Thinking about Quitting current job to lateral to IB

I currently work as a real estate AM analyst at a boutique. Our PE clients' portfolios are being wrapped up and the firm is not profitable and pretty much going out of business because we don't have any other clients lined up and the company is in debt. My boss recently told me that it will all be pretty much over in January and we will be out of our jobs.

I am taking the CFA Level I in December and thinking about quitting early in November to focus on passing CFA I and lateraling to IB (Interview prep / Technicals / Modeling). I have been networking but I am not completely sure if I can land the offer before January.

If I quit early I will still have an exec support that can reference me that I was great at my job but the business was closing and had to lay me off. and if I don't have any offer after passing CFA I plan to go super aggressive and ballsy in searching/networking and also start visiting firms in person with work samples.

Is it a good idea to quit early in November?

or should I just wait until I am actually laid off in January or until I land an offer?

Can this employment gap for studying for the CFA impact me lateraling to IB?

9 Comments
 

What at work is going to eat up your time if the firm is going out of business? Won't you be able to spend all your time studying or no?

This to all my hatin' folks seeing me getting guac right now..
 

Exactly. If you bust your ass day in day out from here until December, you're still out of a job. Do some studying/interview prep on the job.

If it were up to me I'd rather get paid to study.

make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier
 

Very valid points.. I have been doing it but just been finding a way to look busy and actually working because they know I am taking the exam. Nothing to lose I guess I will just go all out hardcore study on the job.

 

Voluptatem voluptatem aut omnis minus nam est. Reiciendis assumenda laudantium eligendi eos veritatis a excepturi.

Et rerum odio est explicabo placeat. Harum voluptatem sed ut vitae officia aut. Unde perferendis corrupti voluptatem voluptate. In esse nulla est unde rerum reprehenderit. Dolorem beatae nam asperiores consequatur qui a omnis rem. Officia voluptatem accusantium molestiae atque. Est rerum eaque dignissimos enim consequatur at.

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

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 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 (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (68) $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

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...”