Back Office role in a Bulge Bracket Vs. Front Office in a Boutique Investment Firm?

Many students focus on getting big names on their CV, even not on the target team. It’s been a growing trend that more young professionals in HK find themselves stuck in back office positions, handling settlements or HR, although working for Goldman Sachs or Morgan Stanley. 

Many students who choose a back office internship in a BB firm plan to work their way up to the front office. Yet, it isn’t as easy as it sounds, because the more experience you gain in BO, the more obsolete your skills and experience get for the swanky client facing, revenue generating front office position. 

Here’s 5 tips to pursue your long- term career instead of just being brand conscious:

1. Start Right: Join the front office team of a middle bracket company like Lazard, or even a boutique investment firm. With the right experience, you can apply for the IBD team of a bigger firm. A Goldman Sachs associate also admitted to how she does not remember any operations team graduates who managed to get transferred to IBD

2.Upgrade your skills: Get a CPA/ CFA/ ACCA qualification

3.Network, network, network: Front office executives, peers, potential clients- all of them are important connections to establish, where you must showcase your communication and interpersonal skills

4.Higher Education: Consider an Ivy League MBA or another Masters in Finance (or advanced course) degree from one of the top notch schools, if you don’t see things moving after a year in back office

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Back Office role in a Bulge Bracket Vs. Front Office in a Boutique Investment Firm? What’s your choice? Comment below.

We help university students like you to get into Investment Banking, Banking, Property/ Conglomerate and Advisory/ Consulting. Follow us on Instagram (ig: hkcareers) to know insider tips about grad job/ internship hunting. Visit hkcareers.hk to know more about the result-based career coaching program.