Moving from credit risk to IBD

First off, don't tell me it can't be done because I interned as a credit risk analyst at a BB over the summer and there were plenty of people who had moved from our department to IBD. One actually did the move while I was interning. I learned about the others through people who were currently working there.

My question though is when do I start trying to make connections in IBD? I'm starting in June and I don't want to seem like I'm trying to get out as soon as I get there. How should things progress?

Also, my program was rotational and I got extremely close with the trading risk team and they really want me for full-time but I know the move to IBD would be much better if I put the IB risk team as my first choice. I had good relations with the IB risk team too but pretty much the whole office knew how close I got with the trading team. Does it seem backstabbing to put IB over trading risk?

15 Comments
 

wait you said you would like to put IB risk team as your first choice - is credit risk not part of the IB risk team?

"Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection demoralizes you"
 

Our credit risk dept. was divided into the trading risk side (working with fixed income) and the banking risk side (working with IBD). I got really close with the trading risk team but being in banking risk is a much easier transition to IBD since you're in constant contact with the bankers.

 

It could come back and hurt you. Think about this... you won't be moving from credit risk to IBD within a year. It'll take time to make that transition and during that time you can make the transition from the trading risk to banking risk. It's really common for people in risk to constantly jump around early during their analyst years, I've seen people go from country reporting to credit risk to market risk, etc.

Frank Sinatra - "Alcohol may be man's worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy."
 
Best Response

ive seen people move from operations to IBD in a BB (with no experience), don't listen to the dogma on WSO about how its impossible. think about what group you want, speak to the person with the most pretentious title in that division, set up a chat in person, sell yourself, tell them you think the division is a good fit for you because X and Y. your skills are transferable and you have experience, show you are resourceful and there is a possibility of you moving to IBD in your firm. people will say its impossible because they do not usually have the balls to do this and try passive agressive moves through HR (HR Dinks do not have a clue whats going on, do not try and move via HR).

 

Many people from my target school have done that at BBs, you can do it through heavy networking over the summer or after 2 years at credit risk. I heard its only within the firm you can easily lateral over

 

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