How Often Do You Get Staffed?

2y at BB coverage group with client based staffing

My personal opinion is that, assuming all M&A or project financing (ie, model heavy on coverage side for most BBs), if you are doing shit the “right” way and digging in on diligence, you have bandwidth for a MAX of 3 live deals and that is assuming your bandwidth is 110 hour weeks. My group has a history of sending analysts to PE roles, so every year around May when the 2y analysts are checked out, the 1y analysts start to get heavily staffed (probably 1 new client every 10/15 days or so). This adds on top of our preexisting clients so when we get new analysts some old, inactive accounts start getting rolled off to the new 1y.

Also noting the below is assuming that you are at your peak and running point on everything materials related (ie, very minimal associate support as they are either dumb MBAs or really good and busy with other stuff. There is no in between imo).

Curious to hear other thoughts - I generally think of it as you have 10 points before burn out heavily sets in.

Live M&A Buy Side Processes: 4 points Live M&A Sell Side Processes: 3 points RFP: 2.5 Points Pitch: 2 Points Internal Credit Memos: 1.5 points Internal Requests: 1 point

If you’re past 10 points - you are getting ground to a pulp. In my experience this was April - September when staffings were rolling on every 10-15 days. Seriously considered quitting and becoming a caddy despite having a PE offer signed

8-9 Points you have it pretty bad, and another staffing probablt sends you into a short spiral that can be cured with adderall or liquor- pick your vice

6-7 Points this is the average zone. If you are a middle tier analyst this is where you likely live 80% of the time. Good enough to run with live shit, but not good enough to handle much past that without output taking a hit. I think this is the place to be without a doubt

4-5 Points this is the danger zone for staffings if you’re a good analyst. When I’m only on one live thing, or a handful of pitches - I fully expect to get staffed (ironically enough this is where I’m living currently, hence the long post)

2-3 Points you are bottom bucket. Unlikely to receive positive reviews, also unlikely to be overworked because you can’t handle it. Not a terrible place to live if you’re fine cashing 100k and don’t care what others think of you at work - I actually envy these people

0-1 Points you’re about to leave the firm by choice or by force

Would welcome any thoughts or comments to this. This is a topic that isn’t discusssrd enough (probably because firms do it so many different ways) but the Stockholm syndrome that sets in when you feel like you aren’t working enough is one of the worst parts about this job - I think more conversation could be helpful