Breaking into the Investment Banking sector in London

[centurian]

I spent several years contracting at an IB in the City, and yes it's a good laugh and being in the City is great, the women are plentiful and pubs are everywhere and always heaving, and the money is good, but apart from that it's just rubbish.

Sounds a bit like "What have the Romans ever done for us."

[Scrag Meister]

I spent several years contracting at an IB in the City, and yes it's a good laugh and being in the City is great, the women are plentiful and pubs are everywhere and always heaving, and the money is good, but apart from that it's just rubbish.

WCMS

I love being up in London, I admit when I was growing up in Devon, it was something that I could never see myself doing with it being so busy.

But you just have to see the day job as something to facilitate your main life. Be that going out, travelling and holidays, driving flash cars, fast bikes, trying every restaurant in London, whatever tickles your fancy.

I don't like commuting but that doesn't fuss me when I'm relaxing in my home in London, or travelling to my other place in Devon or just sitting across a table from my wife putting the world to rights in some nice eatery, going to a free ice sculpture exhibition, seeing Evanescence at the Apollo, Green Day, Foo Fighters. Whatever!

Life is what you make it.

[nomadd]

...Evanescence at the Apollo, Green Day, Foo Fighters. Whatever!

Life is what you make it.

But that was Talk-Talk. Great 80s song.

[SajStars]

I have experienced a similar problem. Talking to the agencies, they seem to suggest the same that if you have experience in IB then getting a contract is much easier than not.

There are lucrative, but i can imagine that they are also very demanding. Not sure I would want to give up family time for office time TBH.

[nomadd]

There are lucrative, but i can imagine that they are also very demanding. Not sure I would want to give up family time for office time TBH.

I do 8 hours. I never do more - as these days they don't want to pay for it. I make this point very clear at the interview.

And I'm still in IB (and have been on-and-off since '95.)

If you manage the contract correctly, there is no reason why you should be spending long hours in the office.

[imightbewrong]

There are lucrative, but i can imagine that they are also very demanding. Not sure I would want to give up family time for office time TBH.

I'm contract in IB and do 9-5.30 with generous lunch break. Was working 9-8/9 regularly as a permie for half the money. When you are contracting you don't need to 'play the game' (AKA a$$ kissing) which it turns out takes up most of the time. Get in, write some good code, give some advice, get the wheel-barrow for the money, go home.

[SajStars]

I'm contract in IB and do 9-5.30 with generous lunch break. Was working 9-8/9 regularly as a permie for half the money. When you are contracting you don't need to 'play the game' (AKA a$$ kissing) which it turns out takes up most of the time. Get in, write some good code, give some advice, get the wheel-barrow for the money, go home.

To be fair though - I am sour about it.

I did find that I was more productive as a contractor than a permi.

[nomadd]

Get in, write some good code, give some advice, get the wheel-barrow for the money, go home.

My contract is a slight variation on that theme which goes something like:

Get in, write some good code - see code and copious comments ignored by the rest of the [offshore] team - , give some advice - see advice ignored by the rest of the [offshore] team - , get the wheel-barrow for the money, go home.

Wait 2 weeks for offshore code to fail miserably. Refer offshore team to earlier code supplied along with copious comments. Refer offshore team to previously provided ignored advice. Get another wheel-barrow for the extra money, go home.

Contracting, eh?