Behaviour at job

Hey,

Firstly, you're absolutely right. This is a "people business", and networking is important. It is definitely better to get on well with your peers and develop a long-term relationship with them than not to.

However, couple of things:

1) This is the most important thing - you mentioned in your post "I don't like where I am and what I am doing". If that's really how you feel, that you don't enjoy IB and don't want to develop a career in this industry (or its adjacencies like PE), then recognise that now and adjust (e.g. plan to stick around for a bit but think about what is next - e.g. a career in academia or whatever you can see yourself having a career). And ignore most of the rest of this post.

2) Socialising, having drinks, keeping good craic / banter, is good, but it is not everything. You will be evaluated at the junior years mostly on your technical skills, ability to keep deadlines, produce quality work, work ethic, and attitude. You can go a long way at the AN / AS ranks by just being an absolute dependable champ at the work itself. I have very little idea which of my juniors are popular, leading the socials, etc. I will give top bucket reviews to the juniors that freaing deliver.

3) Longer term, you get success in this business by generating deals (shocked face). How do you do that? It's by having great CONTENT. To me that is three things. Firstly, bringing good ideas that other banks haven't come up with (e.g. spinning out some division, or identifying a target nobody else thought to pitch). Second, it means knowing you coverage area or product (e.g. growth rates of end markets, defensibility of certain products, etc.). Third, it means knowing what is going on (i.e. there's a sellside process going on - who is likely to bid, what are the valuation expectations of the seller?) Nobody is going to hire you JUST because you fun to hang out with - that shit simply does not fly long-term.

4) You'll change. Hard to see it now, but as you develop and start knowing things, you'll become more confident. Once you're more confident delivering content, you'll become even more confident. You'll have more opportunities to see other successful MDs deliver content and copy / integrate their ideas. 

5) Be positive. And I mean smile to people, say hi, act enthusiastic when you're speaking to seniors or are given deliverables. That stuff is SO infectuous. If you look miserable, people will think you're miserable, and that rubs off badly.

6) Try to find others like you - there'll be some quieter VPs / EDs / even AS. Try to get close to them, ask them for coffee, ask a bunch of questions about their career and development. People love speaking about themselves - if you feel comfortable, ask them if they'll be a mentor. Worst they can say is "no" and they'll take it as a compliment. Best case scenario they'll be a true mentor and give some sound advice (you will need to lead such a relationship though - don't expect them to initiate every conversation).

Good luck