BP Early Careers Event

Got invited to visit one of the offices (HOU/CHI), and apply early to their internship program. I'd kill to get into their TDP, but I also have an exploding Investment Banking offer, and I need to make sure I have something lined up for next summer. Does anybody know how often the early career participants are offered internship spots? Is it too big a risk to take, or should I just go for gold and hope I get it? 

No question, I'd prefer to have literally any role in physicals over banking, but I know that I can jump from banking to trading if needed, but probably can't go from trading to banking.

19 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, your situation boils down to balancing risk and reward. If you strongly prefer a role in trading (like BP's TDP) over banking, attending the Early Careers Event could be a great opportunity. However, it's important to weigh the likelihood of securing an internship spot through this program.

Here are some key considerations:

  1. Conversion Rates: While specific data on BP's Early Careers Event conversion rates isn't provided, such events are often designed to identify and fast-track top candidates. If you're confident in your ability to stand out, this could be a solid bet.

  2. Exploding Offer: Investment Banking offers are highly competitive, and having one in hand is a significant advantage. If the deadline to accept is tight, you might not have enough time to gauge your chances with BP before committing.

  3. Career Flexibility: As you mentioned, transitioning from banking to trading is more feasible than the reverse. If you accept the banking offer, you could still pivot to trading later, keeping your options open.

  4. Risk Appetite: If you're willing to take a calculated risk and prioritize your passion for trading, attending the BP event and applying early could be worth it. However, ensure you have a backup plan in case it doesn't work out.

Ultimately, if the exploding offer's deadline is imminent and you can't get clarity from BP in time, it might be safer to secure the banking role and explore trading opportunities later. If you have more time, attending the event and pursuing BP's program could align better with your long-term goals.

Sources: 43 Diversity Recruiting Programs at Investment Banks - The Most Exhaustive List, Internal Lateraling Guide, 20 Most Frequently Asked Questions - London Edition, 20 Most Frequently Asked Questions - London Edition, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/trading/opportunities-after-tdp-at-supermajor?customgpt=1

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

Thought about it an absolute ton throughout the first half of UG, and I think trading is a better gig, albeit less structured and a little riskier. 

I just wish I had an offer in hand. Guess I'll have to risk it.

 

if I were you I'd take the banking offer for now and renege it if you get the job at bp

you'll have a great backup in case bp doesnt work out and the downsides are pretty minimal to reneging if you aren't going to another bank

 

I'm probably going to do this, but it's a tight process, and if things go wrong with the trading route, I could potentially go back to this bank, so I'm hesitant to burn the bridge.

 

Would you be happy working at that bank though? Or at least be able to tolerate it? They are very different jobs that target different profiles 

 

I did the early career event two summers ago. Would say around 80% of the kids who did it and wanted to do trading got the offer for the following summer. No harm in doing it for fun either, it’s a cool event. Pm me if you want any info 

 

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