Can IB Analysts Have Girlfriends?
Curious to know how many analysts are able to maintain a relationship, and if it's even possible for a relationship to survive 2 years of banking. Can anyone provide any insight on this, whether it be anecdotal or statistical? How many people attempt this and fail?
No, not allowed. Your celibacy makes you stronger.
Statistically, you're likely to be dating coworkers. Also statistically, your co-workers are dudes.
I see this as an absolute win
By all means brother you do you.
Do people in IB naturally gravitate towards finance chicks or is it the complete opposite? Wouldn't it make sense to have someone to relate to when you are getting an email at 3:45 am that says plz fix tks
No right because you'll sound smarter explaining that you working on a mega deal to a non-finance chick at 3:45 am who is sleeping with you than a finance chick who know's you are your MD's bitch and are adding commas and period to a presentation.
You’re married to the job, the girl can be your mistress
Yup, just need to make time for it. My girlfriend and I have been together for over 3 years and live together so it makes it a bit easier. She had a parent who worked in the industry for 30+ years so she understands the hours. My bank has a once a month protected weekend policy too, so I usually try setting up time for us to spend the weekend together during my protected. Lastly, Friday nights I'm usually out by 8pm, so it's easy to do an 8:30 dinner date with her.
Downside is I usually get home after she's asleep M-Th, but we're able to get breakfast together Sat/Sun and sometimes go out Saturday night. Big change from college where I saw her every day, but you make it work. It's definitely made me much more efficient with how I allocate my time, even more so than I have as an analyst.
If the bank wanted you to have a girlfriend, they would've issued you one
It really depends on your group - some MD's allow it while others won't. Best to clarify this before joining the group so there's no misunderstanding
I notice quite a few posts from young guys on this board who are concerned about relationships while working at an investment bank. The short answer I'd say to this is that if you want to succeed in your IB career, just forget about it. Your presence and quality time is important to women, and unless she's very unusual, your girlfriend is going to get frustrated with your work schedule. I know several guys in banking and equity research who even got married and divorced, with conflicts over work hours being a major reason. At some point, you will have to choose between her, or your job.
When I worked in sell side equity research back around 2008, I had a girlfriend whom I met in my last semester of college and we did a long distance relationship for a while. That was really important to me and at the time was my primary source of enjoyment outside of work. It did take a toll on my job. Staying up late every night talking to her on the phone only left me with about 4 hours of sleep every night, and I was just coming into the office destroyed on some mornings. It was hard on my health - I looked like hell at the end of the day. There's a price to pay for trying to have the best of both worlds.
When the financial crisis hit, I went through an existential crisis about what I really wanted out of life and ended up choosing my girlfriend over Wall Street work. Now we're still married, but I no longer work in that field.
Nice personal anecdote, but your experience isn't dogma.
I made it through 3 analyst years with my significant other, with whom I live, and recently married.
As with most things in life your mileage may vary. These things are highly dependent on the partner and are highly case-by-case.
No of course you cannot - it is explicity stated in your offer letter that for the following two years, it is firm policy that analysts are not allowed to pursue relationships with a significant other. If you do decide to take the risk and an MD finds out, if he's feeling generous, he'll just tell the staffer to immediately put you in bottom bucket and to only give you middle market E&P sellsides for the remainder of your analyst program. I wouldn't take my chances.
Can anyone verify if this for real? The employment contract can dictate your personal relationships? Wow.
You’re dumb as shit dude. Please let us know which bank is going to be blessed by your talent
Have you tried it with your left hand yet?
Made it through 3+ years in IB w/ my current GF. Started dating in college though. Definitely doable, but not expected. I feel like people with successful relationships through their IB years usually are already dating beforehand or meet somebody else also in finance or an equally tough work / life balance job, such as consulting.