Flexible career paths, cross-functional experience encouraged
Pros
HR and Senior Mgmt provide great support for career planning and advancement . Early identification of 'high potential' staff and pro-active engagement in their career advancement. Bonuses were usually on or above target, for people with average or above average performers. Individuals get a 'values' rating in addition to a performance rating, to encourage team work and adherence to other corporate values of the bank. The bank was growing well in almost all regions during the 5 years I was there. Overall a good experience.
Cons
1) Culture - when I first joined I was new to the banking industry. I was somewhat surprised about the (relatively) gossipy and back-stabbing environment (I was based in the Singapore main office, where most senior management sit). The rumors and office gossip, even at the top levels, sometimes bordered on unprofessional 2) Towards the end, I did get the feeling that seniors would take short term decisions to maximize their annual bonuses, at the expense of lower level (cheaper) staff or of longer term capacity building. These may be common traits at the top levels of many international banks; I have no other data points to provide a comparative baseline.
