IB is not for everyone

I've noticed a lot of people complaining about IB: I can't see my friends, I'm sleep deprived, what's the purpose of money if I can't enjoy myself, I want to WFH, etc.. The difference in character between people who went into finance 10 years ago and people who are going now is unrecognizable. More than once I see topics of people who went to targets and did everything right (passing useless exams) and now they are sad because banking is not what they were expecting. You had the right resources to understand how's the lifestyle in IB and why people leave it, but no, you said you're better than them, it won't happen to you and now you're here whining (dumbass). So I'm just wondering, can you just be fucking responsible once in your lifetime and bear the consequences of your decision? 

Do you want a great WLB, WFH, and free time to see your friends? Great, THEN WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU IN BANKING TO BEGGIN WITH YOU FUCKING CLOWN? Interns and junior analysts should learn to play the cards they've dealt to themselves and to stop complaining about the hours, the culture, and the lack of perks. You've made your choice and no one is pushing you to remain. If you're weak - leave.

The opposite of you is the analyst who has the stamina and the ambition to put in the same hours and bear the same pressure without complaining about it (he knows why he is here, but do you?). You don't complain and you don't shit on the industry. That's the choice you've made. If you can't bear it - leave.

IB is the Navy Seals of the corporate world. If you can't do it, leave space for those out there who have the stamina, the interest, and the ambition to do it. 

Because IB is not for everyone.

15 Comments
 

every prospect should read this post to understand with what sociopaths he'll be working

 

Tone deaf asf. The underlying assumption --that many boomers and yourself use-- is that (IB 10-15 years ago) = (IB in present and/or past 2-3 years). Many juniors have objectively been crammed due to booming economy, unparalleled/exponential technological growth, COVID economic stimulation, etc. to the point of inhumaneness. Couple that with hardo nerds with dickhead personalities like yourself who happily step in to work 110 hrs/week to slave away for a MD who forgets your name every 2 weeks has led to (a) declining talent pool (b) higher attrition (c) self-fulfilling cycle of people like you rising in the IB promotional ladder causing more traumatic working conditions for juniors.

 

Naw FUCK you OP. I’m a 22 year old in my first real job and I’m going to write profound poetry on WSO about how I’m breaking down under the pressure after not having seen my family (for 10 whole days) and not having snap chatted my friends for 6 whole hours. I’ve been prioritizing my career over my friends and family ever since the day I started (which was 3 weeks ago) and I can’t believe I don’t have my dream work life balance yet. 

 
Most Helpful

Whilst I have made some of my best friends in IB I've also had the misfortune of meeting your "kind" at nearly every bank I interned or worked full time at during my analyst years, there is always at least one like you.

You are correct IB, isn't for everyone, but your vitriol against people whose backgrounds and circumstances you know nothing about does nothing more than brand you as the corporate cuckold that you are. Try to have some goddamn empathy for young professionals just trying their best. Your post reeks of insecurity and arrogance by the way you glorify "the good old days", "passing useless exams", "not taking responsibility" and comparing yourself to the most brutal special forces unit in the country. Since you obviously lack any kind of empathy and you compare yourself to people who face actual death on a regular basis let me tell you in the rawest terms where you stand in the corporate food chain that I know you deify.

Your job is to be a bitch, you are a bitch to your seniors and you are a bitch to clients like me. If I tell you to send an updated comps at 2 in the morning you will fix it and you will send it because you have no power to push back, or more likely you'll push it onto an analyst or intern because you think you are too important for that stuff. This is not something to be glorified and you are far too unimportant to be this arrogant. What you do can be done by literally millions around the world and no, working 3 years process managing, learning to model some numbers, and bull-shiting, does not in fact make you "a Navy Seal of the Corporate World"

Try to develop some humility and realize that in IB you are a resource and nothing more. Try to relax and shoot the shit with the juniors and build relationships rather than harass them for not being psychopaths like yourself.

 

In voluptatum quae veritatis et nihil. Ipsa ut qui repellat.

Inventore perspiciatis sint quia et. Iure quas perferendis fugiat perferendis quos molestiae. Doloremque ut vero amet aut.

Consectetur vitae ut ut. Optio tempore natus ea dolor quo.

Expedita quisquam ipsa quasi corrupti deleniti exercitationem sit. Nihil tempora aut sint quibusdam sit consectetur rerum. Ipsa ex sit expedita. Quia dolores assumenda dolor.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”