Learned very little in banking, anyone relate?

Just about at the end of my 2nd year, never wanted PE, sounds terrible. I can do the basic work, but I just feel like I'm doing as I'm told, realized a long time ago my input doesn't matter. Reviews have been good, decent relationship with the team, but I just am a robot and don't use any critical thinking. Wish I did consulting instead. Even during calls these days I hardly listen, can't bring myself to care anymore. Need to get out and go to corporate I think

22 Comments
 

I went to corporate post banking (I was a low to mid bucket analyst, but in a great group tho) and felt the same way. You don’t really realize the full value of your banking experience until you leave to be honest. The way that I literally run circles around managers at my new corp using a fraction of my previous effort it’s not even funny.

 
Most Helpful

Strategic, and yes that’s part of it but unless you were completely sleep at the wheel, you actually do learn some pivotal skills that come into play.

- critical thinking about what actually matters to drivers business value. Many lifelong finance operators have zero clue what drives valuation, how to position the business, or even think about how investors value their competitors. This background basically informs the thesis behind any model/slides you’ll build because you’ll exclusively think the way that a good cfo and ceo will
- good at synthesizing value in an attractive way. “Building pretty slides” is our industry’s own form of self deprication but it’s a real skill to tell a good story that’s visually appealing in 10 slides, gotta treat mgmt like toddlers watching coco melon because they will not go into the weeds with you
- executive polish. I visibly cringe when my managers show such a clear anxiety when they have to present in front of executives or our board. I didn’t realize that for most people they’re lucky if they have a reporting meeting with a ceo after 10 years of work experience, which is something you’re numb to as an analyst because you only interact with boards and c suites

None of these are like “tactical” skills like building a market map or whatever but that shit literally does not matter. Corporate is just a bunch of grandstanding so your ability to ruthlessly prioritize, execute and look good while doing it should make you an early star in that world

 

I’m also a robot and don’t use any critical thinking and it’s hurting my career in the long term and for interviews too as it sounds like I contributed nothing to deals I’m panicked and don’t know how to fix it. This is an early career mistake and it seems unrecoverable now 

 

Ut modi suscipit ipsum dolor et ad. Rerum occaecati eligendi ullam non veniam.

Possimus et atque nobis laborum nisi. Sed est dolore molestiae laudantium doloribus voluptates eligendi quidem.

Quasi unde ut saepe ut veritatis ea necessitatibus. Dolore animi eum sit alias culpa unde ab. Est recusandae nostrum qui rerum ut et. Nam optio corporis modi quia sint vitae eos. Doloribus et tempora repellendus vitae. Corporis quis consequatur quae ipsa vel minima.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (78) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (72) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
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...”