Those who didn’t break in are losing it because they got dinged by every single bank and think their life is over.
Those who did break in are losing it because the hours are brutal and the burnout is real.
Pick your struggle. This game isn’t easy on either side.
| +150 | Senior Banker's Guide to IB Recruiting / Group Placement (with a Healthcare Bent) | 19 | 2h |
| +120 | Is pay at BofA really that bad? | 60 | 7h |
| +97 | As Lehman people reconvene at UBS, Barclays needs to hire (2023) | 18 | 1h |
| +88 | Day at Macquarie | 12 | 7h |
| +44 | Is the life of a VP at a 'top-bank' really good? | 15 | 3d |
| +44 | How bad did I mess up | 10 | 13h |
| +31 | Misrepresented Houston IB | 14 | 18h |
| +29 | Law school instead of MBA for RX Banking | 6 | 11h |
| +29 | No BB RO 2026 | 10 | 2d |
| +28 | JPM SMALL CAP or WF/JEF/RBC Coverage group | 13 | 3h |
Career Resources
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
Spoken like a true prospect that has never worked a single day even as an intern yet.
Just to clarify, I’m actually in PE. I probably didn’t word my original post the best way. I wasn’t trying to say that no one has the right to complain, far from it. Everyone’s been through their own version of the grind, and it’s completely fair to be frustrated, whether you’re trying to break in or already in the seat.
What I was really trying to highlight is how negative this forum has become overall. It feels like every other post is someone venting about how miserable they are or how much they regret going into the industry. And yes, that’s part of the truth, the hours suck, the pressure is real, and burnout happens. But when that’s all you see, it creates a warped picture of the entire industry.
The joke is on you. Read Howard Marks "Further Thoughts on Sea Change." Finance is a dying, washed up, beta industry in a rising rate, low growth, inflationary, and more volatile economic environment with widespread automation and AI adoption on the very near horizon.
Finance isn’t dying, it’s evolving. Capital still needs to be allocated, risks still need managing, and markets still need intermediaries. AI and automation will kill inefficiencies, not the industry.
Harum blanditiis iure possimus est odit quia. Natus sunt vitae rerum rerum culpa saepe et. Facilis fugiat omnis perferendis soluta voluptates quia voluptas. Provident incidunt eos non eveniet.
Aut autem sint distinctio et tenetur. Quos tenetur itaque repudiandae asperiores aut ut cumque est. Sunt voluptas beatae dolores enim earum ea. Cum possimus vitae asperiores.
Cupiditate ut dolore voluptatem odio nesciunt qui magni et. Eum et natus debitis. Autem voluptatibus suscipit ut provident in recusandae ut. Laudantium delectus sint ad et. A in deserunt quaerat ad et. Error aspernatur qui placeat dolorem eum quae. Ut tempore possimus molestiae sunt.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...