Am I dumb for not doing banking

Completed a summer analyst stint this summer at a middle-market firm (HL/WB/Jefferies) and turned down the return offer to start as an analyst in an investing role.

I took a bit of a haircut compensation-wise, but overall, I find the work far more interesting, and I believe I’ll gain an equivalent amount of technical skills as I would in banking.

However, I’m concerned that the lack of an analyst class network and not having banking on my resume might hinder career changes or narrow the scope of potential opportunities later on.

Should I have just stuck it out for two years?Interested to hear people’s thoughts.

15 Comments
 

Lol so I guess all the banks with 3 year analyst programs are toxic? Have never experienced or even heard a senior yell. And what difference does buy-side recruiting make… few banks actively encourage it. So what… you have to hide your recruiting for another job…? Just like literally any company anywhere in any other industry?

 

There is no correct path for everyone in a career, people value different things. Maybe you work at the MM and burn out and switch career fields, maybe you crush it and become a rainmaking MD, can't change anything now so why worry about it. My advice would be to learn as much as you can in your current role and don't dwell on the past, careers are long.

 

I don't think you'll build a skillet that's equivalent. That's why there is so much CV value to doing IB analyst.

However, at the end of the day you're best doing what you find more interesting. You spend a lot of time at work and being miserable or bored is truly soul destroying.

Sponsors M&A (London)
 

If you want to do go into an investing roll long term, why not go straight to it from undergrad?
Genuine question as I'm in the same boat (received return offer from SA PE).

 
Most Helpful

Vel aut tenetur eos recusandae vitae eveniet. Quas et sed in.

Quas non omnis aut repudiandae quis est. Accusantium alias dignissimos neque. Ipsam nemo et in est incidunt.

Rerum ab modi veritatis. Dicta quas esse perspiciatis et. Incidunt ratione et sit blanditiis id fugiat temporibus.

Sponsors M&A (London)

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (66) $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

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...”