IB is not for me and I need to quit-- but I'm an international student. what can i do?
I'm typing this now, while waiting for my VP to give me comments on a friday at 10pm, having gotten very little sleep in the past week.
I'm a few months on the job, at a BB (GS/JPM/MS) but I already know that IB is not for me. The hours, the BS work, the often useless things VPs make you do because they have issues/anxiety, the either ignoring you or yelling at you...I'm not ashamed to say that I want out. I don't care if I'm weak or can't handle it-- I'd rather be 'weak' than miserable.
I have a different career path in mind where I would be able to enjoy and do well-- and would relish in putting in the same hours at IB because it is something I enjoy. I'm good at it too-- I've won various prizes/prize money, and had professors tell me that I could make it as a pro. I feel like I would be happier doing that for ~85 hrs a week, earning 50k, than IB-- because I would be working for something I love and building towards a possibly lucrative career in the future. However, this career choice is in the arts, and I am an international student who is working in IB on a visa. Therefore, I can't just quit and move to L.A. to pursue my dreams. This has led me to feeling even worse about my predicament.
What can I do to make life more bearable/have enough time to work on my arts projects? Are there any career steps/roles I could look into? I care mainly about stability, less hours, and will sponsor visa (so has to be front office sadly).
I have considered moving to a sales desk that would have better hours so that I can at least work on my projects. However, my bank does not allow mobility until 18months in, and mobility is of course uncertain. Any coping mechanisms to help reduce emotional stress when you really 1. don't care about the money and 2. don't want to have a career in finance and 3. is only in IB because you need a visa sponsorship?
Would appreciate any wisdom here at all-- IB analyst life during covid can be hard at times.
fellow international student here. have you considered non-tech roles in FAANG or big tech companies? I know plenty of people with IB backgrounds who transition to tech.
I gotta say, all these analysts complaining as of late is not making me excited to start FT in the summer. I'm actually getting scared now as I have a heart problem. Hopefully I don't end up quitting 2 months on the job for health and wellness reasons. Wtf is going on? I literally know 6 people who recently started and have quit cause of how "horrible" they say banking from home is. Why aren't banks addressing this?
https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/summer-analyst-dies-at-lincoln-i…
If I died, no one would care anyway so I'm not worried...
I care dude. Plenty of others care too. You always have a lot more people in your corner than you think
Shut the fuck up. That fucking attitude is so toxic and inconsiderate. Do you really not think how devastated your family and friends will be if you died? How fucking selfish are you to act this way? I guarantee that so many people care about you. How do you think your professors will feel? The people at your gym?
Get some help, get some therapy. Open up to your friends. Therapy is being brave, don't be ashamed about it.
You can go back to your own country and get a job there
Hey guys I found the Trump supporter
Did i read it right that you're willing to work 85hrs a week for 50k? It's one thing to follow your passion but make sure you're being smart in these decisions. If you're really set on whatever that is as a long-term career (assuming maybe working at a talent agency as an assistant just guessing?) then it could be worth making the jump but you always want to avoid the fomo of making more money pulling the same hours in finance
Have you thought of moving to the wealth management side of the bank? I know two people who did that 10 months into IB and their lives have been better.
Depends...
1. Is your fam rich? If so ask them for $1M to invest to get you an investment visa
2. Not rich but you wouldn’t mind being in debt to pursue your passion? Look for masters programs and get student visa. Some cheap online options too.
3. Not rich and don’t want debt? I’d focus on finding a job that can sponsor you for H1B and can be chill enough for you to pursue your passion on the side in the location you’d like. Unfortunately I think only big tech consistently sponsors but none of them are in LA.
International banker on work visa here and can understand your pain. I would recommend considering a master program which would give you the second option to choose your career. Based on what I heard from my friends, it has been hard to find another company sponsoring your visa recently. For investment visa, if you are from India/China, that may not work as the waiting period would be over 15 years to get the visa.
When say your passion is the "arts" do you mean you want to be an artist?
If so, why the hell would you ever want a cushy job to "focus on the art?". Wouldn't that make your art kinda generic and boring? Suffering and some sort of extreme lifestyle always seems to be catalysts for great art.
If I lose my job I lose my visa and have to leave the US! And the film industry is centered in the US/LA. It’s basically impossible to work in film in LA from a different country unless you are famous/already very acclaimed...but how can you be acclaimed if you can’t work in big studios in LA! It is hard. That’s why I want a chill job— so I can stay in the US and have time to work on my projects. I feel like I’ve already suffered enough in life so far haha
OP, I’m similar here. On a work visa and suffering through IB hours and finding my group less and less attractive. So I want to not only get out of IB, I also want to switch group.
If you seriously don’t care what you do for a 9-5 job, why not try to go to a sales desk? Corporate banking? I’d first try to transfer internally and also try to look for a job externally at the same time. Bear in mind that your work quality and rating may suffer as a result but if you’re really determined.
I feel you, IB work and some seniors can make you feel miserable. However, given your current situation regarding the visa, I think you have to develop a thick skin in IB pending the time you get another job with a company that can sponsor your visa.
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