Structured credit recruiters' answers to your questions

If u r lucky enough to have a job, base only, or as a token 10-20% of base as a bonus , recruitment is dead for the time being, stay away

I think that any CDO structurers should be grateful to be employed and not too worried about a bonus this year. There are limited options for CDO structurers to switch, particularly at the VP / Director level. I would recommend looking at either risk management or restructuring roles as the best career avenues.

QUESTION: Given the spectacular failures of CDO's. What range of salaries and bonus do you think CDO structurers still employed with a bank will achieve over the next few years? Specifically at VP/ Director level? Is it worth hiding as a structurer or moving into another field and which fields have been recruiting structurers?

Distressed is a hot topic and you will find that a large number of HF and banks are seeking to do something in this area. The issue is timing , at this point it is a bit early to get in to, it will change next year. The other point is that the above industry has lost money in this space , so reluctant to jump in at this stage but the opportunity will be to big to mis

It is widely accepted that the only new structured credit and structured finance products next year will be for financial institutions to use as collateral to post with central banks etc. This will leave distressed buyers to focus on the secondary market.