Operations at Investment Bank
 

Hello everyone

I will be a fresh graduate soon and will be majoring in Physics 2nd Upper (4.3/5) local uni.

I do not have a lot of knowledge about banking but I am looking for an operations role at an IB. What are my chances of getting the job?

What are your recommendations about other jobs for my degree besides engineering and government sector jobs? Reading the comments about engineering in this forum, it is quite disheartening and I doubt I want an engineering job.

Reply
 

Why don't you ask yourself what you like to do instead? If you don't know much about banking, why would you think of going into operations? Do you know what it entails?

Do you know yourself? Do you know what you like? Do you know what you hate? Are you a person who likes to sell? Do you like to talk to people? Do you like to present to them? Do you hate having to deal with difficult customers? Do you hate to beg (for sales)? Do you hate numbers?

If you don't know these things about yourself, how can you know what you should do?

Why aim for ops when you can join many of your physics major comrades in more exciting roles in quant research, high freq trading, structuring, risk management?
Do a cfa1, read up hull book on derivatives, and network everynite at harry bar in boat quay when high finance priests gather. Once you get into these roles, you will be at top of food chain, and you will never believe a nerdy physics major sex lives can be so good!
Good luck my fellow comrade

hi TS,

if you really get an interview with the bank . They will confirm ask you.. Why join bank when u study physics? is it because u like to do trading and interested in financial news? why ops? what do you know about ops? or 'what does a bank do?' etc..

u may want to review the above before u attempt the interview.

i am not sure , but just a wild guess, u r interested in joining a bank bcos they have a higher starting pay?

Banking
 

All engineering/physics/watever science trained guys who wants to go into banking are all salary driven. Given engineering is such a loser (salary wise) job.

Everyone at the investment bank knows why you applied for the ops job. Firstly is the salary, secondly is you think that it is a stepping stone to a front office job. Sadly, 1 out of 50 make it to the front. Even financial engineering graduates from IT, ops or watever function do not make it to trading/sales eventually. Yes, u can be a quant or risk.. but thats the end.

So the interviewer at the bank will be dubious when u say oh I love banking yadah yadah. its all ******** to them. just be frank.. and say something like, I think my technical skills can be more value add to the bank and to my own wealth creation.

be practical and people will not doubt your intentions. thats how u get employed, for a start.

The program is designed for careers in the operations, treasury and clearing functions within an investment bank. After completing the comprehensive program, you will gain an in-depth knowledge of global Investment Banking and Capital Markets.

In-Depth Knowledge of-
Securities
Derivatives
Clearing
Treasury & Collateral
Risk & Control
Working in Operations, you can expect to gain experiences that equip you with a rewarding career within the banking industry.