From Paris to London after Off cycle at MS Paris

Hi everyone,

I am interviewing for an off-cycle internship at Morgan Stanley in Sales & Trading in Paris, but I’m still weighing my options before making a decision. While this opportunity is exciting, my long-term goal is to secure a full-time position in London on a similar desk because I live there currently and love it.

Before deciding, I wanted to get some insights into:

  1. How common it is for interns at Morgan Stanley in Paris to transition into full-time roles in London.

  2. What factors are the most critical in making this happen (e.g., standout performance, networking, recommendations, headcount).

  3. Whether this route is a strong stepping stone to achieving my goal, or if I should focus on pursuing opportunities directly in London instead.

If anyone has experience or advice, particularly regarding mobility between MS Paris and London, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks in advance for your help!

5 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, transitioning from an off-cycle internship at Morgan Stanley Paris to a full-time role in London is possible but not guaranteed. Here are some key insights:

  1. Mobility Between Offices: While mobility between offices (e.g., Paris to London) is not uncommon, it largely depends on internal factors like headcount availability in the London office and your performance during the internship. Networking within the firm and expressing your interest in London early on can also help.

  2. Critical Factors for Transition:

    • Standout Performance: Delivering exceptional results during your internship is crucial. This includes excelling in your tasks, demonstrating strong technical skills, and being proactive in adding value to the team.
    • Networking: Building relationships with colleagues in both the Paris and London offices is essential. Attend firm-wide events, reach out to London-based employees, and make your career aspirations known to key decision-makers.
    • Recommendations: Securing strong endorsements from your managers and team in Paris can significantly boost your chances of being considered for a London role.
    • Headcount: Ultimately, the availability of roles in London will play a significant role. Keep in mind that London is a highly competitive market, and securing a position there may require additional effort.
  3. Stepping Stone or Direct Approach?:

    • An off-cycle internship at MS Paris can be a strong stepping stone, especially if you perform well and leverage the opportunity to network with the London team. However, if your ultimate goal is London, you might also consider applying directly to opportunities there, such as summer internships or off-cycle roles, which often have higher conversion rates to full-time positions.

For more detailed advice, you might find it helpful to explore threads like the "20 Most Frequently Asked Questions - London Edition" on WSO (url: https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/20-most-freque…). This thread discusses networking, mobility, and other strategies for securing roles in London.

Sources: 20 Most Frequently Asked Questions - London Edition, 20 Most Frequently Asked Questions - London Edition, A Trading Story :Encouragement for the rest of us, JP Morgan intern switching divisions, MSF to IB

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

It really depends on where your main desk is located, but it's def more common for interns that are already in London to get the return offer there as they can leverage their connection directly with the heads. But I've also seen a trend in the recent years for interns in the UK getting converted into FT in other offices in Europe, prob because of Brexit and regulatory reasons ( but don't fully quote me on that ). 

 

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