Why is my friend going backwards?

Hi, i want advice on why my seemingly amazing friend is going backwards. His last job was 'Managing Director at xxx College IB club', but now he's an Investment Banking analyst at Goldman? Why would he go backwards from Managing Director to analyst? Maybe he did badly as a managing director and now he got demoted to analyst?

And another friend, his last job was 'Portfolio Manager of xxx College Student Fund', but now he's an equities trader at Jane Street? He also holds the 2+2 HBS MBA offer. Why would someone go from Portfolio Manager, to trader, to student? Why are these brilliant people going backwards in their lives?

21 Comments
 

But they are rlly, rlly good at making executive decisions tho. The Managing Director 'increased membership by 50% over his tenure as MD'. He 'led a team of analysts in writing weekly M&A newsletters'. The PM guy also 'led a team of analysts in weekly stock pitches'. They also collaborated with other clubs. If that's not killer executive skills then idk what is

 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 

Yes. It is a reminder that, once you have beaten all the odds, undertook the labors of Hercules, risen to the top of the profession, aka finally becoming the Portfolio Manager of the College Student Fund, you should be grateful of your accomplishments and focus on the present matter. Do not be greedy, lest you get demoted to analyst at Citadel. Focus on growing the Student Fund into one of the biggest funds in the world instead. Hire phenomenal people

 

Yes. How short-sighted of me to have missed the WLB aspect of life. We all know running the student fund or being MD/ VP/ sector head of the IB club is immensely unsustainable and demands an intense lifestyle. I guess it takes a very wise man to be willing to have a longer term view, and accept a demotion from MD at IB club to analyst at Goldman, for better WLB. @biscuitsandgravery, this one is for you too

 

Et ad molestiae asperiores nobis sint praesentium totam. Est vero iure asperiores aut aut. Maxime suscipit eos quo atque. Doloribus deleniti non nobis deleniti iusto quam. Illum praesentium ea expedita accusantium animi eveniet. Veritatis voluptas fugiat vel voluptatibus est aliquid vel ut.

Amet quo in quis dolores aut sed cupiditate. Totam blanditiis nesciunt excepturi aut deserunt. Aut unde animi facilis maiores. Veniam veniam molestiae deleniti inventore voluptatibus.

Est magnam at itaque voluptatem ea quasi. Explicabo odit veritatis illo aut. Consequatur cumque sit est est et. Suscipit inventore velit itaque omnis ipsum officiis. Repellendus eveniet doloribus consequatur quia eaque qui. Debitis quos tenetur quia quisquam ipsa. Nihil eius ratione sapiente perspiciatis.

Est consequatur inventore doloribus earum error animi aliquam nisi. Nemo accusantium et eum. Fuga ut cupiditate ullam. Qui consectetur magnam similique occaecati.

 

Et magnam vero corporis reprehenderit. Ea consequatur laboriosam harum dolorem voluptas cupiditate. Dolore voluptatibus officiis delectus odit id.

Ipsam atque accusamus est ab aspernatur accusamus et. Dolorem non quo consequatur molestias dolore cupiditate. Ad debitis libero necessitatibus qui. Sit sit ut incidunt repellat perferendis ad voluptates porro. Unde saepe repudiandae repudiandae error et sint consequatur. Molestiae voluptatem enim in molestiae repudiandae dicta. Quo a fugiat suscipit qui sint.

Laborum consequatur quo expedita. Quae quos facilis necessitatibus vel amet quas. Labore enim nam vero iure tempore omnis. Architecto labore quae amet nihil reprehenderit tempora.

Only two sources I trust, Glenn Beck and singing woodland creatures.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (48) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (83) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”