This review only concerns hk office
First of all this is a third / fourth tier bank globally and in HK. In Hong Kong it lacks infrastructure and people to even to be close competing with other foreign banks, by far.
You have parachutes from Paris that are old (think 50+, still ED) people who lost the game of thrones in Paris and found them another safehouse in HK. These “heads” don’t speak competitively English (not even close to the communication skills you are used to at other banks) and are very political. Obviously they won’t be able to adapt either. Then these “heads” manage local people with expertise.
French people, whether junior or senior, openly speaks French (which is not something wrong per ce) infront of you, name dropping people and business without keeping you updated, makes you feel part of the team huh.
Very French mindset, ie “we don’t need to compete with others as we are special”. In reality, the expertise is very weak to compete at all, admitting defeat before the fight started and find excuses for it, weak.
Pay is dramatically below market, French pay.
Very racist towards any other countries (ie Americans are stupid, chinese /hk are stereotypes)
If you are used to working in other international banks, you will not find this place close to comfortable.
For junior people, make the jump while you can as the knowledge you learn here is very limited. Join only if you can’t land anywhere else.
Overall very very funny environment, no open communications and anything you do regarded “wrong” in the French way is used against you in bonus talks.
And the hours is long, somehow the French people work very late just to pretending they are working.
