HSBC Holdings Reviews

Pros

HSBC seems a capable company in a very narrow segment of the banking industry. With wealth management and corporate lending where the risk of loss is lower, they are willing to step out.

Cons

In the past, HSBC used to be the bank that prided itself on being able to make advances in depressed economies when other banks were holding back. Now it seems, they are afraid to take any type of risk and are being led by the nose by their stockholders who are only concerned about short term policies.

Advice to Senior Management

Decide on a strategic policy and let your individual business units come up with the tactical plans to accomplish them.

Pros

Good team. Friendly work environment

Cons

Hard to retain loyalty wiith the number of staff being asked to leave.

Pros

--IMs get paid extremely well, especially compared to local UK banking jobs. The benefits package is significant.
--The opportunities for exposure, geographic and cross-business development, and networking are great
--Work/life balance is fantastic--short hours, lots of holiday and easy to book time off

Cons

--You cannot choose your job, location or time of move
--HR are useless
--Compensation/standard of living varies widely depending on location
--It's very difficult to forge relationships, both personal and professional, because you keep moving and the programme won't allow you to pursue them

Advice to Senior Management

--keep your talent and give some freedom of choice especially to junior IMs because it's very easy to lose them to competitors and waste the astronomical amounts spent on training

Pros

lots of training, high reputation

Cons

terrible salary, work environment is too political

Advice to Senior Management

give better salary!!!

Pros

Employee benefits e.g. housing
Banking activities fees are waived

Cons

You won't get anywhere unless you take advantage of boss's biased attitudes.
When upper management want to promote expansion to China. The boss will do all kind of things to pretend they are being really nice to them. While at the same time won't even speak to you in the same lift.

Shift responsibilities to others is what I learn here in order to survive.

Advice to Senior Management

don't just do shows to satisfy their own boss. do real things to their staff.

Pros

This is a global organisation undergoing some fairly radical changes right now but unlike many other financial organisations these are controlled and practical to sustain company stability. This is still a good solid employer in the UK if you are prepared to work hard. Nothing is perfect but when you look outside the industry I'd still rather be here than elsewhere. Renumeration packages are competitive and market driven. Benefits good.

Cons

Some workplace environments need a little work particularly the older buidings. It shouldn't be underestimated how important the little things are for maintaining morale

Advice to Senior Management

Communicate, communicate, communicate - a lot of the tension and pressure is due to a lack of understanding of the wider picture

Pros

Good opportunities internally and externally also further education opportunities through the company.

Cons

There is some distrust regarding how promotion is given

Pros

Great opportunities for professional developement

Cons

Low pay in the retail banking arm

Advice to Senior Management

n/a

Pros

Large company that should have movement for employees and growth.

Cons

Senior management is out of sink with the going ons.

Advice to Senior Management

Get new higher management who care about what is going on within the company. Management that will listen to the employees including HR.

Pros

Young, dynamic, a good comp among below average rivals.

Cons

Immatured workforce. Need strong leaders with business oriented.

Advice to Senior Management

The seniors are so busy with the high volume and large scale that they do not have time/opportunity to sense, fix the issues below the iceberg. If they had recognized it, they would find it takes time and effort to fix. The company need extremely strong leaders who focus on business results and kick out big mouths with little value added.