Just want to sort of check in and see how other associates are doing mentally? I think I am exiting to corporate ASAP... My life has been so dark and I look forward to nothing. For me, its the hours on top of just being confused 24/7. I get no guidance and am just expected to run with stuff, skyrocketing my stress. I am doing horrible
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hey -- can relate to this. this has happened to me at the end of my time while working at McK. Pressure was off the charts high (was managing the engagements), partners never satissfied, full pressure literally always from early morning to late until midnight. I am a pretty tough guy but once I really just sat and broke down and cried my eyes out. I was mentally drained and completely exhausted after numerous 3AM finished.
One of the worst feelings off my life. Immediately after that I resigned, went to sick leave, and coasted for another couple of months. Had an amazing period with lots of sleep, sports, travel and social life.
I somewhat bounced back from that but I can completely relate to where you are. In the end it is just a job and there will always be a solution to everything. I wouldn't sacrifice anything for the job though. If I don't like it anymore or people treat me really badly over >x weeks then I will resign. Thats just it.
Thank you so much for this. Really helped me put into perspective, means a lot.
What are you doing now?
I did PE but am doing restructuring consulting now. The hours are much better than McK and the overall vibe is so much less toxic. Pay is better and growth in that sector is ridiculously high.
What I also realized: it weren't really the hours that crushed me. I grinded away the last couple of weeks as well but genuinely feel good. The difference was the constant pressure - so essentially getting pings all the time "where are we with this? can we turn this around? I am confused this is not what we discussed. We need to have this turnaround ASAP. No later than 10am". Etc. - I was constantly on edge 24/7.
PE is very similar to that. I think I also realized that I don't want to be in an environment with Type A, overachievers. RX consultants are also v sharp and well polished, but they are still 'normal' and enjoy a life outside of work. In PE the issue was that everyone was insanely hardo, willing to work every weekend etc. and respond to partner SMS in a few minutes -- if that is your peegroup you need to go above and beyond to just be average.
In RX, I earn a ton of money as well (probably different by region, but here EMEA at my firm the comp is above traditional MBB/management consulting and not far behind IBD on Assoc level), weekends almost always free + traditional MC perks that banking does not have to same extent (fun offsites, company car, more holiday days, etc.).
My advice would be to leave but diligence your exit wisely. Corpdev can often be similar hours for less pay.
Plenty of analysts / associates feel this way, they just not saying it at work.
I was in M&A at a BB for 3-4y and had my own version of this. The line on repeat in my head was “how can everyone do it, but me”. Everyone else looked fine. but years after my exit I know they weren't. nobody shows it inside the bank because showing it just gets you shoved in rankings or fired and given no decent opportunities.
I left to start finance and honestly never looked back. i cannot believe how few people actually consider smth else apart from PE as an actual exit. Even after exiting I was questioning whether I missed out on PE, but honeslty best thing i ve done. To the point where I actually started a substack about it because so many people would DM me about not wanting to do PE, or having gone to PE and really not loving it either. It s called "off track by design" if you wanna check it out. So i speak to tens of people considering exactly that on a monthly basis, so believe me you're not the crazy one.
Bump
honestly not great either man. you're def not alone in this, hope things get lighter for you soon
Hang in there. It gets better once you get out of the analyst years, but if it's this bad, definitely start looking for exits. Your health comes first.
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