Graduate vs SA

Hi everyone, 

Given the application season is about to open (at least for EMEA), I was wondering if it's easier to break into S&T or AMPB under summer analyst position or graduate position. I'm eligible for both, just that if I decide to apply through SA position, I'll take one more gap semester. I'm purely focused on securing jobs for now. 

Would want some honest opinions on how I can up my chances the most. Would be better if it's Hong Kong-specific but a generic info would also greatly help! 

Also when does UK application season usually start? 

Thanks in advance. 

5 Comments
 

Thanks for the input! Interesting to hear that. Idk if this is true but iirc, from last year's SA batch, I heard JPM and UBS only gave 2 people return offer out of 15~20 interns. So I thought they'd fill in the gap through graduates, but maybe this isn't the case or just simply because of the low headcount?! Is headcount for graduates usually smaller than SA?

 
Most Helpful

For what division? In what country? 

It's not unheard of for companies to hire many more interns than they need but, at least in the UK, its characteristic for banks to hire the majority (>50%) of their interns in major divisions. It depends how the div is run though. Some have the attitude of: hire interns, take who is good. That's it. If they're desperately in need of staff then there's more options than just hiring grads - you can hire actually experienced people, even if they're 1 YOE.

 

I see! That last year's batch story is something I heard from a friend in Hong Kong S&T but the story itself could be about IBD. I'm trying to break into S&T in Hong Kong; do you know anything in particular about HK job market?

That makes sense that they'll hire an experienced people if they desperately need people. So based on what you've told me, companies either recruit through SA or experienced people. In this case, even though I'll soon be not technically qualified for SA (I only have one more semester left to graduate and have been postponing my graduation which also has a quota of how many times I can postpone), you're recommending I should keep apply through SA channel? 

 

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