Investment bank gig delay

[heyya99]

hi by any chance was that for database role in UBS ?

No. Why do you ask though?

[glippiglop]

UBS is surprisingly capable of achieving a 48 hour turnaround on the hiring of contractors when they need a job started ASAP, and by that I mean:

Monday: Interview
Tuesday: You're Hired!
Wednesday: Here's your desk!

So I would say that two weeks is a long time to wait, but in general, dithering over a decision isn't exactly uncommon either. My longest wait for a positive decision from a different client is five weeks.

Personally I wouldn't dwell on it, because you're just as likely to get the dreaded "we're sorry, but this is now a permanent position... would you consider that instead?". Forget about it and if you get good news in the future, treat it as a pleasant surprise?

[cont123]

I have two cases with UBS to be shared but it was database side.

Case 1) long wait agency said its been put on hold

case 2) It was given after 1 month time

Both experience with different persons .
Not mean to scare you hope for the best and All the best!!!

[Scrag Meister]

I had a face to face interview with an IB in London. The agent says I passed the interview and the IB plan to take me on board. The only issue is, the hire has to be approved by people high up in the company first (first the IT manager, then higher managers). According to the agent, this can take weeks (it's been 2 weeks since my interview).

Is this normal or is the agent bluffing?

I would keep looking, however, I have just had a renewal which was agreed with my sponsoring manager 6 weeks ago. I received the paperwork on Friday and today is actually the last day on the current contract schedule!!!

The main delay in this process was the approval from upper management to allow me to stay beyond their 2 year max duration policy.

I still wouldn't see 2 weeks as a lot, but I would be on the agents case regularly to keep it moving.

I may be tempted to contact the client direct if I had contact details.

Keep looking though.

[LondonManc]

I hate it when the IBs interview before budget is signed off. One bank in particular is very frustrating. Still awaiting budget sign off for the gig 18 months and two clients later.

Been told that the contract is still mine if I'm available and when they eventually get it signed off. I'm certainly not turning down other roles. None of them seem to care too much if they miss out on a candidate unless they're a stand out candidate.

[oliverson]

I once had this kind of thing for a French investment bank.

"It's been approved by managers 1 - 5 in the UK but now needs a manager in Paris to press a button on a keyboard"

That button never got pressed! Celebrations turn to commiserations.

Keep on looking.

[LondonManc]

I once had this kind of thing for a French investment bank.

"It's been approved by managers 1 - 5 in the UK but now needs a manager in Paris to press a button on a keyboard"

That button never got pressed! Celebrations turn to commiserations.

Keep on looking.

Yep, mine had the final sign off in a diffferent country. Cost me about 10 grand in lost revenue as I turned a different gig down too soon.

[BrilloPad]

Its a Tom Jones. Not unusual.

But keep looking anyway.

[heyya99]

I may be tempted to contact the client direct if I had contact details.

I could contact the interviewer via Linked In but is that a bad move?

[LondonManc]

I could contact the interviewer via Linked In but is that a bad move?

Not really. I've done it in the past. Just claim the agent was unavailable and you needed to sort out where you're at with this application because as much as you'd like to take their project on, you've got something else on the table that you most likely wouldn't serve notice on if you take it and don't want to be left with neither in a couple of weeks.