HSBC reviews

"Grade on the curve" performance evaluation system (you're ranked and get a bonus or not/keep your job or not/) against your peers, HSBC exiting businesses in US. CEO has moved from London to Hong Kong. Mediocre benefits and mid-range salaries. Commute to Mettawa is horrible from anyplace in Chicago. Exceptionally political environment-- unfairness in promotions an ongoing company-wide issue with employees. Workload is onerous due to under staffing. Training is online and most trainers have been let go, as have most employee communications people.

This is not really an investment bank, it's rather more as I would imagine it would be working at British Telecom or British Gas. Extremely conservative organisation - you will not get ahead by rocking the boat or trying to do something in a new or different way (this is in fact one of the few things that might get you sacked). In order to get approval to do anything, you have to go through about 3 or 4 committees. There is very little encouragement to develop your career or move up in the bank - you have to fight your way up and this is nearly impossible if you are not a white British man. The bonuses are shockingly low compared to what competitors are paying (in Capital Markets). Very few people, particularly in senior management that you can look up to - most of them just seem to be bureaucrats. In general, there are a lot people who don't do much work, but sit around from 9am-4pm and collect a salary (they were probably ambitious at some point until HSBC crushed it out of them). There is very little incentive to put in a lot of effort - it will not be rewarded.