43 Comments
 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 

Fellow intern at my bank was like this. This individual was incredibly knowledgeable about the coverage group and was a strong intern but didn't get the offer. I asked around and found out it was because he was super hardo and came off as too serious and not a chill guy and ended up not being a cultural fit. I would recommend being chill...

I would try alcohol better. I am an alcoholic but was able to drink responsibly during the internship. It's a hard line to tread, and I don't recommend it if you really think you can't.

I never get this. Back when banking was fun and you’d go out to bars and clubs with the class and people got shit faced I get it. But now you’re barely in the office the culture has become super professional might as well just hire smart grinders who have passion and will crank out pages no mistakes…

 

Analysts and associates made most of the decisions as they interacted with the interns the most. The analysts and associates missed the freedom they had in university and only got a ton of company happy hours when the interns needed to be wooed. The interns that were able to socialize with the twenty-somethings still missing college ended up with the best reviews. 

 

This is a very short term point of view. If the banks only hired grinders with no social skills for the next 10 years then who are the leaders at the bank going to be down the road? Hiring and culture are long term strategies. Before a 22 year old nerd can grind away on a deck there needs to be clients to do work for. Someone has to be out drumming up business and those nerds that are shit socially are not the type to do it.

 

I said that in a jokingly way, but seriously. One piece of advice I got from my sophomore internship was to smile more and have better energy. I took that advice seriously and every interaction I had started with a smile and it has been a game changer. Not only have I had more success dating, my SA experience went phenomenally well. People enjoyed talking to me, being around me, and it's done wonders. It makes others feel comfortable and brings positive emotions. I know it can be hard to fake but it becomes natural after a while.

 

I don't know if you do this already, but I would work out more and read more long-form news (more like the Economist, for example).

Working out serves multiple functions. It will give you more confidence as you feel fitter, and it will give you more energy without relying on caffeine and other chemicals. Your mood will also improve, regardless if you're working out indoors or outdoors. 

Reading long-form news will allow you to connect with other people more easily. Everyone has topics that they love to chat about, but no one knows if their chatting partner will know what they're talking about unless you hint that you have a working knowledge of the discussed topic. It could also be interesting for you as you might be learning more about something that you already have some foundational knowledge of.  

--Death, lighter than a feather; duty, heavier than a mountain
 
Most Helpful

I have a very similar personality, not talking a lot when everyone else is having a conversation is the big thing that people notice and they generally assume something is wrong but the reality is most of the time they are talking about something I don't care about or I don't have anything of value to add to the conversation beyond what is already being said, not for lack of knowledge but not much point in repeating what everyone else is saying just to be heard. In my experience extroverts talk simply for the sake of talking, generally not adding much value to the conversation but it is still perceived as engagement so it isn't noticed that what they are saying is what someone else said two minutes prior. Often times people forget that listening to what others are saying is actually the more important part of the conversation. I will say that one of the benefits of being more of an observer of the conversation and speaking only when you have something of value to add is that people tend to actually listen when you do speak up.

Over the years I've essentially had to teach myself how to fake interest in what people are talking about, recognize when I'm not engaging, and learn social cues so I know when I'm not being "normal". A lot of people love to talk, one of the best things you can do is ask questions, then you don't have to speak and it's perceived as though you are engaging. I'm in my 30s now so I don't even bother with faking it outside of work anymore, if people aren't interesting then I'm not going to bother pretending I want to be around them.

 

Similar personality type to you and OP, you've described my thought processes and experiences to a T. Especially that everyone listens to you when you do speak. Someone actually once said to me "you don't talk a lot but when you do, its usually good".

OP I'd obviously +1 what this guy said. 

Some other tidbits:

* Be a yes man. This should be taken with a grain of salt, obviously have boundaries but if you want to step outside your comfort zone a bit more, say yes to all opportunities that come your way without (or barely) thinking. Just do it. At least once. If it's hanging out with new people, a new activity, whatever. If the opportunity comes just say yes. Even if you have a feeling you might not like it. If you end up being right, fine, you never have to do it again. But if you do end up liking it, the new people etc. it can open up your social life a bit, if that's what you're after.

* Learn the subtle smile. It's like engaging the muscles on your face EVER SO SLIGHTLY. Solves the resting bitch face thing. Makes people think you're engaged (you naturally look less despondent).

* Make good eye contact with people when talking to them.

* Learn to be curious about other people (if you don't dislike them ofc). By asking good questions, you actually rarely have to speak ever.

​​​​​​

 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 

Something I heard that helped me a lot with this: It's not about being interesting, it's about being interested.

Most people just want to talk about themselves so if you show interest and ask engaging questions (i.e., not yes/no questions) then it goes a long way. 

"I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse."
 

Itaque aut laborum dolores laudantium modi. Velit saepe illo nesciunt harum soluta recusandae. Cupiditate eius ut dolorum sed. Voluptates sit asperiores velit tenetur suscipit. Placeat nam maiores nulla ut vel.

Dicta dolor facilis adipisci maxime. Quis eos voluptatum laboriosam sunt vitae totam ad. Quia fugit atque porro dolor ut sit et atque. Vel repellendus dolorem nostrum qui. Fugiat laboriosam ut et reiciendis incidunt officiis facilis numquam. Qui sed eum sed adipisci laudantium sapiente asperiores enim. Quibusdam aut dolorum in.

Sequi quasi qui molestiae ea. Ex accusantium nulla aut deserunt quis aut. Quisquam aut omnis facilis maxime aperiam.

Vel quas veniam voluptas nobis nostrum ut quis illo. Placeat quibusdam voluptas aut exercitationem. Qui perferendis nisi quidem delectus. Porro voluptas quia beatae quos ad error. Rem voluptates ullam laboriosam voluptas culpa nisi. Blanditiis suscipit excepturi veritatis.

 

Ducimus et consectetur impedit dolores atque. Quia voluptas porro omnis et ullam. Sunt porro provident eum cumque unde eum rerum. Facere sed et dolores eaque.

Omnis ratione accusamus fugiat illo atque. Aut accusantium magni recusandae. Velit quisquam est nulla quia amet.

Ipsum odio eum autem quisquam dolores corporis. Voluptatem nobis distinctio ut est nobis unde. Et quis recusandae incidunt qui atque.

Unde suscipit nobis qui. Aut nulla et provident delectus. Doloremque tenetur nemo cumque eos non dolorem.

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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 (65) $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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
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...”