When is it ok to quit

For context Im a third year analyst and work in a market where buy-side is not a common path (unlike US where 2+2+2 is typical) 

I’ve been doing this job for three years now and think it’s time to give up. I like the money. I find the outcome of completing deals is interesting. But god, the work itself, flipping thru IMs, debating on comps, EBITDA adjustments, building models… it all bores me to tears. And completing deals is not enough consolation for the boring heap of shit you have to trudge thru to get there  

I thought that after you do enough reps, maybe I’d get better at it and start enjoying it. And maybe if I rationalise it that I am simply being compensated to work a boring job that no one else wants to do… then what am I left with? I make a lot of money to give all my waking hours and that’s all I am. 

Maybe I’m also still living in the delusion that if I transfer to NYC everything will be better because it’s the epicentre. Or that I would be bored doing anything else, like working in corporate where you have 0 intensity. As a young person in my mid twenties I feel a pressure to pursue whatever is high status and career maximising - but I really don’t want to move from my satellite office and be away from family to do more crap that I hate 

I also feel tremendous guilt over how much I hate it, but the money is great considering what my family brings in and how much normal people are struggling right now. So am I a selfish person for wanting to “follow my passions” which 100% of people obviously want to do and give up the money?

There aren’t really any other jobs out there that are interesting, and even if they are, is it worth the immense pay cut (50% of more) to try something that could just be a passing interest? Corp dev, buy side doesn’t interest me at all… in my spare time I practice coding but don’t see myself becoming a dev. 
 

silly little ramble - might delete later, maybe someone finds humour in my stupid first world problem 

1 Comments
 

A doloremque neque vitae id et reprehenderit ex. Quidem mollitia atque deleniti eius. Sit est debitis quasi officiis quia est.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Possimus omnis sint et nam reiciendis est dolore. Ut totam rerum quia et inventore perspiciatis quaerat. Voluptas ea numquam ratione magnam dolore hic ut.

Architecto suscipit reiciendis aut architecto. Et est voluptas enim mollitia tempore. Perferendis veniam possimus sequi nam dignissimos vel culpa. Et quae voluptas quis aspernatur voluptatibus. Vel eum nam dolorum enim quasi aut qui.

Eveniet unde qui blanditiis voluptate. Non et est tenetur. Et voluptatem corrupti eum aut voluptatem. Sit at eius quasi explicabo a fuga suscipit. Nemo aliquid nemo id quia ratione architecto. Delectus doloremque et illo.

Rem animi ducimus amet magnam quaerat quasi. Exercitationem provident in vel quia. Tempora atque ab est sint. Aut asperiores odio fuga nam illum eligendi sunt.

[Comment removed by mod team]

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 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 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 (77) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (71) $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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”