I was curious how tf to run errands as an analyst or if there are any life hacks you all have found to be efficient - dry cleaning, groceries, DMV stuff, doctor/dentist, etc...
Edit: thanks everyone these have been really helpful tips
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Sometimes I am on 2-4 hour diligence calls where I am not really needed/don't need to take notes, so I try to get some stuff in then and just keep the sound on in the background. You'll also find that sometimes you have a weird gap between meetings where you cannot get anything substantive done (30 min or less) and I will go take a quick walk to the store/stroll around the block. Otherwise, be proactive but take breaks where you can!!
Only errands I run are for my directors.
What? Life hacks for going grocery shopping?
Yeah I was thinking if there was a way to not have to eat or drink anything that analysts have figured out over the years and thanks for your help
Soylent?
Groceries on the weekend (you can always find an hour to go), doctor/dentist schedule in advance and go at 8am since no one expects you online till 9/930 anyways. If it’s a random errand you have to run middle of the day you can usually find time to do it whether it be just telling the associate you’re dipping for 30 mins or just going and changing Skype to “in a meeting”
You realize no one will kill you if you email the deal team you have a doctors appointment and are out of pocket for an hour. Just tell people beforehand
You mean being an adult. This job is not your life, you do not need to live and die by the keyboard. You're not going to get shit on by senior bankers because you take some time to do normal daily things so your life doesn't fall apart. Sure there are some d-bags in banking that want your life to be as miserable as theirs but it is few and far between, banking culture is not as bad as people on WSO make it out to be. The horror stories will always make the headlines while the positive aspects are left unnoticed.
I tend to agree with you but do feel this is team dependent. If you are in a 10-11 person sector M&A team this can be very different and usually more taxing because it really shows when you are not there. If you combine that with a dickhead MD your life can become a living hell. Bigger teams I've experienced I definitely agree that this is easier. Also, I think the problem with someone at analyst level might be that they go belly-up a little too easy and do not realize they can do these things if they just say they will step out for an hour. Combine that with not knowing yet what request are "truly urgent" and anxiety strikes and makes you not leave your chair.
That's essentially the crux of the problem in this industry (1) the false sense of urgency, I want it now for no reason and (2) junior bankers don't know how to say no even though the 9 times out of 10 their VP/MD would be perfectly ok with them pushing back. The fact than an incoming Analyst (OP) even found it necessary to ask the question is insane.
Appointments:
- Communicate 5-7 days beforehand, let my ASO's know so they'll cover while I'm out, make sure the appointment doesn't conflict with a major project due date / deadline (i.e. not scheduling my dentist appointment the day before a bakeoff is due)
Errands (1hr)
- Communicate morning of, ask my ASO to cover if time sensitive work, otherwise just let my team know I'll handle when back
Errands (>1hr)
- Communicate day before, ask another ANL to cover or my ASO to cover if time sensitive work, otherwise just let my team know I'll handle when back
Other
- Groceries: amazon prime / whole foods delivery over the weekend
- Buyside interviews: tell the ASO I'm working with and ask him to cover (lucky that ours are really chill when it comes to this stuff)
I think part of the above is a function of being a second year / going on a third year, where I have much more autonomy over how I allocate my time. Built a strong reputation in my group and generally very responsive if I'm out via my work cell. All that said, I felt like it was really hard to push back my first year - it took time / reps / building that reputation before I felt comfortable doing the above.
Dude I hate to say it, but communicating up every time you are going to use
Got cut off so rewriting. Communicating up every time you want to use 1hr of spare time is not normal. If my analyst asked me permission I'd tell him I'm not his mom and he can do whatever the fuck he wants as long as he gets his work done in time. This isn't a 9-5 job. It's an always on job. So you shouldn't have qualms about snagging an hour here or there to hit the gym if nothing is urgent or on your calendar.
What do you mean bruv?
I usually take naps during long diligence calls and record the meetings on my phone
Agreed, just use Voice Memo to record on iphone. Super helpful!!
Fake meetings in the calander ;)
+1 this
fake meetings in the calendar and a weighted object on your spacebar with word open keeps you “in a meeting” and you can just say you were in a call when you get back if someone messages you
Yes exactly right. And if you want a real industry insider life hack then try this...
Set up a fake Teams meeting, Join the meeting and present your desktop screen whilst doing the spacebar trick.
Your colleagues will see that you are presenting your screen when they go to contact you, more often than not they just wont bother.
Communication is key.
If you try then hopefully you’ll succeed.
- Not Dr. Seuss
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I had an analyst apologize to me last night when I had emailed him for something, and he had stepped out for dinner.
Had to remind him we don't work at Moelis.
In an office setting: Shipt shopping service for groceries, dry cleaning can be mobile, take care of DMV stuff in home state (when you can) or take a half-day if from NYC, doctor/dentist can communicate with your team. It's really efficient once you get the hang of it.
Outsource absolutely everything that you can, even if you have to pay a little for it. You're a fucking IBD analyst, you have plenty of money (for someone fresh out of college) and almost no time. Need clean clothes? Send them to a wash and fold instead of wasting 15 minutes out of your day to go to the laundromat. Apartment looking a little grimy? Hire a maid service. Hungry? Get some takeout or delivery instead of cooking anything yourself.
Horny? Flash some of those dollars at the IG thot who lives next door, she'll probably give you a handy or maybe even a pity bj for a few hundred quid, still beats going out to a bar and coming home blue balled if you don't manage to pull that night
This is so true. I feel trapped. I eat out almost every day I just don't have time to make food. It's miserable.
.
Good advice. Some of y’all on here are the biggest simps. You don’t need your associates permission to get groceries, go to the doctors / dentist, work out, etc. Just plan around your deadlines and when you have a little down time. If you don’t stand up for yourself and take care of yourself no one else will. If you let this job and senior bankers take over your life they will. Doing basic things to survive won’t hurt your review
i just disappear for a little tbh
Would recommend having a backup plan for essential errands and being confident when it comes to things related to health.
Ex: i prefer to grocery shop in person, so when i can i will. However, i set up an Amazon delivery grocery account & can essentially re-order the necessities in 20 seconds by just opening the app on my phone. Will use this when i need groceries and simply don't have the time to go myself. That being said, if you desperately need groceries one week & don't have time to grocery shop, odds are you dont have the time to set up an online delivery account. So would recommend setting up things like this in advance.
Don't want to pay someone to clean your apartment each week or pay to have dry cleaning delivered?Same. But know who to call if you're ever on a deal or in a situation where things like this need to desperately be outsourced.
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