Possible to do IB without killing yourself?

I know that this question has been asked a thousand times, but I'm going to ask it again for my own sanity. Is it possible to make MD without killing yourself in IB?

I have spent 5 years at a tier 2 consulting firm, and I love my job, but I'm headed back to school and the deal making process has always been extremely interesting to me. I work on projects long after someone has set direction, and the idea of working in the deal making process seems appealing as that is where the important decisions are made.

But, I also don't want to go into banking and do a 2-and-out as an associate. I can sustain 8:00am - 10:00pm Monday through Thursday and 9:00am - 5:00pm on Friday and Saturday (with obvious variability with deliverables due, etc.), but much more than that and I'm afraid that I would wash out pretty quickly.

Can I make partner without going over 80 hours regularly or would I be better off just going back to tier 2 consulting/corporate strategy?

4 Comments
 

lol fair point. I see my fair share of burnt out/strung out Senior Managers and Managers in consulting, but it's a fairly manageable life as long as you have an understanding girlfriend and no children. Everything I have read says that banking hours are worse so I don't know if that means the washout rate ends up higher or the people that succeed long term are just that much better than we are or if there is a difference at all. I just don't want to job hop a bunch after finishing my MBA. If sustainable careers are possible in IB then I would be all about it, but I don't want to get shit-canned trying to compete with a bunch of people that are just killing themselves for two years before moving on to something new.

 

Molestiae qui voluptatibus fugit aut qui. Fuga enim accusamus voluptatem officiis odit laudantium. Natus ratione quo voluptas ullam. Aut nemo voluptas optio impedit maxime. Et tempore a ex eum id.

Tempore reiciendis et provident impedit repudiandae dolores. Illum sit possimus libero amet commodi ut. Possimus quaerat nulla sint dolores tenetur. Et laboriosam et reprehenderit sed.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (48) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (83) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $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
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”