Need actual advice

Have been on the desk for around two months now, and stuff is worryingly quiet. I have done a good job on the tasks I’ve been given and am building good rapport with my team. When I say quiet I’m talking leaving the office regularly at 8pm sometimes even earlier around 6pm without getting pinged later in the evening. I’m asking my associates wtf is going on but they say to relax as the work will come. Is this normal or am I missing out on key analyst development.

Pls help

8 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some insights and advice for your situation:

  1. Quiet Periods Can Be Normal:

    • It's not uncommon for new analysts to experience quieter periods, especially early on. This can be due to various factors such as the current deal flow, the specific needs of your team, or even seasonal variations in workload.
  2. Building Rapport is Key:

    • You've mentioned that you're building good rapport with your team, which is crucial. Strong relationships with your associates and other team members can lead to more opportunities and responsibilities as they become available.
  3. Proactive Communication:

    • Continue to communicate proactively with your associates and other team members. Let them know you're eager to take on more work and learn. Sometimes, just expressing your willingness to help can lead to more tasks being delegated to you.
  4. Use Downtime Wisely:

    • Use the quieter periods to enhance your skills. Focus on learning more about corporate finance, modeling, and other technical skills that will be valuable when the workload increases. This can also include reviewing past deals, studying industry reports, or even taking relevant courses.
  5. Seek Feedback:

    • Regularly seek feedback on the tasks you've completed. This not only shows your commitment to improvement but also keeps you engaged with your team and helps you understand areas where you can grow.
  6. Patience and Persistence:

    • Be patient. The workload in investment banking can be highly variable. Trust that the work will come, as your associates have mentioned. In the meantime, continue to show your enthusiasm and readiness to contribute.

Remember, the investment banking environment can be unpredictable, and periods of low activity can be followed by intense workloads. Use this time to prepare and position yourself for when things pick up.

Sources: Declining Analyst Quality - Fact or Myth, Declining Analyst Quality - Fact or Myth, 1st Year Analysts Quitting?, 1st Year Analysts Quitting?, First year analyst, still feel incompetent and like I haven’t learned anything

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Lateral to JEF ASAP you won't leave before midnight ever!!! Jokes aside deal flows ramping across the street. You will be fine. If you are really worried dm your bank and group and I can tell you if the banks bad on deal flow and you need to lateral. But again you are probably fine.

 
Most Helpful

I agree with the poster before me that you should be fine. I guess the questions would be (1) are other analysts in your team getting staffed, and are there deals in general? (2) does your team have a reasonable deal track record?

There are certainly exceptions, but many AN1s two months into the role are not getting a tremendous wealth of experience, and will be spending time making profiles and spreading comps. I would focus on doing really well at the tasks you are assigned, having a great attitude, and being someone that other will want on their team when the RFPs and deals come. 

If this persists for maybe 6 months or so (not an official number but it sounds sensible in my mind), then I'd start to consider options.

 

Rerum alias molestias exercitationem similique. Tenetur adipisci eum et enim cum tempore. Qui quia est placeat inventore aliquam et. Dolores placeat minima excepturi soluta.

Voluptate impedit autem hic quas sint laborum. Voluptatibus incidunt debitis nihil vel hic. Aliquam quia quis commodi qui incidunt adipisci fuga.

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 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • 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 (77) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (71) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”