How bad do you have to be to get bottom bucket?

Started my A1 program this summer. 4 months into the job and I’m decent at the gig but not really good.

I work hard & long hours, but only when required and don’t go way above and beyond. I chew up hours of manual work for my seniors, but still make a couple of silly mistakes each time (I.e. page numbers, headers, miscoloring hardcodes vs. formulas, etc). When I make great work-product, I often miss a “key point”.

There are definitely analysts better than me, but none id consider “worse”, but rather around the same level.

Do I sound like a bottom bucket analyst? Or does this sound on par with an A1 with 4 months experience? I really want to go A->A in 2 years and not exit/ do a 3 year analyst program. I know being bottom bucket would really fuck those chances.

2 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Plenty of "good" analysts can get bottom bucket. You work on a deal that takes up the bulk of your year, and if you're working with an a-hole associate or VP who makes unreasonable demands, or is bad himself, and projects that shit onto you, he can give you a bad review and bam, you're paid as a bottom buck analyst. But in reality, you could be a very competent analyst who's well liked by most, and who's performed well for most, but the a-hole who oversaw you for 7 months drags you down with a (possibly unwarranted) bad review. 

 

Ab suscipit distinctio rerum et hic. Et aut eum repellat quaerat assumenda. Dolore aliquam rem ipsam modi. Soluta praesentium voluptas porro facilis nobis. Sit cum natus voluptatem sit explicabo reiciendis. Ipsa rerum enim illo ullam ab voluptatibus voluptatem.

Temporibus eveniet et minus optio. Nemo nihil assumenda sit excepturi. Officia reiciendis placeat eveniet repellendus reiciendis quasi. Rerum sit et nobis et temporibus.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”