Harris Williams IB london vs BarCap IBD

Hi,

I have an FT offer from HW&Co London office which seems really attractive in terms of dealflow, visibility and PE exposure, albeit in the middle market segment.

Now it seems that I might go into a quick process for BarCap FT IBD EMEA since they had a recent opening.

How would you go about this? How long can I delay HW? Also any insights in comparing the two would be much appreciated.

19 Comments
 

How long do you already have your offer and do you already have an indication of how long the Barcap process might take? The fact that you "might get into a quick process" sounds more like you're hoping but don't have an interview invitation yet... Did HW give you the usual 2 week deadline?

From a career progression point of view, I'd think Barcap is the better choice.

 
Best Response
whateverittakesThey just rebranded so that IBD, wealth management, and S&T are all referred to as just "Barclays."

Value add from marketing right there.

"After you work on Wall Street it’s a choice, would you rather work at McDonalds or on the sell-side? I would choose McDonalds over the sell-side.” - David Tepper
 

Well, I received the offer in writing 4 days ago but has indicated a strong interest already.

I do have an Barcap invitation but haven't decided on when, that's why I'm asking you guys how much I can push BarCap and stall the other.... I'd guess HW need my response by the end of next week (latest) which means less than 7 days to complete a potential barcap process. Any thoughts on how long that can take?

It seems like the consensus is Barcap from a career point of view.

 

It's unlikely barcap will be done in 7 days. But you need to try everything.

"After you work on Wall Street it’s a choice, would you rather work at McDonalds or on the sell-side? I would choose McDonalds over the sell-side.” - David Tepper
 

Don't waste your time, try to arrange the Barclays interview asap during the next week. If you bomb the interview then the case is closed anyway. If it goes well you can still try to gamble with HW. If HW asks you now, just come with the lame excuse that it's a big decision in your life or whatever. That's at least what I would do. I also would NOT sign HW and then try to walk out of it. While there might be no legal repercussions (no clue about UK legislation on this), it's at least highly frowned upon and this shit always comes to the surface at a later point in time.

 

Give them a bullshit excuse. Out of college I stalled accepting my offer letter for more than a month. I literally accepted the offer the morning that it expired. I made the usual excuse, this is a big life decision blah blah blah... If you feel like they would push back on that, just make up some bullshit like I have a dying long lost twin sister whom I have never met....

And most definitely try to speed up the process with Barclays.

 

On that note to everyone on here, do you think in general to tell Barclays that you have another offer expiring soon and need to move the process along (in a more cordial tone of course)?

"History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme."
 
streetwannabeOn that note to everyone on here, do you think in general to tell Barclays that you have another offer expiring soon and need to move the process along (in a more cordial tone of course)?

Yes. Reassures them that he's a quality guy and that they might lose out otherwise. Just make sure to say that you actually really want THEIR job but there's still that you still have your security offer which you are not afraid to use.

 

^ What the above said. Call them, tell them straight up you have an offer and deadline, but that Barclays is your first choice and you hope that they'll be able to accelerate the process for you. I was able to get a response in the week timeframe I had (but this was also for a lateral - which may be more flexible than a student process, where there are a lot more candidates at one time). In any case, if they do it for you great, if they can't then you at least have an offer with a good firm with a good culture and trajectory.

 

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