Been grinding for two years now and really getting worn down. Don't like the sector I cover and don't think I could do this for another year. I've heard stories about people leaving banking with nothing lined up -does anyone know anyone that's done this or have opinions / thoughts? Going through a rough patch so appreciate any advice. Thanks WSO
Trending Content - Investment Banking Forum
| +197 | Americas M&A League Table Q2 Updated | 79 | 3h |
| +131 | Restructuring: Anti-climactic Experience | 34 | 1d |
| +101 | IB Net Worth / Savings Check | 48 | 32m |
| +91 | Woman who emptied Knicks trashcan on street then stole it was DEI exec, worked at JPMorgan Chase | 24 | 13h |
| +80 | Stop sleeping on UBS - it’s pretty good | 26 | 2h |
| +52 | 2026 VAULT PRESTIGE RANKINGS | 29 | 1d |
| +39 | AI + Financial Modelling | 12 | 1d |
| +28 | Summer before college | 17 | 13h |
| +28 | Hardest interview experiences? | 16 | 22h |
| +26 | Current State of UBS in North America | 8 | 2d |
Career Resources
Don't do it. Just keep looking for another opportunity and leave when you have something else secured. In the meantime, worst case if you really can't take it - just slack off.
Cop dat 2 years peace corps--->M7 MBA
OP have you contacted recruiters?
Peace corps isn't too bad. I didn't know the term was only 2 years. Would be a vacation compared to the workload you have now...
This. Keep your job, slack off, and look for other jobs. Looking for jobs while unemployed is a nightmare and it takes you out of the position of power.
are you at a BB? some will let incoming 3rd years goto a different group
ha, peace corps is not a vacation.
Just keep grinding man and actively look for something else. Way easier to get a job while you have a job.
Allow your work quality to drop and feign incompetence / lack of interest in improving. This will quickly cause people to avoid working with you or putting you on challenging stuff, and your hours will drastically improve. Obviously don't push so far that you get fired. Just imitate one of the bottom analysts in your group.
This. Basically what I'm doing, pretty awesome because I don't give a sh*t and there's relatively less stress.
This is pretty terrible advice. The other analysts/associates are going to have to cover your slack, and they will hate you for it. You've started an actual career now. Can't have people calling your previous employers and hearing about how you checked out 12 months in.
No former employer would make this observation (law suit risk). The only people you have to worry about are your references.
Don't quit until you have something else lined up (as someone above mentioned). It will suck, but it's 10X easier to get another job when you are already employed. Just make your search a priority and get ready to have a lot of 'doctor/dentist appointments'.
Thanks for the advice everyone. I've been pushing back a bit more on work but I don't want to completely piss off my coworkers and make for an even poorer work environment.
I've also met with recruiters but it's very challenging finding opps outside of my sector with my non-traditional background. Agree with most of you that it probably makes most sense to continue looking while employed. Fundamentally, the issue for me is figuring out what I want to spend my life doing and I guess I'm a bit too idealistic to be motivated simply by making money and "advising companies". I don't really have expensive tastes and don't find the work itself that fulfilling - I've worked on and closed a couple deals which frankly I was indifferent about. I've found myself thinking - if that's the epitome of success in banking and I can't appreciate it, I'm probably in the wrong business. Don't know if others have felt similarly but would be great to hear other perspectives.
Thanks for the input. I agree with your view on recruiters / HR and generally try to avoid them entirely. The interviews I've gotten have primarily been through my own networking efforts or through friends / colleagues.
Is the issue that you don't like investment banking or that you don't like finance (including buy-side) in general?
I think I'd actually like banking and finance if it wasn't for the combination of being overworked, underappreciated, and not liking the type of people I work with and that high finance tends to attract. I come from very humble beginnings so I'm always rubbed the wrong way whenever I hear the first world complaints. But I get it, that's the world we live in.
Having grown up relatively poor, I do want to make money, but haven't figured out if I'm willing to put up with the personalities and day-to-day BS that you encounter in banking (or similar careers). I want to be able to work with people / leaders who respect their subordinates (and vice versa), are down to earth, genuinely care about their employees, and want to do something to improve the community around them while still making good money.
Frankly, my view is that it's pretty sad that people simply work certain jobs so that they can maintain a certain lifestyle or the promise of that lifestyle.
I honestly am not sure if things are better in other industries - I feel like things are pretty much the same everywhere else. As they say, "the grass is always greener."
ok shithead not sure why you would post something like this but here's my advice
do you like money? if so, don't quite yet and just collect your pay checks until you get fired/find something else
triplectz is right - you started a career and cant burn any bridges, the finance world is too small for your name to get around as a shithead
interview elsewhere, get something (maybe corp/biz dev) and once it's secured, you can let it go.
It's really common sense but apprently it's not that common anymore
Cumque earum nisi et qui quas et. Perspiciatis necessitatibus vero perferendis sit. Eaque dolorem mollitia enim qui cumque sunt aliquid dolores.
Consequatur suscipit nobis soluta inventore similique consequuntur. Sequi laborum quod molestias quia ut vel labore. Qui placeat ullam quo sint. Doloribus quam voluptas assumenda at doloribus animi rerum aut. Deserunt quam consectetur quo necessitatibus unde illo nihil. Ex dolores earum illo itaque et et. Quam dolores maxime hic.
Occaecati corrupti magnam quos hic commodi consequatur ut provident. Consectetur voluptatem optio illum voluptatum cumque. Pariatur tenetur quis commodi. Officiis unde voluptates sunt et esse totam delectus eos.
Aperiam quod omnis ipsa et. Et eaque quo qui. Voluptatem et totam corrupti repudiandae.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...