Which Offer to Take?

Hey everyone - I'm a sophomore finally done with SA27 SnT recruiting here and I'd really appreciate some advice on taking offers. My dream desks are equity derivs/index vol/custom basket. Also, I'm on an F1 visa

  • Barclays: great in credit + good in equities, lots of alumni in my school in senior positions, generally sponsor-friendly
  • Citi: great in FX + good in rates, has a bigger balance sheet, which is a step up from non-American banks, BUT heard from people that they only sponsor H1B for the algo trading desk
  • Nomura: very sponsor-friendly

    Currently leaning towards Barclays just based on sponsorship, would be really grateful for advice and more perspectives

Which offer to take?

Barclays
56% (29 votes)
Citi
38% (20 votes)
Nomura
6% (3 votes)
Total votes: 52
3 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, Barclays seems like a strong choice for your situation. Here's why:

  1. Sponsorship: Barclays is noted for being sponsor-friendly, which is crucial for you as an F1 visa holder. This aligns with your long-term career needs.

  2. Equities Strength: While Barclays is great in credit, it also has a solid reputation in equities, which aligns with your interest in equity derivatives, index vol, and custom baskets.

  3. Alumni Network: Having a strong alumni presence in senior positions at Barclays can provide valuable mentorship and networking opportunities, which could be advantageous for your career growth.

  4. Citi's Sponsorship Limitation: While Citi has a bigger balance sheet and strengths in FX and rates, the limitation of H1B sponsorship to the algo trading desk could be a significant drawback for your specific goals.

  5. Nomura's Sponsorship: While Nomura is very sponsor-friendly, it may not have the same level of strength or reputation in the desks you're targeting compared to Barclays.

Given your priorities—sponsorship, desk alignment, and long-term career prospects—Barclays appears to be the best fit. However, if you have specific preferences for FX or rates, Citi could still be worth considering despite the sponsorship limitation.

Sources: Citi vs CS vs Barclays for IB, Sponsor vs LP, Need Advice: Citi/Barclays Offer vs. Recruiting for GS/MS/JPM

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

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