The "Anti-Banker" Banker?
As I mentioned in another post, I was just accepted to an M7 b-school and I am thinking of possible wall st. type jobs that I'd might like to pursue post-MBA. I don't really consider myself the banker type, in fact, I probably fall more on the social-enterprise end of the spectrum (and that's what I'd pursue if it weren't for the abysmal pay). For a complete lack of a better example, I'd rather drink at a dive bar in brooklyn with dirty hipsters than hangout in the meat packing district and talk about golf handicaps. However, I have an ass load of debt from ugrad/grad school in addition to the MBA that I'll have to pay off. I've been considering banking as a way to pay off the debt quickly, and also give me a good foundation to pursue other things a few years out. I was just wondering if there were people in BB's that don't really fit the mold? I've never been inside the office of an IB let alone hang out with bankers, so I really don't have a clue. I just picture a lot of ex-fraternity sports fanatic jock types, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that (I don't mean to offend or start arguments), but I worry that I wouldn't fit in. I don't need to "be myself" all the time, I know how to be professional and get the job done. However when you work so many hours with the same people, it would be great to know that some of your other co-workers might be closet "anti-banker" bankers. Do they exist?
Sagent Advisors seemed far from fratty / jocks. Not really hipster though. I'd say nerdy if anything.
Most analyst-associate level bankers are on the nerdy side, esp. at BB's and prestigious boutiques.
At my BB most (80%) of younger guys are very laid back and chilled out, and fund to be around. There are a few that are the stereotype 'banker' douchebag, but that stereotype is more just made fun of more than anything.
I think you have a convoluted idea of what things are like. A lot of us are not "banker" types, I am not anti-banker but surely not the MPD type. Just be yourself when you get the job, however during interviewing you want to mold to your surroundings to make those interviewing you feel more "comfortable"
just make sure you don't end up in a group where the group head is stereotypical banker and brings in athletes/kids from his frat and you'll be fine this is especially true if he's been involved in recruiting a while, as then the VPs will also have that kind of personality.
or do FIG - unlikely you will have a really bad year and not get paid and get behind on loans and tons of dudes from asia/russia
Avoiding banking because of the stereotype would be like me avoiding brooklyn because I'm afraid I would not be able to get along with pretentious arty farty types. Diverse group of individuals, the only things most bankers have in common are drive and intelligence, but not even all of them. haha
Like most other places, you find people you can grab a beer with and you find people you'd rather maintain a solely professional relationship with.
It isn't that bad. You can quickly ascertain which banks and more importantly, groups within banks have a culture that you feel at home in. At the end of the day it'll come down to who you're most willing to spend 12+ hours a day with, and if you don't want the uber-pedigreed frathead, look-at-my-yacht guys, you won't be stuck with them.
To be honest, most of your offers will come from the banks you think you would fit in with the most. At least that was my experience.
So would I. So would plenty of people who work in banking.
Just as long as you're clean shaven, wearing a suit and don't rock earrings or neck tattoos at the office, you can do whatever you want on your own time. Although it doesn't hurt to work on your golf game.
Completely depends on the group, not the bank. If the senior MDs/group head are of that mold, they may try and shape the new analyst/associate classes that way. Sure - they will always save 1-2 spots for the token nerdy/smart guy, but you don't want to be that guy in a class of douchebags. Just have informational sessions with the groups you're interested in - where you will be on the floor and meet with a bunch of people. The easy thing about this is that, when setting up these informationals for potential candidates, the resource managers/intern sponsors will always pick the guys that they feel best exemplify the culture of the group to talk to you - so you will very quickly get a sense of what the group is like after meeting a couple of people.
From my experience, and others can comment here, the more "traditional" coverage groups like industrials and natural resources tend to have more of the stereotypical crowd - the white, middle-aged, Midwestern CEO of a Fortune 500 industrial company who graduated from Nebraska and rose up the ranks at his company will get along better with the banker who played football in college and can shoot the shit well before turning it over to his smarter product counterpart. Groups that cover more complicated/specialized clients - like FIG and TMT - tend to be more diversified.
To say the stereotype does not exist though would be crazy talk - no matter where you go, you'll always find the Princeton crowd (oh snap!)
Awesome responses guys, thanks for the info. Great to hear that there is some diversity of personalities in the BB world.
Don't work at Lazard.
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