Struggling with a European Analyst being Top Ranked over me

I'm an Analyst 2 at GS/JP/MS in London in an absolute top group. I went to university in the UK, having come from a pretty underprivileged background. I have always prided myself in being one of, if not the hardest working person in the room.

Fast forward to IB and I am surrounded by a ton of Europeans who have about 12-24 months of off-cycle experience who have a head start over me and are also 3-5 years older than me. Despite grinding like an absolute mortal weapon throughout the week, reading a ton in my own time to the point I do believe I am more technically sound and commercially aware than this person, there is one person, a European analyst, who is top ranked in my group over me.

I don't actually know what I can do to usurp this person as top ranked. He has like 2-3 years of other finance experience and then internships and masters over me, which feels like it trumps almost anything I can do from a technical / experience standpoint. I hope that this does not come across as petty, I am just unbelievably competitive and just hate that it doesn't feel possible to be top ranked over someone like him given what feels like an insurmountable head start.

25 Comments
 

That’s pretty much life… comparison is the thief of all joy. Just enjoy how much you’ve succeeded as of right now and I think it will give you peace.

 

You sound like an ass. "Oh there's no one better than me, not possible".... Maybe that guy just is better? ... You don't know everything (s)he does? It just looks like you're diminishing the achievements of others because of your own shortcomings that you're too arrogant to see. You sound like an annoying, borderline dangerous person to work with.... How about you reflect on yourself before blaming others? Just a thought.

 

Hahah yeah, no bro he is not and I assure you to the extent that it matters that I am not a 'annoying, borderline dangerous person' to work with.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think you are frustrated with the concept of someone being 'potentially' ignorant / hypocritical in this vein which I understand. But to assert it is literally no different than me incorrectly making assumptions about this other person as you accused me off.

There exist people who want to be the absolute best in the world like a sport, or track record in investing. I am unapologetic if that alone evokes such an emotional response from an intern.

 

You don't need to worry about my life outside of work etc. I assure you that you would be quite enviable of it when you were my age.

I do not need to be better than this person to be happy. I just want to be the best, in general, because I believe it is a measurable KPI of me reaching my potential. I don't care if this does not resonate with the average VP in IB

 

I should clarify that I am Top Bucket. I am Top 2 in one of the best teams in London and am 2-3 years younger than the majority of analysts in my bank. I also have a top buyside offer.

You want to know the reason you are a VP in IBD at a no-name bank? You tell us, it's not your attitude nor your arrogance clearly.

 

Hahaha man. The fact that you think that type of statement would evoke a response shows that you have made a lot of incorrect assumptions about the type of person I am.

Let's agree to disagree - have a good weekend.

 
Most Helpful

As a fellow GS alum and top buysider, it sucks to watch this beta behavior. Hold a higher bar for the firm.  

"School is a single player-game with clear instructions.  Life is a multi-player game with no instructions."  

Banking tends to hire these sorts of immature, autistic kids because they can continue to win the single player game. School is a one dimensional assessment and you can clearly quantify results.  Powerpoint slides and discounting cash flows are no different.  These folks also struggle greatly once life transitions to more complex problem solving and emotional quotient.  If this guy finds this post amusing, he has little social IQ so just don't give him any attention. 

 

At least this troll is a bit more wholesome than some at a point last year that specialized in sexual posts & even bumped their own nonsense with 3 other troll accounts the same person operates

 

I should clarify. I am indeed Top 'Bucket' with this person, but of the two / three of us who are in the Top Bucket, he is number 1. 

 

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