Im considering a career in IB, and I understand that it involves long hours. I am willing to work them, but I want to have a realistic understanding of the workload and be prepared for it once I enter. I've heard about investment bankers working 100+ hours per week and 20h days. On average, how many hours per week do investment bankers really work? I understand that hours may depend on different factors, but I'd like to have a general idea.
What has been the maximum number of hours you have had to work in a day? Do you work every weekend or is it more circunstancial?
What I don't understand is how do you function at all working that many hours, sleeping so little, and not seeing friends and family. I would think it is very inefficient due to the lack of energy.
Trending Content - Investment Banking Forum
| +180 | Evercore > Goldman and I don’t think it’s particularly close anymore | 65 | 41m |
| +156 | Article: Why UBS's Asian M&A bankers are thriving and UBS's American M&A bankers are not | 17 | 22h |
| +130 | I am a drunk MD AMA | 40 | 2d |
| +87 | UBS Offer Day | 30 | 1d |
| +75 | Santander IB? | 10 | 3d |
| +71 | I hate Wells Fargo | 19 | 1d |
| +55 | Think Twice before Recruiting for HOUSTON IB!! | 27 | 1m |
| +51 | No return offer - feeling like a failure is an understatement | 20 | 19h |
| +48 | How cooked am I as an incoming WF IB SA 2027? | 17 | 16h |
| +46 | WF Return offers | 28 | 2d |
Career Resources
Lol dude it’s as advertised. The job blows. 85+ the norm. Never going to bed before 2 am and working every Sunday and public holiday minus Xmas, Thanksgiving, 4th, MD, and maybe Labor Day. Sucks your soul. Saturdays are 50/50 usually unless in coverage in which call it once a month to 30%
What makes you stay in banking then?
This was my experience. Anyone with better hours or better protected weekends and holidays don't realize how good they have it.
Echo what above poster said…hours are truly terrible and never make plans on a Sunday.
Cannot recall the last relaxing weekend i’ve had since college years…
Asking just to know about your experience. Why do you stay in IB given that you haven't had a relaxed life since starting? Do you like it? Is it worth it?
$
85 - 90 always. 100 every 2-3 weeks. 100+ every 4 weeks or so.
Is it painful? Yes.
How do I do it? There really is no explanation for how I do it, I just take it one day at a time when it's exceptionally brutal.
Why do I do it? I do it for the money.
Will I stay? I want to leave but can't because my skillset is too highly developed for something like PE, Corp Dev, Traditional Fi roles, whereas I want to be a PM at a Tech co.
Thanks for the answer, really useful!! Hope you find an exit op that suits you
Cheers
Aren't you an analyst tho? According to your profile
You should be able to exit pretty easily, no?
Eh job market's rough right now for entry into tech. Product also requires a more nuanced mix of a CS and Business background. Definitely easier to do than a Sr. Aso or up, but all the successful paths to recruiting seem to be PE / Finance / Corp Dev / IR, not Product Management.
At a regional in m&a, on average 60-70.
Most ever ~100.
You get faster as you do it more
Similar story for me as well.
Same
I never understand these threads. Were the bottomless pit of threads commenting on hours worked not clear enough?
Distinctio et autem fuga et voluptates. Numquam accusantium possimus quis itaque corrupti. Molestiae suscipit alias totam eaque et temporibus.
Est assumenda tempora quis optio eos pariatur. Est qui quasi sit et. Aliquam quia aut adipisci quasi odio. Ab culpa sed recusandae nemo placeat. Nostrum omnis modi dolore incidunt et soluta. Quidem dignissimos earum vel sequi omnis.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...