Author – Trevor Hubner

One of the intriguing aspects of the past few years of extraordinary central bank policy, has been the relative absence of inflation. Generally speaking, low interest rates should encourage borrowing which increases money supply and consequently cause inflation. However, this has not been the case over the past decade and now many commentators are beginning to think about when we may see its return. When considering this it is important to realise that inflation is an effective way of eroding debt and, with government borrowing hitting stratospheric levels, a degree of inflation would help with this situation, but it would need to be closely controlled and that is not the easiest process.

Inflation is basically excess demand over […]

If you are new to the job market for any reason – you may be a new graduate or just never had to actively look for job opportunities – then understanding how a recruitment consultant can add value to your job hunt is crucial.

Recruitment consultants are intermediaries, but should also be hugely knowledgeable intermediaries. They should know their clients and their market inside out, which is invaluable in assisting you to find the perfect job, and then there is so much more that a good recruitment consultant can offer you:

• Insight into different companies and their work environment
• Advice on whether the company would suit what you are looking for
• Market and sector knowledge to help guide you on decisions […]
  

We are seeing an acceleration in recruitment into M&A and corporate broking teams prompted by an increase in transaction activity and the lack of new joiners during lock down.  This is also impacting on the number of people returning to the office to work.

We were keen to get an idea of what is really happening so posted a poll on LinkedIn asking the question: “When are you expecting to return to the office?”.  The results were interesting and backed up the general feel that there is a very slow and cautious return to the workplace.

Only 10% of respondents are already back working in the office and a staggering 39% are not expecting to be back in the office until 2021, […]

Author Trevor Hubner

The disconnect between bond and stock markets has continued to grow in recent weeks. The degree of support that is being given to the global economy by governments and central banks is extreme, because this is what the situation requires. Unemployment levels are rising and it is looking likely that the emergence from the lockdown to any degree of normality is going to take time. Not only are governments spending more but they are also receiving far less in tax receipts as many business are not making any profit and individuals are not spending money. A look around the normally busy streets of London tells the knock on effect of people not returning to their offices. […]

With M&A transaction activity low and many aspects of banking having slowed down during the Covid-19 lock down there is widespread uncertainty about what bonuses will look like next year, with many bankers expecting bonuses to be low or non-existent which is prompting many professionals to consider making an early career move.

So, with disappointing bonuses expected, plus recruitment picking up across many sectors – and particularly with small to medium sized firms – now is the time to see what is out there and to explore your options.

There are two ways of looking at your own individual situations:

1. If you are not enjoying your current role or work environment, and you are just there for the financial rewards, then without […]
   

Front Office Investment banking is a very competitive career sector to get into and M&A and Corporate Broking are two of the most sought-after areas for graduates and early career professionals looking to enter.

They offer an excellent career path with promises of:

• High salaries
• Consistent bonuses
• Interesting, market focussed work
• Client contact
• Variety

So, for many reasons this high-pressure high reward sector is very selective on the entry requirements to building your career.

Essentials you need to have to develop your career in Corporate Finance are:

• Strong academics – strong A Levels
• 2:1 or above degree from a Russell Group University
• Internship experience – preferably within Corporate Finance or another banking arena
• Strong IT skills – Excel etc. – preferably some financial […]
  

First things first – do not panic. In the current market redundancy is very common nowadays and particularly in the banking sector. There is no stigma attached to being made redundant and it should not affect your career development and options available to you.

Make the most of any resources offered to you by your employer but you also need to explore other sources.

You need to take immediate action:

• Review your CV
• Get in touch with a reputable recruitment consultant
• Review your LinkedIn profile
• Start exploring your own network of contacts
• Get job hunting – consult online job boards – www.efinancialcareers.co.uk is the best one for Investment Banking opportunities and LinkedIn is a great job search resource
• Do your research – […]
  

Interviews are an opportunity for you to impress a potential employer, find out more about the opportunity and decide if it is something you are keen to do.

Above all, it is an opportunity for you to sell yourself and progress your application for the vacancy through to offer stage, when you can start making some real decisions.

There is lots of advice out there on what to make sure you do to impress at interview; but there are also 3 golden rules to stick to of things that you should not do:

1. Never be negative – steer clear of negativity about companies, individuals, teams or your reason for leaving – be constructive and honest but keep comment concise and in no […]
   

Congratulations! You’ve got the interview! Now is your chance to make to most of this opportunity. An interview is your chance to:

• Make a good impression – he time to sell yourself
• Show off your achievements and show you are the best person for the job
• Sell yourself
• Detail your background
• Find out lots more about the opportunity, where it may lead you etc.
• Find out more about what is happening in your market and sector
• Decide if you like the company, job and people

These are very important aspects but never forget an interview is an opportunity to achieve so much more:

• Get a good idea of what the role involves
• Gain an understanding of the company – culture, future […]