Additional Coverage:
- I spent years working toward my dream job at JPMorgan in Hong Kong. But just over 3 years into the job, I left — here’s why. (newsbreak.com)
Local man, Herman Ko, 27, recently left his job at JPMorgan after more than three years. Ko initially pursued the position due to its prestige and career mobility, despite not having a specific career path in mind during college.
He admitted to chasing a “shiny object” but felt the investment banking world offered the best pay, prestige, and future opportunities. His college GPA was a low 2.4, and he lacked connections, so Ko focused on networking and perfecting his interview skills. He even performed magic tricks at company events to stand out.
Ko initially had a return offer from Deutsche Bank after an earlier internship. However, he deferred graduation by a semester to take a summer internship at JPMorgan, which he considered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The gamble paid off, leading to a two-year graduate rotation program and eventually a full-time position.
Ko describes his time at JPMorgan as exhilarating, working alongside intelligent colleagues and benefiting from the bank’s training programs. However, the long hours and specialized nature of the work eventually led him to resign.
He felt limited by focusing on traditional financial products for financial institutions and wanted to explore newer technologies. Ko also desired to test his abilities outside the prestigious JPMorgan brand.
Now, Ko works at Career Hackers, a human resources and education technology startup. He says his experience at JPMorgan, particularly the sales and client interaction skills he developed, has been invaluable in his new role. He has no regrets about his time at the bank, citing the unique opportunities and exposure he gained.