QuoteOriginally posted by: Gmike2000there was a time when barcap was hiring like mad. is this now reversing?The focus is definitely now on "raising internal talent", that's why so much emphasis on the graduate recruitment-v

QuoteOriginally posted by: Gmike2000heard from a trader that their "technology" is outdated and that would be a reason for him to leave the firm.speaking about technology which bank has better systems? I was told that all banks have outdated systems, in general they don't spend enough in technology.Vladimir are you located in London or NYC?

My experience which comes first hand/previously worked at barcap and they where the worst place i have ever been. Managers didn't have a clue what was going on but where get promoted over other more qualified people.exampleOne bright guy fixed up one of their buggy fixed income trading systems/was crashing/unreliable etc. However his manager wanted to run a 3m pound project to replace it and when the guy fixed the existing application in a few weeks work his bonus was cut. Because the traders no longer wanted to sponser a big replacement project and their system was now working fine.Lots of politics. Some people are nice there and there are alot of bright people. It is the only place I wished I have never worked at.that is my experience

Wake up ! Every investment bank is more or less the same. welcome to the real world !

QuoteOriginally posted by: korbabeMy experience which comes first hand/previously worked at barcap and they where the worst place i have ever been. Managers didn't have a clue what was going on but where get promoted over other more qualified people.exampleOne bright guy fixed up one of their buggy fixed income trading systems/was crashing/unreliable etc. However his manager wanted to run a 3m pound project to replace it and when the guy fixed the existing application in a few weeks work his bonus was cut. Because the traders no longer wanted to sponser a big replacement project and their system was now working fine.Lots of politics. Some people are nice there and there are alot of bright people. It is the only place I wished I have never worked at.that is my experience I am not trying to speak for Barcap...but just wondering which bank has not been criticized? GS...for its long working hours/full of workaholics/lots of gays/video cameras installed in the lift; Credit Suisse: too much criticism that I couldn't list here...

"GS... lots of gays/video cameras installed in the lift;"Are these related?

QuoteOriginally posted by: Gmike2000there was a time when barcap was hiring like mad. is this now reversing?I understand Barlcays has continued to hire a significant number of Director level people in the first half of 2006. They also hire about 300 new graduates as generic foot soldiers. Reminds me of Deutsche Bank a few years back. I think Bob Diamond has the DB model in mind.

QuoteOriginally posted by: BoratI understand Barlcays has continued to hire a significant number of Director level people in the first half of 2006. They also hire about 300 new graduates as generic foot soldiers. Reminds me of Deutsche Bank a few years back. I think Bob Diamond has the DB model in mind.The suggestion that Barcap is following the "DB model" has been made in some articles, but is strongly denied by Barcap management. The "DB model" involves hiring more people than needed to weed out the underperformers. Honestly, looking around me I see more than enough work to go around despite constant expansion, so I am sceptical of such statements. -V

QuoteOriginally posted by: agisdQuoteOriginally posted by: Gmike2000heard from a trader that their "technology" is outdated and that would be a reason for him to leave the firm.Vladimir are you located in London or NYC?London

Unless you don't work in this industry, I guess it is pretty much the same.Rather than worrying on the name of hte bank, i will focus on the people you are going to spend 12 hrs per day with.If you don't like them you'll be in trouble.Politics, system crashes.. is all around...