Hi,
Coming up on 1 year of my IB analyst stint and really want to take some time off. How does one go about asking for PTO? Is two weeks off after 1 year generally acceptable? And do you ask 2-3 months in advance or wait for the very last minute?
Sorry if these are no brainers but the PTO talk seems so taboo for a first year that I'm not sure how to broach the subject. Any helpful tips appreciated.
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I don't think I've seen anyone take more than 1 week at a time at the junior level. 2-3 months notice is a little excessive; I would just talk to your staffer 2-3 weeks before you plan on taking. Just my observations as a first year who has watched other juniors take time off.
Varies by bank but you are way more likely to get approved and be able to take a full week off if you give as much notice as possible. At 2-3 months out you are almost guaranteed to be fine to take the week off. Have never seen anyone successfully do it 2 weeks out.
Agree that 2 weeks off is probably a little long as a first year. Take 2 separate weeks.
Brave
Has anyone ever taken all their weeks?
We usually do a week off and tell ~1-1.5 months in advance with a reminder ~1-2 weeks out. Ask your second years it’s not taboo
I also struggled with figuring out how to ask for time off, but I just went for it and now I've got a week long vacation coming up. Also, after asking for PTO I realized that it's not as taboo as it seems. If you're a first year working from home, you won't be included on any other first or second year's vacation notice email. That makes it seem like nobody is going on vacation when the reality is that everyone takes a few days off here and there, and then they'll take 4-10 days off. Just don't overthink anything and you'll be fine.
Thought you were asking for 'vaccination' time lol
I’m taking a week in May and most people in my class has already haven a week off.
You have to just pull the trigger. 2 weeks is not cool but take the 1 week. 6 weeks out probably makes sense considering you don't know what deals you will be on. Start with your staffer. Make sure the other associates/analysts on your deal are aware in case they have time off and and also want to make sure they are willing to cover if something pops up. And as someone said above, give a reminder 1 - 1.5 weeks in advance asking if there is anything they want you to get done before your approved PTO. Also, over- communicate your upcoming PTO. You don't need it to be secret where you are only telling a few people associates and VPs, and then a few days before you realize you should have told someone you didn't. You'll feel so much better knowing in the weeks leading up to PTO, everyone you are working with knows about your time off - from MD to intern.
I’m starting as an associate in July. Would it be alright to take one week off in December?
I wouldn’t since the more senior associates and senior analysts will take time off for Christmas. Tbh December months are slow asf for the most part so wfh during that was amazing
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