How to Deal with Insane Hierarchy in Banking

Respect is ONLY earned based on how many YOE you have, you can’t talk back to the juniors above you as they directly control your comp / bonus, you’re made to feel like an idiot when you just have less experience.

How the fuck do you deal with it? Is the entire corporate world like this? Suck up to those above and shit on those below? It’s such fake respect even at the top too - people only respect you because they have to, and you’d only have it because you put the most time in.

Also, I’m a bit older as an Ana2 (25) so I’m actually older than a few of my associates, so at times I have to answer up to people beneath me / who I wouldn’t respect or even say hi to at a party.

How do you do it? Is this normal?

I feel the solution is to dissociate, constantly be recruiting for the next gig so you can hold the reins and not care about work product / give others influence over work product, but eventually in your exit opp you’ll have that boss and can’t keep running.

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The real issue is that you think other people are "beneath" you or are not worthy of respect. Everyone is worthy of respect and in a group of good culture, everyone is treated with respect from top to bottom. Yes, some seniors are assholes but the vast majority I have interacted with have been respectful and helpful. I haven't met a single analyst 2 who looks down on the first years, there is very strong camaraderie amongst the analysts in my group. I am also at a BB doing coverage, and although I heard of some horror stories with seniors, I have never heard of an IB group without junior/bullpen camaraderie. 

 

I agree — OP needs to calm his ego / pride. Success in Wall Street is all about the network. Enjoy the people around you and make the best of all the co-workers you meet. Everyone is decently talented if they’ve made it to IB. Just treat everyone equally regardless of rank, talk to everyone with respect and decency.

 

I get your comments and understand you're in a toxic group. I am just stating that's not the way a lot of groups across the street at. The question is how much do you want to stick in your toxic group and would you be willing to move firms/groups? I understand not every group that's good for possible exits will be non-toxic, and it's up to you to find those groups if that's what you're looking for.  Also curious about what type of firm this is. Have found most of my friends at BB's haven't had an experience like yours at the very least.

 

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