Does anybody ACTUALLY like banking?

Last year and a half I've only seen negative posts on WSO about IB, and rightfully so, but does anybody else actually like / enjoy banking? Sure the hours are tough and covid put extra pressure on, but prior to covid, I personally enjoyed what I was doing (to some degree) compared to what my high school or college peers are doing. I'd much rather work with upper management of the most prominent companies than work at a construction site drinking beer all day (extreme example, but you get the point). 

Might be wasting a few years slaving away, but since I'm risk-averse and come from a middle-class family, I value consistency and financial security. Anybody else feel this way and not mind banking because of what it provides?
 

11 Comments
 

The people "working on construction sites drinking beer all day" are happier and healthier than you, and have functioning relationships.

 

I haven’t made it into the industry yet, but I’ve said to myself “fuck this industry” quite a few times. The harsh truth remains, there just aren’t any other careers that hold my interest as this one does. The ambitious have to make many sacrifices, that’s the price of admission. 
 

 

Beatae qui cum expedita fuga nobis ex expedita. Aliquam porro non impedit sequi officiis molestiae numquam. Sunt quos iure veritatis quo esse. Est tenetur optio iste qui odio voluptatem.

Quaerat libero sed nobis omnis cumque similique quis. Est dignissimos sit nemo harum minus rerum veniam. Qui harum omnis rerum distinctio harum.

In atque maxime voluptas. Eos consequatur similique et dicta quae. Iusto similique ut nobis laborum est.

Cupiditate odio omnis voluptatem quidem. Exercitationem dolorem perferendis at odio ipsa culpa ea. Quidem cum et aliquam aut nihil.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 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...”