Fireside chat with your MD
You're an analyst, call it 2nd or 3rd year, and have a random chat with your MD (not your manager or VP/ED but the MD of your team). You're on a coverage/cap markets team. Throughout the convo, he asks if you like the work you do? You're MD is fairly cool, and not an ashole. How would you respond to that? Truthfully or not?
For background: I'm a snr analyst with > 1 year banking experience (top 5 BB) and seriously considering leaving banking behind for portfolio management roles on buyside.
You should probably lie and say that you do enjoy it. Sprinkle a little truth on that and tell him you sometimes feel like the long hours keep you away from the other important things in life like friends and family.
Thx, I thought about that, but maybe didn't sugar-coat enough. Though will take that going forward.
Like the above poster said, truth isn’t a black and white situation and you’re not being dishonest if you don’t immediately tell your MD every single thing you dislike about your job. It’s more sensible to think about what exactly you want that this guy can give you - is there a deal you want to be part of or a person you want to work with? So then you can ask him for that while sugar coating it with ‘wow how thoughtful of you to ask me, a lowly analyst, that; everything’s great and I’m really enjoying x - in fact I like it so much I’d really like to y’
I get that, but no, banking just doesn't motivate me to come to the office. Yeah sure the pay does versus other industries but I don't see myself doing this as a career or much longer. I was raised in a large family/friends setting and none of them are in banking, so none of them get it. I barely have time to call them let alone see them. Comp is not something I can negotiate at this stage so that's not on the table. I knew what I was getting into when I joined banking, but have burned out quicker than expected. Transitioning into a role where I'm not working 90 hours/ week is what I'm really trying to do, but ofc not going to put it that bluntly.
I would be honest and say there are things I like and things I don't, but that is to be expected with like 99% of jobs. My dream is to own a nightclub lol--and even that would have shit I hate. The stuff I like balances out with the shit I don't, and the salary/bonus is the bump that tips the scales back, hence how we are having this conversation to begin with. He should know that almost no analyst is in love with their job/life.
I would expect that most seniors know how the junior lifestyle is, and if they don't then hopefully this year made them aware. I told him mostly things I like, didn't really tell him things I disliked, which is unfortunate because I feel like he's the kind of guy who would be supportive if I wanted to transition outside.
cap your way to victory
This is such a weird post. Who says “top 5” BB anyway when there are only like 7 to begin with
so you have no opinion. thx. now stfu prospect.
As a fellow analyst also at a top 5 BB... who says top 5 BB wtf
Say you love your job and want to do it forever
Get top bucket bonus because they think you're staying
Save the bitching for your associates and staffer
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