Bad idea to lie here?

So I just finished my first year in banking at a BB in NYC. Got top bucket review and bonus, and just quit with nothing lined up. Honestly the stress was just too much for me, and was effecting me a lot physically and mentally. 

To be honest, it was just impossible to recruit, interview prep, and networkwhile on the job.  (I did not go to a target so assume will have to network a TON). 

I know it was always recommended to just start half-assing work and recruit while working, but I honestly love my team and they are all great people, so I felt really bad just kind of screwing them over, so I did not want to opt to just start giving 50% effort at work. 

My question is, would it be possible to still recruit and apply for jobs and still "pretend" I am in banking? I know I made probably a rash and bad decision to quit with nothing lined up, but feel like it will be much harder to get a new gig if I am currently unemployed and will be very difficult to explain to interviewers. 

Any thoughts / advice on my situation? Only targeting strategy / corp dev roles , no PE or HF at all. 

3 Comments
 

Consequatur praesentium magnam non enim dolor. Illum aut dolorum cum. Voluptas est officia deserunt eum. Unde ex repudiandae quae qui rerum quia. Ratione dolorem et fuga fugit architecto temporibus quo. Corporis dolor sint omnis ut quibusdam ipsam praesentium. Nisi aut blanditiis ullam suscipit ut qui.

Libero molestiae quis voluptatum possimus rerum quasi. Quo hic dolore rem voluptatem nobis nostrum aperiam. Quia esse corporis maxime nihil impedit.

Consequatur in vel assumenda modi molestiae. Animi autem totam aut deleniti tempora. Aut et laboriosam ut odit animi. Est mollitia iusto commodi quam in. Eius corrupti velit beatae exercitationem. Vel hic odio minima voluptas autem.

Voluptatem reprehenderit animi praesentium a est fugit. Nesciunt suscipit sed ducimus quo eveniet amet culpa.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.9%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (56) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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...”