GS London hours

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to know about investment banking hours, particularly in London:

1. Typical Hours: A typical investment banking analyst can expect an 80-hour week. While there will be weeks where you might work 100+ hours, these are not the norm and are outnumbered by 80-hour weeks.

2. Survey Data: According to the WSO 2022 Investment Banking Work-Conditions Survey, the average hours of work per week in London is 78 hours. This aligns closely with the general expectation of 80-hour weeks.

3. Sleep Schedule: Analysts typically get around 6 hours of sleep per night. This is consistent across different groups and types of banks, with slight variations (e.g., M&A averages 5.9 hours, TMT averages 6.1 hours).

4. Survival Tips:

   • Adopt a Survivor Mentality: Maintain fortitude, avoid self-pity, and accept the hand you’ve been dealt.
   • Put it in Perspective: Understand that many people would kill for your job, and many others have it worse.
   • Rationalize Two Years: Break down your time into milestones to make it more bearable.
   • Be Strong: Don’t complain and don’t make yourself a victim. This affects your reputation.

5. Work-Life Balance: Don’t expect a work-life balance during your first two years. The nature of the job is demanding, and the hours are long.

6. Cultural Insights: The culture in London investment banking can vary by bank and group, but generally, the hours are long and demanding, similar to other major financial hubs.

In summary, while the hours at GS London will be long and demanding, the extreme 8am-3am schedule is not the daily norm. Expect around 78-80 hours per week with about 6 hours of sleep per night.

Sources: Investment Banking Hours - What to Expect?, Investment Banking Hours - What to Expect?, WSO 2022 Investment Banking Work-Conditions Survey (Part 1/3), WSO 2022 Investment Banking Work-Conditions Survey (Part 1/3), WSO 2023 Investment Banking Work-Conditions Survey RESULTS (3rd Annual)