Should I be worried? Incoming UBS IB Summer Analyst (SA 26)
Hi everyone,
I finished recruiting for SA 26 and the best offer I could land was the UBS NYC IB role. While I am very grateful that I got an offer, the many negative posts on WSO about UBS makes me worried. I know that UBS right now is like a tier 3 or 4 bank, not doing so well and getting worse. I'm curious to get feedback on these queries I have:
1. I will try to do my best to get placed into their strongest groups to maximize exits/lateral options. Are there any advice on how to do this, specifically pertaining to UBS process? (if anyone knows)
2. How does UBS's downfall affect my intern experience and how much I would be able to learn?
3. (Assuming that I get a return offer for FT) How likely would it be for me to lateral to a better bank for FT? Will UBS's name be down in the drain that it's gonna be hard?
4. Will SA return offer rates be scary low due to the low deal volume?
I welcome any other advice for someone in my position, thank you!
if this is your only option, don't overthink it and neither the "after the SA paths"
think only about the SA now. Go there, do your best job, learn as much as possible, network (including with people from other banks), leave good impressions, and let the rest take care of its own.
At the end of the SA you'll get more clarity and then you can come back to those questions.
UBS is still a BB lol relax
False
WSO believe it is an UMM now
Stop just changing your title and posting. It's pretty obvious it's the same person posting UBS hate with different titles given your style and the rank.
Wouldn’t hurt to shop offers for a better bank (GS, JPM etc) during the summer.
During which summer? Summer 2025 or 2026?
Summer 2026 - talk to people at other banks while you’re doing your internship… can be challenging and you should focus on return offer but can be done
Tier 3 or 4 bank is very hyperbolic; to be very clear UBS is still way better than vast majority of investment banks in the country. It is just significantly worse than it tries to markets itself(as a top 6 US bank) and experiences across the bank will vary wildly on group. I think a UBS top groups flow is pretty comparable to mid-tier BBs, it's just that there's so few and the gap between the top and bottom groups is perhaps the biggest amongst any banks. UBS LevFin/Sponsors/Industrials are all genuinely competitive franchises in their respective spaces for instance, it's just that the bank has some groups that quite literally have zero flow (RELL, FIG, and Tech for instance).
If you get into one of the top groups, flow is perfectly fine and you will get good transactional experience. Your situation is fine within context of UBS, the people who are screwed are those who are already at the firm in the rest of the groups as vast majority of UBS groups simply suck. Just shoot for Sponsors/LevFin/Industrials and if don't gel with people in those three, shoot for CR/HC. All 5 will give you a fine transactional experience though I have heard HC be somewhat toxic, at least at the mid and senior levels with infighting.
Lateraling from UBS should not be very hard. UBS is still a pretty good bank relative to the hundreds of banks out there, and you will be a top candidate for lateraling. I would recommend trying to lateral once you go FT since think focus for all interns should just be getting a return especially in tough economic environments. Much easier to focus in on lateraling once FT since you have some level of job security;imo the risk-reward of trying to grind lateral during your summer internship doesn't make sense when there's a very real chance of not getting a return.
Ultimately, comparison is the theft of joy. You’ll be totally fine if you’re putting in the work, learning as much as you can, and getting real reps on deals. The obsession with where your bank sits on some arbitrary tier list or how it stacks up on WSO rankings doesn’t matter nearly as much as the experience you’re getting and how you position yourself going forward. UBS remains a great spot to start your career way and a way better starting spot than the vast majority of people recruiting will have. So, congrats on the offer and good luck on getting a return offer!
Thank you so much for your response, great to hear a perspective of someone that knows the industry much better. I appreciate the assurance and will focus my efforts on SA group placements soon.
You might get laid off before you start
UBS lives rent-free in the heads of the bottom-bucket legacy UBS bankers, truly. Put the fries in the bag, bro.
The past is not indicative of future performance. UBS will be probably in a even worse spot by the time you intern. You should be a little worried.
I'm curious to get feedback on these queries I have:
1. I will try to do my best to get placed into their strongest groups to maximize exits/lateral options. Are there any advice on how to do this, specifically pertaining to UBS process? (if anyone knows)
Talk to as many people as possible on group placement, utilize any school connections + nepotism you can.
2. How does UBS's downfall affect my intern experience and how much I would be able to learn?
A lot. You probably won’t be on real deals. You will be on pitches and do fake work. Like the full time juniors. Brought to you by UBS, banking is our craft.
3. (Assuming that I get a return offer for FT) How likely would it be for me to lateral to a better bank for FT? Will UBS's name be down in the drain that it's gonna be hard?
I’m sure it’s hard but doable. You want to make connections / possibly interview while you’re doing your internship, which is tricky.
4. Will SA return offer rates be scary low due to the low deal volume?
Yes, most likely. Normally offers are yours to lose. I would think they will be more selective this year.
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