Been enjoying my time in banking so far looking to move firms for FT. I’m definitely interested in being a career banker but I’m wondering about the hours, my whole thing is I’m completely fine grinding the first couple years out of school but I know once I’m high 20s I’m not going to be down for 80-90 hr weeks anymore I’ve heard vps and associates work those hours depending on groups is this true?
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Definitely still on call just about 24/7, all the way up to MD. Very normal for MDs to work through their vacation, miss family events etc. Keep that in mind...
Someone has to check the work the analyst is doing at 3am. I'd say your hours generally go down a bit around VP (maybe 70, with 80-90 when close on a deal) and you gain a bit of flexibility to go pick up your kid from school, eat dinner with the family and then log on after dinner. But IB is never going to be a 50hr/week job. It's client service and being available 24/7 is table stakes in a very competitive landscape to land deals
How can you even spend time with your family though if you’re working 70-80 hrs a week?
It's definitely not easy. MD who is an absent parent is very common. Most have stay at home spouse or full-time, live-in childcare.
Most of my seniors will step out around 4-6pm for kids sports practice, dinner, etc - same for an hour or two Sat/Sun. But they are usually logging right back in around 7 and working until midnight, up early Saturday morning catching up on work, etc. It's not a glamorous life
Would it be the same at a boutique bank?
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