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Yes and No.
I work in a Satellite office that is in NYC, but is part of the NYC desk. Think SF/LA/Houston/Chicago. If I know someone is very inexperienced with finance or the business world. I will tell them that I work on Wallstreet if they look confused.
Most of the time people know what IB resembles.
We swim in different circles, man. No one I grew up w/, including my family, has any idea what I do.
2nd this
I actually got my mom to read M&A titans. She wanted to understand what I did and I thought that would be a good book that didn't bore her to death (aka its not a valuation textbook) now she only asks me when I am going to work at the Goldman Sachs.
Yes. Wall Street is a synecdoche for finance/banking as a whole.
Typically you hear of "street" referring to all IB/S&T or whatever division it is, for ex. "pay is above street"
How bout ER
Yes, ER counts.
Maybe depends on how literally you mean and what exactly you mean by Wall Street and/or how the listener may understand and/or perceive those words
“I work on Wall Street” usually means “I’m in finance, in Manhattan.”
Saying “I work on Wall Street” when you either:
1) Don’t actually work in NYC (exception: elite buyside gig within a 45m train from Penn Station)
2) Work in MO or BO
Is a 100% total clown move.
I would say that anyone working in an FO high finance roll in the United States would be acceptable for the word "Wall Street" as its a synecdoche (thanks 12th grade English vocab) for the American high finance industry as a whole.
Your argument could be extended to say that anyone who doesn't work in Lower Manhattan or even Wall Street itself.
Just my opinion. I would just say "I work in finance" though
No one I know, at elite HFs, top PE shops, or even BBs satellite offices in SF, CHI, etc. ever says “Wall Street.” They just say “at a hedge fund,” “at a XYZ Industry investment firm,” or “in banking.” If you’re looking for a shortcut, you say “in finance.”
Admittedly, data is not the plural of anecdote, but I’ve been around the block a few times. “On Wall Street” = “NYC high(ish) finance.” 12th grade vocab notwithstanding.
Saying “I work on Wall Street” when you work in Houston/SF just sounds weird lol
Agreed. People outside of finance will still assume NYC, even if the MSM uses it to mean “finance.” And people within finance will find you a tool if you use it at all, especially if you’re not in Manhattan.
Saying "I work on Wall Street" is just weird in general. Say you work in finance like a normal person.
“Wall Street” in the way it is used today has been popularized by anti-capitalists who needed a term to group America’s wealthiest together and brand them as out of touch, greedy, elitist, etc.
Genuinely hilarious to me that analysts making $100K/yr are grouped and demonized with MDs making $10 million/yr.
Progressives are idiots.
I honestly do not think progressives are referring to IB analysts making 100k per year...
Go to any comment section talking about the Goldman 13 and you'll see otherwise
i know of ZERO people who have ever said 'i work on wall street.' and ive wokred in IB 4+ years all put together
Wall Street is a metonym for US high finance in general. Doesn’t matter where the office is physically located.
In London we call it “The City” even though office could be in Canary Wharf or Mayfair.
This seems fair and appropriate to me
That’s apples to oranges. Mayfair and CW are both in “The City [of London].” Chicago is not “on Wall Street,” or anywhere close.
Might be worth reading this: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_London
And this: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_metonyms
You couldn’t pay me to say “I work on wall st” lol. Just say you work in finance unless someone inquires more
To echo other comments here - please do not say "I work on Wall Street" unless you want to be perceived as a massive tool, regardless of where you work.
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