Should I follow up on this job "offer?"

[AccruedExpenditure]

For the last three summers I've been interning for a large corporation with top level exposure and mentor ship from executive leadership (CFO, CEO, etc). Being in that position I was able to foster a good working relationship with people in departments that I'm interested in (namely finance).

Last summer I got a chance to work in corporate treasury and at the time the company was engaged in a billion dollar financing so we employed the use of investment bankers to help us take our bonds to market. Unlike most other internships i've heard of, my company brought me to these meetings and I had a chance to meet and talking to investment bankers of all levels from analysts to princples and vice presidents... it was a great experience. One of the companies (one of the top 3 investment banking firms in the world), routine pulled aside and asked if I wanted to come down to their office to see what they do, handing me their business cards asking me to give em a call when i'm looking for a job senior year.

Now its senior year... and i'm looking for a job... The company i've interned for has expressed interest in me (had a meeting with them three weeks ago) but I haven't received any firm offer or anything.

Would it be okay to send an e-mail to the folks at the investment bank to see if I could interview with them (I-banks are always hiring).

I plan to start working in July 2006, so the clock is ticking...

edit Let me also add this, I know i-bankers work insane hours (90-100 hours weeks), and as some of you know I run a business on the side that I plan to grow and develop, if I go the job with the internship companies odds are the max i'd work would be 50 hours a week even when things are tough...

Cliffs:
Someone else do this for me

 

[robothouse77]

of course it's ok to email the i-bank.

just don't do it from your current work email.

EDIT: you need to put your name out there if they haven't given you an offer. 'expressed interest' != job offer. go ahead, do it discretely, tell the new potential employer to ask you before calling the folks at your current place of work. see what kinda of offer you get, possibly use it as a collateral if the current place offers you a position

 

[five40]

Heck yeah it's ok. In any case I'd go with an employer that you know will keep you around over an employer who pays a little more but treats you like crap and will fire you any time.

 

[PingSpike]

I was under the impression that the reason investment bankers were always hiring was that their average lifespan was 32 years.

But seriously, it seems like it would be hard to get your business going at the same time as even a 50hr a week job.

 

[kermalou]

do it

 

[ahurtt]

Originally posted by: AccruedExpenditure

(I-banks are always hiring).

What does that tell you?

Anyway, of course it's fine to contact the other company. It gives you bargaining power when negotiating with the company you interned for if they decide to make you an offer with an actual figure.

 

[Drakkon]

its not just okay it would be stupid not to. I fell into a similar situation, company worked for in college wanted me, but i applied elsewhere and got offers, well company our worked for sat on their assess and didnt make an offer so i just dropped them and went to work somewhere else.

 

[AgentEL]

I don't see why it would be a question of ethics. I'm sure the company you interned for expects that you'll be looking at other companies, especially since they did not give you a formal offer.

 

[AccruedExpenditure]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
I was under the impression that the reason investment bankers were always hiring was that their average lifespan was 32 years.

But seriously, it seems like it would be hard to get your business going at the same time as even a 50hr a week job.

It's contract consulting and I've current employees/management so it wouldn't be that hard to go into passive mode.

 

[ggnl]

It never hurts to have an offer in your hand. You could possibly even use it to negotiate better terms if you were offered a job at the internship company.

 

[mugs]

There's no ethical problem there. I wouldn't want to work 100 hours a week though.

 

[DaShen]

I sense attention whoring going on...
Of course it is okay. Good luck to you.

 

[miniMUNCH]

Rule #1 in Business: Look out for you and yours.

So...Do it.

 

[Koing]

Go for it.

Koing

 

[Patt]

Go for it ... you had an internship with the first company, it doesn't mean you owe them your allegiance necessarily. It is always good to have an idea what you're worth to others too

 

[Alkesh]

CHOW!

 

[AccruedExpenditure]

Originally posted by: DaShen
I sense attention whoring going on...
Of course it is okay. Good luck to you.

me never

 

[BobDaMenkey]

Go and get the interview with the other company. If you don't move on something you're going to lose it. There's no reason to be sitting around waiting for them to give you an actual offer.

 

[Vic]

I see no ethical question.

 

[Doboji]

You know when the best time to start interviewing and looking for a better job is?

now. It's never ever unethical to look for a job.