What Would You Do? The Trials and Tribulations of ALOT of Time to Kill
Hey everybody,
My start date as an IBD 1st year has been extended till 1-2 months later (very long story, maybe one day I'll post it on WSO Success Stories forum after I find peace & resolution with the past 1.5 years).
Now with all this time to kill, from those just starting out in the industry or to those seasoned vets. who have mastered the art of determining within the first 5 minutes of meeting new analysts whether they are worthy of joining your team and getting wasted with, or the guy who does powerpoint font reformatting before sunrise..
Think! If you had those precious few weeks before your first day on the job, what would you have done?
For me, I've gone for the thematic approach and have broken this down to 3 main frames -
1. Pick Up New Skills
For example:
- Get into Ray Dalio's Transcendental Mediation
- GMAT prep.
- Start building a stock portfolio & delve into Benjamin Graham books + Warren Buffet letters
- Enter rap freestyle competitions
- Powerlift
2. Get Sharp Preparing for the IBD Jungle
For example:
- Excel
- Hardcore finance & accounting prep.
- Stay up till 4am and wake up at 7am for 4-5 weeks straight (down half a bottle of alcohol before sleeping on some days)
3. Chill..Chill Very Hard
For example:
- Chill
In all seriousness, I would greatly appreciate your input. This site has been an invaluable source of advice and insights so any would be much appreciated.
FYI I'll be working in FIG so for those in this group, any specifics for incoming analysts will be fantastic (since FIG is a whole different beast in terms of valuation and general corp. finance skills)
Thanks guys, looking forward to reading
If you're anticipating the 100-hour week, I would side with going on an extended vacation. Maybe go to a few Euro or Asian countries. That's just me though..
This.
Honestly, I don't know why incoming analysts these days want to do so much before they've even started. You'll get all the training and learning you need on the job. You'll be at the office 24/7, stressed out and generally unhappy so my best advice is to take a long holiday, chill and bank some sleep / happiness for the 2 years ahead!
One hundred percent agree with all the above statements. Even money wouldn't be an issue if you know what parts of the world to hit up.
If you already have an offer, why would you do anything IB- or interview-related? Go out partying, take a road trip, play video games, do whatever...
Travel
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You're now one day closer to your next burrito.
My advice? Since it doesn't sound like you want a staycation you should take the time for what, in my previous career, would have been referred to as "broadening activities". This means explore something new. If there's any way you can do it I'd think you should take an extended vacation in Europe. You can travel relatively cheaply by using youth hostels, and if you're going to a BB gaining some insight into European culture and language will probably be invaluable someday. The same applies to Asia with the caveat that, Japan excepted, Asia isn't even close to as expensive as Europe.
Also take some time to hit the gym and diet to get yourself in the best possible shape. If I were you I'd also stay the fuck off the computer for awhile. Take a break from screens.
See if you can start a rap career, then you might not need to go into IBD
Become one of those NYC aspiring rappers peddling at Times Square. Even if most of these tourists are from other countries, people can always recognize fire in every language.
Whatever you do, do NOT do anything business/IB/Excel related. There will be plenty of time for that and it would only have a marginal impact on your job performance, if not decrease it as you will get burned out easier if you don't take the time off. You don't know how precious this time really is, do not waste it with the same shit you will be doing day in and day out for years to follow.
Travel, read, learn a new language, hang out with friends, drink, go to the pool, play golf, go to the movies, lift weights, take a new fitness class, go hiking, visit family, go out on dates, try new restaurants, learn to cook, play a new instrument
just don't open excel.
Chill very hard. Don't be a hardo and model for the months upcoming.
Travel Spend time with Family/Friends Get plenty of sleep
I'd say the best way to spend the next couple months is to ask your contacts at your soon-to-be firm to send over the firm's template library and start memorizing the firm approved color palette codes and preferred column widths. Maybe pick up a few old keyboards at goodwill to practice popping of the ole F1 so you can gracefully remove that bad boy in one fluid motion before sitting down for the first time in your new cell, er, desk.
This is actually pretty good advice. I got some looks when I was able to recite the numerical RGBs for every primary color my firm uses. Be sure to ask each MD for his / her preference on column widths. I got yelled at one time when I assumed the column width to be 9 when the MD goes with 10. I will never forget that moment.
I only used one keyboard so I got a nail clipper to pry mine off. A VP told me to use my fingers but I insisted and prevailed. The VP was shocked.
This thread is 5 years old
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