How to be a top bucket analyst?
1st year analyst at a top (sweaty) BB group that has above average class size. Any advice from people on how they got top bucket? I assume just working hard isn't going to cut it.
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Lick the MD’s nuts
Don’t matter bruh all the BBs paying bonuses like shit anyway
An2 at BofA… ~100k bonus and 40k promo. I’d say that’s pretty solid
Oh yeah, MS for a verified account providing accurate comp that contradicts all BBs paying like shit which could deter influential college students? Great stuff
Something that I don’t see mentioned too often is consistency. I’ve seen lots of analysts do really good work here and there, only to fuck up the next task. A top bucket analyst is consistently good, every day with every task he / she gets.
How are we evaluated? I feel like it's difficult to keep track of performance unless it's someone that is always fucking up vs. someone that can do the associates job from day 1.
One of the best things you can do. Is write down every project, item, task, etc., that you work on and keep a detailed log of comments that you receive. This will not only give you something to consistently review and track performance, but it will give you a way to guide mid-year / year end reviews.
Agreed. I, analyst, through all my internships was always told to check work. I realize that this was mainly due to the fact as a freshman intern I sent some stuff to my analyst or assoc that wasn't formatted properly early in my start. I realized (call me dumb) that analysts have to be super detail focused. Sounds obvious now ofc. But I think a way to be the best (like the comment above) is to ensure (to best of ability) no errors. Check everything three times over if u have time. Everyone is human but minimizing errors makes ur senior analyst or associates life much easier and that is the job.Somewhat of a ramble but I think as an analyst there is little ability to reinvent the wheel.Outside of this another piece of advice I got was worry about being the best at your current job while learning your immediate superior's job inside out. That is the way to be promoted and given more responsibility. If you are in a sense an associate 1 as an analyst 2 (titled analyst 2 but doing both analyst and assoc) responsibilities you will be put on the most important files.An associate I look up to I watched to this when he was an analyst.Many will say it is impossible with not enough time in the day to even be an analyst, never mind an associate and an analyst but I hope I conveyed my thought clear enough so you get the jist.
Added on: put your hand up for everything but don’t spread yourself too thin. I think every new analyst is guilty of saying they have capacity when they don’t. More important to do your responsibilities correct then taking on more work and missing deadlines.
Also have a keen attitude, be a nice guy( or girl (inclusive lol ofc)) and show up with a smile.
Best compliment I received was I never gave push back for any bitch task ever. (This was an internship early in uni so tbh this was likely a product of the novelty and also not knowing it was bitch work) but still. People notice.
It’s not about being able to do the associate job from day one, but I work with first years (ignore my title), not a 1st year anymore.
sometimes when I give tasks out 1st years do an amazing job with barely any mistakes. Then I’ll give out a similar task and they butcher it, that’s what I mean with consistency. Like you know how to do it, but somehow are not consistent in doing good work. I talked to people abt it and they usually mention being tired, having some personal problems (nothing serious, like smaller issues), etc.
To be top bucket it’s key to be consistently good, even when you are tired, hungry, sad or don’t like the task. I often see people doing shitty work on tasks they don’t like or enjoy as much. Top bucket analysts are always good and their deliverables are good quality. And it can be simple 1st year tasks like aligning logos, updating slides etc.
I see people turn comments and just miss simple stuff because they are not super focused. Top buckets especially know how to complete simple tasks flawless.
Sorry for the thought vomit, should have structured it a bit more but I hope you get the idea
very helpful, thanks!
Doesn't answer your questions but honestly why kill yourself and be top bucket. Trying to be top bucket analyst is so dumb, and if getting 'dinged' for making minor mistakes (i.e., charts aren't properly aligned, font sizes are off, etc.) I would rather settle for mid-bucket any day.
Have a good attitude regardless of the task but any Associate/VP that freaks out about 4-5 mistakes in a 100pg CIP that you've worked 90+ hours for weeks can go kick rocks. Once you step back and realize that what you're doing really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things, it gets easier to perform in IB and not burnout
Depends on the person, that’s definitely a valid strategy at the analyst level because the bands aren’t wide between the buckets.
For me, the efficient frontier was being a middle bucket analyst and a top-mid bucket associate. The bands are wider at the associate level and it’s a little easier to not kill yourself and get into the upper-mid range. The people at the very top on both levels are nut cases, and for me it wasn’t worth killing myself. Some people just love the job.
To answer the question, fully agree with the answers in the thread. Someone who is consistent, responsive, and strives for excellence regardless of how mundane the task is or how tired they are. Consistent with being successful at life, build good habits and be consistent.
Banking is actually relatively manageable (weighted for comp obviously) when you give it the fiercest 80% your firm has ever seen
Makes sense. I think I will gauge the standard required for top bucket and then see how personally sustainable it will be for me. Don't want to go in with the mind-set of being average, but like you mentioned, totally fine with it if I can avoid burnout that way.
Since I am the only analyst in the team, I am literally always top bucket lmao.
Doesn’t that mean you’re also technically always bottom bucket?
You could say I'm kind of a switch ;)
This might help...
https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/success-in-ib-not-taught-in-b-school
Okay
Don’t underestimate the politics here. In my group, a single VP (our staffer) has a ton of clout with the MDs and basically buckets everyone single handedly. Our best analyst ended up middle bucket because he doesn’t get along super well with the staffer, and I got top bucket even though I really deserved middle (was probably on the better end of middle but definitely not too), but the VP loves me and I got top.
Just understand who the key decision makers are, which MD respects who, and understand what makes those people tick (some people appreciate you grinding until 4am, others want work fast, others want to go get sauced at happy hour). Don’t underestimate how autistic the average banking analyst and make sure to be everyone favorite analyst to hang out with and they’ll overlook a lot of mistakes with work
Any tips on figuring out who the main decision makers are?
I've seen an absolute rock star at one of the top banks / groups on the street getting mid bucket, while the whole floor knows he's a beast. All comments above are valid, but the reality is that getting top bucket depends on many different factors, some of which have nothing to do with quality of work. You can be a mid bucket analyst at one firm and then switch teams and get top bucket while doing nothing differently...
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