IB LIFE HACKS

3 IB LIFE HACKS I learned while in banking:

HACK 1) Come in early, turn on your computer, respond to email, go to the gym for 1 hour.
ACCOMPLISHED: Your desk looks occupied, you come in fresh after the gym, you avoid getting a banker bod.

HACK 2) When you finish work earlier than expected but your boss isn’t expecting it until the AM, set up auto emailing on outlook to trigger an email while you are sleeping.
ACCOMPLISHED: You avoid nonsense last minute comments, you appear to be working harder than you are, you are treated better in the AM as others think you pulled a late night.

HACK 3) Invest in 3rd party applications to complete tasks faster. Most run at $35-$50/ month (you have the extra cash)
ACCOMPLISHED: Avoid stress of manually doing the job, work is done more professionally, you appear better than your peers for a small cost.

Do you guys have any IB LIFE HACKS to SHARE?

 
LiquidCashGirl:
HACK 2) When you finish work earlier than expected but your boss isn’t expecting it until the AM, set up auto emailing on outlook to trigger an email while you are sleeping.

Until your boss responds back immediately at 3am and you don't respond until 9. This trick is as old as time. Seems clever but can get you in trouble. Just send as late as possible before bed

Array
 

My bank donestn pay for this. We have to use free subscription. That's why I don't use it.

https://media0.giphy.com/media/veAy5UOhBdS3C/giphy-downsized.gif" alt="sexy" />

That is to BAMSEC and logointern, not you. And fellow richards

Will update my computer soon and leave Incognito so I will disappear forever. How did I achieve Neanderthal by trolling? Some people are after me so need to close account for safety.
 

I was wondering how my associate dips without anyone noticing all the time

 

I thought that mailman looked suspicious back in November..

 

You know they check when you scan in and out of the building vs. the nights when you order Seamless? Like, it's automated and red flags are brought up to reviewers. A bunch of people got caught at WF I think for doing stuff like this, as well as other schemes like handwritten taxi receipts. Really not worth testing the waters on this one.

 

Yes, WF SF had half of their group demolished bc of this. The group is in the shitter now because everyone left.

Will update my computer soon and leave Incognito so I will disappear forever. How did I achieve Neanderthal by trolling? Some people are after me so need to close account for safety.
 

Honestly, it's not crazy people would try this. Many people look at free dinner as one of the perks of the job. You don't (usually) get 3 dinner allowances if you're crushed til 6 AM. Is it a big deal if you get out early and order the free meal? Really?

What's crazy is how much banking has changed - how much more margin pressure banks are under - that they even care about this stuff. It's squabbling over pennies. It's why all-in analyst comp basically hasn't increased since 2006 (FYI that's 14 years)

 

Trying to get free dinner when you work 12hrs a day for a bank that offers free dinner after a certain time just to keep you in the office to work longer... This is morally justified for sure

 

How do I get onto that floor though when you have to have key card access? Should I steal one from the security guard? He can't fault me for stealing it as anyone would understand how important it is to take a solid shit.

Will update my computer soon and leave Incognito so I will disappear forever. How did I achieve Neanderthal by trolling? Some people are after me so need to close account for safety.
 

Hang up your coat/jacket in a closet far away from your desk and ideally far away from your group. When you are ready to leave for the day at 6 or 7pm dont log off and dont say bye. People may assume you are grabbing seamless or meeting an md down the hall. Everyone else has their jacket on their chair or in closet next to their desk so they have to make a big scene putting on their coat to leave for the day. You will avoid this and stay under the radar. Huge hack.

 

Look at mypost below of peole still noticng. Not going to matter. Agreed that at surface level thsee make sense though

Will update my computer soon and leave Incognito so I will disappear forever. How did I achieve Neanderthal by trolling? Some people are after me so need to close account for safety.
 

People will notice regardless when one of the talkative analysts says to the whole group that where is BAdDeadflow? He always disappears at 6.

I hate this office gossip. Know ana analyst who would disappear for dinner with his gf for an hour and everyone would constantly ask him (analysts and above) where he was during that time (even though he wasn't on any live deals or getting chased)

What a pain and how nosy of people

Will update my computer soon and leave Incognito so I will disappear forever. How did I achieve Neanderthal by trolling? Some people are after me so need to close account for safety.
 

My VPN connection thing always logs off after 10 mins of inactivity. I hope this works so I can keep my computer on the whold eay!

Will update my computer soon and leave Incognito so I will disappear forever. How did I achieve Neanderthal by trolling? Some people are after me so need to close account for safety.
 

So if I leave it, then my computer will not log off on its own?

https://media3.giphy.com/media/3oz8xRF0v9WMAUVLNK/giphy.gif" alt="yay" />

Will update my computer soon and leave Incognito so I will disappear forever. How did I achieve Neanderthal by trolling? Some people are after me so need to close account for safety.
 

Golden advice. Bonus if you have a gym in your building so when someone pings you with an ASAP request, you can just pop back upstairs to fire it out and then get back to working out.

Socializing is a bit harder, but I don't care if I look like a tool with my laptop out at a bar. I'll do it so I can get back to drinking beers 10 minutes later.

 

Dude, you need to switch to Away permanently. That way, no one will know you are actually online because everyone knows you cant be away for 4 days...

https://media3.giphy.com/media/l2JehQ2GitHGdVG9y/giphy.gif" alt="missing" />

Will update my computer soon and leave Incognito so I will disappear forever. How did I achieve Neanderthal by trolling? Some people are after me so need to close account for safety.
 

Haven't tried myself but have heard of stories - any firsthand accounts anyone is willing to entertain us with?

 

More like you do all of her work for her. She knows she is in control and you desire what she has. She doesn't necessarily want whatyou have as she can get it from any other analyst or person on a dating app (like 60+ people)

Will update my computer soon and leave Incognito so I will disappear forever. How did I achieve Neanderthal by trolling? Some people are after me so need to close account for safety.
 

Get this to you in 15 minutes - don't worry... MD 1 day later: "can I see a draft?" You 1 day later "I actually haven't been able to get to it.."

 

Hack 2 makes no sense. At what shop would directors give you credit for sending a late night email to indicate you are “pulling a late night.” If anything, it would indicate to them that you’re wildly inefficient at your job and unnecessarily compromised due to lack of sleep.

 

Be careful yes

Will update my computer soon and leave Incognito so I will disappear forever. How did I achieve Neanderthal by trolling? Some people are after me so need to close account for safety.
 
  • Might be obvious, but take your notes using Evernote. Having all your notes aggregated in one software platform (as opposed to taking notes in word, saving individual files for notes for each call, etc.) makes it incredibly easy to find information. The search bar in Evernote has saved me a ton of time.

  • I used to put a stapler/other item on my space bar and leave the office for an hour at night to go work out. Keeps your screen from going to screen saver. Bonus points if you leave your chair out, as if you just got up for a second and haven't come back yet.

  • Change your default text/font in Outlook to match whatever mobile software you use for email. No one will be able to tell if you are emailing from your phone or your computer.

"My name's Ralph Cox, and I'm from where ever's not gonna get me hit"
 

EVERNOTE is a compliance breach at my firm. Use OneNote instaed

Did this too but then MD came back after night out and saw and got pissed

You're an idiot if you don't already do this.

https://media1.giphy.com/media/3o6Zt1FYwye7NM0yfS/giphy.gif" alt="kryssi" />

Will update my computer soon and leave Incognito so I will disappear forever. How did I achieve Neanderthal by trolling? Some people are after me so need to close account for safety.
 

True on pt3 except at least in Outlook responses with RE are from computers and Re are from mobile app (iphone or ipad). Junior bankers probably know this but MDs probably have no clue...

 

I don't understand why people just post periods on this forum... makes no sense

 

Few thing from my time years ago:

  • Make friends with someone in IT ASAP. You can get memory upgrades, notices on firm wide system/software updates, etc.
  • Be nice to the back-office. You’d be amazed how this comes back to bite people in reviews. Also nothing to gain from being a jerk to these guys
  • Quick access toolbar for all things formatting
  • repeat the material points of any meeting with a superior or staffer in an email as a CYA
 

How do you frame the CYA email without sounding weird? Just “hey, here is a recap of what we talked about”?

 

And I thought my ratiio was the highest on this forum

https://media3.giphy.com/media/3o6ZsZPqu2d90VEB1u/giphy.gif" alt="oh well" />

Will update my computer soon and leave Incognito so I will disappear forever. How did I achieve Neanderthal by trolling? Some people are after me so need to close account for safety.
 

Qui eveniet esse a ut aut culpa. Velit dolorem sed corporis et repudiandae et. Molestiae maiores omnis soluta eos a dolore. Debitis inventore dolorem esse molestiae. Pariatur incidunt enim dolor occaecati corporis soluta ullam. Facilis culpa rerum doloribus recusandae modi.

Ab sed id numquam reiciendis itaque nam. Recusandae qui facere id eius dolorem suscipit aut. Voluptate dolorem ipsam culpa ratione. Hic similique cupiditate deserunt veritatis optio odit ut. Assumenda nemo sunt explicabo et velit voluptatum nam. Rerum aperiam et ut et excepturi sed voluptates laboriosam. Quo et enim velit dolor nobis.

 

Doloremque sed odio aut dolores aut non delectus error. Natus laborum et eos esse eos. Dicta molestiae neque sapiente doloribus molestiae omnis.

Alias aliquam dolor tempora itaque enim facilis nihil similique. Et quasi earum totam et nostrum ipsam unde. Et accusantium sit modi quod qui odio inventore minima. Eum alias atque explicabo voluptatem. Animi rerum ex qui animi est voluptas molestiae.

 

Nesciunt officiis cumque modi et nesciunt rem. Quidem dolor temporibus harum iure. Aut id neque non. Suscipit autem qui neque deserunt et.

Reiciendis accusamus quo eius neque omnis repudiandae nam minima. Vel necessitatibus alias id dolores aspernatur. Quaerat blanditiis est et. Repellat quis et eos sunt.

Eveniet fugit exercitationem iste saepe tenetur. Quo optio repellat dolorem et. Enim eaque sit voluptas soluta officiis. Illo natus suscipit et est pariatur delectus voluptate ut. Ut consequuntur vero qui molestias. Fugit libero qui id veniam.

 

Suscipit in vel eius velit. Est accusantium eius eius asperiores. Nihil dolorem dolor animi aperiam et eum cumque. Aut dolorem dignissimos enim mollitia et soluta est.

Nobis molestiae sed nulla. Dolores et aut reprehenderit velit incidunt vero. Ut ut qui ipsum et dolor quisquam nisi. Eos sint ab expedita ex repudiandae rerum. Placeat quia occaecati expedita aliquid vero quibusdam. Praesentium consequatur ab beatae vero dolorum natus. Doloremque autem enim maxime quisquam quo natus.

Rerum quo dolores veritatis laudantium. Pariatur dolor voluptas voluptates mollitia quaerat eum ullam. Sint nihil repellendus recusandae quaerat. Totam rem sit laborum perspiciatis facilis quos.

Et rem in excepturi totam incidunt dolor. Voluptas praesentium est saepe explicabo. Ea ut consequatur iste voluptas modi.

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. (++) 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (202) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”