankers and spoke with other bankers via telephone. I should send them an email asking for some food next time.
Great post!! What observations on MS/JPM??
If for some reason NY ever runs out of hair gel/mousse I think it will be because of the MS guys. Those guys were always slicked for some reason. Well the ones I met at least.
JPM: couldn't think of anything interesting so please feel free to add. Maybe something will come up soon.
Ha, those circle of deaths are the worst. Having a group of students pretend interest to some MD's rant on anything.
Definitely the worst. Sometimes I wanted to think I was at a wedding, hoping the MD would bust a move in the circle while all of us clapped and screamed
I'm picturing this
It's the worst when you're a student stuck in one of those circle of deaths and somebody just asked the MD (more likely a VP): "What's your view on the M&A market right now?" (or some other generic bullshit question). And you can't bail (thereby dismantling the circle of death) because it would be too obvious (and look bad), so you end up standing there listening to all these kiss-ass questions. That's hell.
Had this multiple times at OCR. Basically when I got annoyed with "The Circle" I would just excuse myself for a bathroom break, to then come back after like 1 min to scoop up an empty lower ranked banker. Being polite, of course, but lowering myself to standing there like a lemming - no thanks.
I also find it quite hilarious how some MD's actually enjoy "The Circle". One MD kept on rambling and whining on just about anything he could think of. After some time my head became clouded with thoughts like "maybe you should ask any of us whether we give a shit".
SO true on Barclays. Their pens are phenomenal
agree with credit suisse; building and entrance looks fantastic from the outside. Once you step in though, the place just looks like it'll crumble from within
Really? The cs building looks old and shit from the outside to me
...
Nice. Very nice.
barclays moleskin notebook by far the best swag
nice read :)
Thanks for the mints Guggenheim!
haha this is great!
Those CS elevators break down all the time (usually with me in them)
Sounds pretty grim.
why is Lazard weirdos?
They remind of many of the ER folks I've met, socially awkward and no personality. There is just something a bit off. Great firm but not my cup of tea.
LOL! I've had my fair share of ER weirdos...!
ok now someone must have something interesting to say about JPM...anyone? my impression of those guys varied quite a bit, so can't really come up with a good generic description.
IB recruiting was such a colossal waste of time. Right from the sign up sheets, to the canned corporate presentation, to the "special speaker" who goes on for a half hour, to the circles... I can go on. I forget a lot of the bank specific ones, but they're all a blended mush in my memory at this point. Some of my favorite (I mean, most hated) questions involve "Why [insert bank name]", to which you get the same answers from all of the bulges, then the same answer from all of the boutiques and middle markets. It's a good thing if you had survived it all; even better if you saw the light early enough to choose an entirely different recruiting path altogether.
UBS has some uncomfortable lobbby couches. They look good but they kind of suck.
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