A couple of months ago I started my first full time IB gig at a boutique. While I'm grateful for getting the gig, im having a hard time as I really hate the job. While a ton of analysts hate their job when it starts, its generally because they have long, unpredictable hours; or think the work is monotonous. To the contrary I don't hate b my job for any of these reasons, but instead because I'm literally by myself at work all day long.
To give a bit of background, I graduated in 2018 from a non-target liberal arts school with a science major. During college, I had plans to go on to grad school but after graduating I pivoted to IB instead. During the following year I cold emailed my way into an internship at a private equity firm where I interned full time for four months before my current job.
While my full time job works in a much more interesting sector, I've had a really hard time with the dysfunctional culture of this shop. First and foremost I spend EVERY SINGLE DAY in a closet sized office by myself, which is driving me fucking insane. During the time I've been here, I havent been to one meeting with anybody; which is pretty insane to me. Maybe once every other week someone will come into the office for like four hours, and that will be it.
I was never told during the interview process for this current place that I would be by myself every day; and I frankly feel lied too. I'm already counting down the days until I can lateral to a normal bank (ie one where I'm not by myself all day long) but I don't know if I can really stand to stay here for much longer. I know generally it's looked down upon to leave a FT job before a year, but I would really love to move to a better firm if possible. I would rather get churned out at a place like FTP then sit by myself all day.
What do you all think my options are? Would it be possible to make a move elsewhere sooner?
Can you talk to your manager about your desk situation? Maybe if you express your concerns you can move so you’re interacting with other bankers. Walk around and ask senior bankers questions and maybe help them with their work so that you can do more collaborative work as well.
Additionally, the one year thing is a thumb rule, not a law - you can definitely start to network and look for a lateral. Your reason for switching is simple, culture was a bad fit for you and you can explain that it wasn’t a collaborative, interactive environment which I think is a fair reason if a hiring manager asks why you want to switch firms. I’m sure someone else can add to that but my initial thoughts are:
1) talk to your current manager about how you feel 2) make an effort to get out of your closet office and do group work 3) start networking for the lateral ASAP - you have more to gain than you have to lose in my opinion.
I understand the frustration because you likely are missing in key developmental areas by flying solo all of the time. With that being said, believe me, there will be a day you would kill for alone time. There are some horrible and obnoxious people in the world and I can assure you that being alone is far better than sharing close proximity to them for numerous hours of the day.
I would definitely recommend talking to the upper management. It sounds pretty ridiculous you are basically stuck in a cubicle all day. You don't have any social interaction? That is unhealthy and I would speak to the upper management. I have a friend in a similar situation and he literally started feeling isolated and depressed about just being alone. I would talk to someone or find a different firm that is more open.
So you work at Tobin & Co.?
FTP has a great analyst bonding culture and would never put you in an office all alone. Would they churn you out? Not what they want, though some people may think that. They are getting better.
I would kill to be there. Just using them as an example of a place that is known for working their juniors hard...which I would take any day over being isolated all day long
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