How to be happy in IB?
Current first year here. I'm finding it hard to be happy in IB despite the financial stability it provides. The constant stress makes me feel unlike myself, and only having one free day (Saturday) I find isn't enough to really unwind and have fun being social. Any tips? I guess similarly, any tips on caring less about the job?
It’s impossible. This job is the absolute worst.
Are you going to quit?
Yes but the hardest part is the money. Hate yourself and make good money in a mindless job, or go for something new with less guarantees. Tough sell.
Adjust your expectations to reality. Getting pinged at 9pm on Friday, pulling occasional all nighter, and having weekend plans blown up was all in the job description.
enjoy the time that you do have off in whatever way recharges you the most (sleep in saturday, go out Friday and Saturday, whatever does it for you).
Care less. Stress implies that you’re worried about not meeting (or for most of us overachievers, exceeding) expectations. Remind yourself that the difference between top and middle bucket analyst is entirely marginal. You will not be fired if you answer an email at 9am instead of 3am the night prior. You will not get fired for saying you are at capacity, or pushing back on unrealistic deadlines.
lastly, remember IB is temporary. You’re either beyond the halfway point of year 1 or approaching your final 5-6 months, in either case, the end is visible.
Thanks this is extremely helpful. Any other tips on being middle bucket, haha?
As other people mentioned—its temporary. There’s a reason 90% of analysts leave, the job sucks. It is so demanding it will take the life and enjoyment out of you. Recognize the trade you are making and get out—
you give up 2 years of your life where you don’t control your time and get treated poorly and in exchange you get financial knowledge for life and the highest starting salary of almost any job.
In terms of how to deal with it, make the most of your Saturday, try to exercise, drink water, cut back on substances, mediate, focus on the positive things over the negative, begin making a list of things you will do when you get out, take vacation. Also, recognize there are months where the job is worse than others. You might just be in a shitty month or with a team that makes it worse than normal. The job def goes in waves.
It’s like a road test. If you accept that you’ve already failed, the rest of the test will go smoothly.
Hookers and blow will give you the up lift you need
I don't expect myself to be "happy" in IB, but trying to rationalize it. Like there's no way I can say I'm as "happy" as my friends traveling the world or going out multiple times a week, but that is the trade off for the money and quicker career learning that we get (which will hopefully both compound over time). I also rationalize it by saying I'm only 22 and doing this for only 1-2 years for long-term benefits will be worth it by the time I exit to something more chill (already know PE, etc. won't be the path for me).
in the same boat in terms of no PE. What exits are you thinking about?
Corp dev seems like the move but I am also ok with the paycut. Will focus pretty hard on figuring out what the work life is like at each place though because last thing I need is to take the paycut and end up in a "sweaty" corp dev team. What about you?
Got to do diligence for corp dev roles cause they can vary a lot. Some CD roles can be very sweaty, long hours and for like 40% of IB pay.
Knew someone last year that exited to corp dev at a large and very acquisitive F100 company and averages 70 hours a week.
"You're unhappy because you think there's still hope. But the only hope you have is to accept the fact that you're already dead. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you'll be able to function as an Analyst is supposed to function: without mercy, without compassion, without remorse. All banking depends upon it."-Ronald Speirs, circa 1942
lol same i think about quitting everyday, man fuck me i wish i still had the drive and ambition when i was in uni... not sure if i can make it to the 2 yr mark tbh lol, I'm close to 1 year in and i feel so burned out already
theres got to be more to life than just money and grinding and prestige, wish I could move away from the city and all of this and just be with family / friends somewhere living a simple happy life :)
It’s just two years man, remember why you came to IB and power through. When you come out you’ll have extremely valuable experience/brand, ~100k+ in savings, opportunity to pursue almost any business/finance-related role you want, and every subsequent job you have will always be comparatively easier. The now part sucks but the only way out is through
This is too optimistic. Even getting that much in savings...if anything my savings have gone DOWN from this shit market that the boomers are handing off too us they cash out. Genuinely wondering how there is any hope?
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