First year here and the past 8 months have been the worst in my life. I’m finding every excuse/urge to leave but just can’t because I’m afraid that it’ll have a catastrophic impact on my career.
I want to engage with this forum and ask if anyone has left before the one year mark and how did it affect you?
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Bump, feeling the same!
Look, I totally get it. I was in your shoes a few months ago because I was thinking about quitting every single minute of every day. I absolutely hated banking. So my question to you is this - if you really hate banking and you want to quit, (my take is that you're concerned because you want PE or some other common banking exit opp - let me know if I'm wrong in assuming this) why don't you? I mean if you hate the nature of banking, you're probably going to hate most traditional banking exit opps anyways. If you hate banking, then PE, corp dev, VC, etc. will just be filled with the same types of personalities who made your life absolutely miserable in banking.
I'll be leaving shortly and I decided to join a small company doing corporate finance because I genuinely liked the people I talked to. Sure, is the pay a lot lower? Yeah, but money isn't as important to me as I thought it was.
It's funny because once you work a job you hate, you start dreaming about what you would rather spend your time doing. Find a job that gives you the time for things you care about! Life is wayyy too short. I urge you to find what you value in a company vs what others in 'high finance' are constantly regurgitating over and over which is "oh yeah do banking for the cool exit opps". Nah dude. You do you, find your own path, and take ownership of your life.
The above is amazing advice.
I know how you feel OP. I left before one year (a month ago actually)and it was a tough decision but if you look around this forum, many people have done that so you shouldn’t feel alone (which was my biggest fear/concern).
How has your experience been in your post-IB role?
This is a really insightful and reassuring response. Thank you. I’m in the same position you were in (and relate 100% to OP), and I also want to switch to corp dev. I know this may come off as naive, but could you please explain (ELI5) how you made that switch to corp dev? Do you have any advice with making that transition / what some things to consider might be?
Agree with this! But would say that VC is much different. I left a top banking group after 6 months and went to a VC and love every second of it. It has its overlaps with some hard skills you pickup in banking, but it’s a totally different world. OP- PM if you’d like to discuss this. Hang in there and don’t make any rash decisions. But above all else, prioritize your mental health.
How has your experience been in the new job? Any reflections since the switch?
Just leave
Had been thinking a lot about leaving before the one-year mark. I decided now to just stick through for my bonus and then leave after.
Yeah - really wanted to leave at 6 months but now why not just at least stay for bonus?
Going to be a rough 4 months tho.
Yeap same thought process I had. I hope the next few months go smoothly though. Starting to look like the rate at which 2nd year analysts and associates are jumping ship is starting to pick up at the BB i'm at.
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