A few questions

Career Opportunities & Internships Investment Banking
1

<ol>
<li><p>As an international (just graduating, so without an already-issued work permit) is it as hard, or harder to break into i-banking? And what about trading?</p></li>
<li><p>What is merchant banking? How is it different from general i-banking? Is recruitment for merchant banking separate from normal i-banking and trading?</p></li>
<li><p>Is working on a capital markets team the same as a merchant banking team?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>I had a few more questions, but I can't remember them right now. </p>

<p>Thanks in advance for your replies.</p>

2

<ol>
<li>It is going to be a lot harder.</li>
</ol>

3

<p>Thanks max.</p>

<p>Bump, for the rest of the questions, and perhaps a more detailed answer to the first.</p>

4

<p>If I wanted an idiot to answer my questions, I’d have specified it in my original post.</p>

5

<p>I recall the other questions I had to ask, so here goes:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>How are transfers viewed by i-bankers in interviews? If I transfer to a target after my first year, will I be at a significant disadvantage compared to someone who hasn’t transferred?</p></li>
<li><p>If I’m at Stanford, and I apply for a job on Wall Street (west coast / east coast), will it be tougher? I recall reading somewhere that it will, though I cannot be sure.</p></li>
<li><p>Since trading jobs are generally centred around Wall Street (vs. other ib jobs), its harder for a Stanford grad to get a trading job, in general, than an east coast grad?</p></li>
</ol>

<hr>

<p>Oh yea, jalopaki, if you’re planning to answer my questions, don’t bother.</p>

6

<p>Damn you’re annoying. Any chance I could meet you IRL somewhere?</p>

7

<p>Before anyone accuses me of talking to myself, let me clarify here that I was replying to an idiot named jalopaki, who’s now banned, and whose posts are now deleted.</p>

<p>“If I wanted an idiot to answer my questions, I’d have specified it in my original post.” <- This was to Jalopaki. Not max.</p>

8

<p>:) Good :slight_smile: ;)</p>

<p>I’m not sure I have answers for you but I saw those irritating posts so here:</p>

<p><a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merchant_bank[/url]”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merchant_bank&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Merchant banking deals with mostly trade finance. It’s a department in an I-bank if the I-ban does trade finance. It deals with debt financing and insurance and not necessarily with debt issues into the capital markets. </p>

<p>My firm just became a VC/ Merchant bank adviser. We got a contract recently from a large I-Bank. I’m looking for SME’s interested in import/export financing (preferably export) minimum 20% owned by a U.S. Citizen and with a high potential for job creation state side. We’re also into foreign direct investment deals and may be interested in participation.</p>

<p>Regional focus: W. Africa, S. Africa, E. Europe, Russia, Caribbean
Sector Focus: Mining/mineral development, Agriculture, Green Energy, Health Tech, Communications Tech, and Real Estate.</p>

<p>I would take on an international employee if I were hiring. Nationality is not a concern for me. The school you come from doesn’t matter either. It’s about networking and your business/political/social/imagination skills. If you’re not a potential rain maker, I’m not interested.</p>

9

<ol>
<li>As an international (just graduating, so without an already-issued work permit) is it as hard, or harder to break into i-banking? And what about trading?</li>
</ol>

<h2>It will be a lot harder for US firms because of the current Administration’s stance on foreign work visas at US companies. However, as far as I know it is easier to do at foreign firms (CS, DB, UBS, etc). No difference between trading and ibd.</h2>

<ol>
<li>Is working on a capital markets team the same as a merchant banking team?</li>
</ol>

<h2>No it is not.</h2>

<ol>
<li>How are transfers viewed by i-bankers in interviews? If I transfer to a target after my first year, will I be at a significant disadvantage compared to someone who hasn’t transferred?</li>
</ol>

<h2>Generally doesn’t really matter. Once you get the interview they care less about your past and more about what is their impression of you.</h2>

<ol>
<li>If I’m at Stanford, and I apply for a job on Wall Street (west coast / east coast), will it be tougher? I recall reading somewhere that it will, though I cannot be sure.</li>
</ol>

<h2>It’s more common for you to stay on the west coast as far as I know, but it is not impossible to get to NYC, I know people have done it before.</h2>

<ol>
<li>Since trading jobs are generally centred around Wall Street (vs. other ib jobs), its harder for a Stanford grad to get a trading job, in general, than an east coast grad?</li>
</ol>

<p>I’m not really sure about this one, I don’t have as much experience with Stanford grads. Gut instinct is that it’s easier for the equivalent EC schools (Harvard, etc) but I’m sure I’ve met some before so it isn’t impossible. It might take a little extra work. However, if you are planning on transferring, you might want to take it into consideration.</p>