Working Absurd Hours - Asking For Advice
My second analyst year has seen considerably worse hours since August. Consistently working until 3:30-4:30 a couple days a week at least / also sometimes 20+ hour weekends.
Just curious if this is market / what other normal analyst experiences are like in terms of actual hours. I’m not leaving the office and coming back to go to the gym or anything. I’m at the desk all day working straight through 3:30+. Physical and mental health are naturally declining and overall fairly miserable at times. I really do like the work content, and I am very engaged in driving deals/process. For context, top analyst in our group ($30B M&A deal value closed in first year).
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some insights regarding work conditions for investment banking analysts:
Hours Worked: It's not uncommon for analysts to work extremely long hours. For instance, in the 2021 survey, 31% of respondents averaged 91 work hours or more, with 10% working 101 hours or more. In 2022, 14% averaged 91 work hours or more, and in 2023, 15% reported the same.
Sleep and Bedtime: Many analysts report very limited sleep. In 2021, 37% averaged 5 hours of sleep or less per night, and 34% had a 2AM bedtime or later. By 2023, 30% still averaged 5 hours of sleep or less, and 22% had a 2AM bedtime or later.
Mental and Physical Health: The demanding hours have significant impacts on health. In 2021, respondents reported a 40% decline in mental and physical health. This slightly improved in 2022 and 2023, with declines of 28% and 30%, respectively.
Work-Life Balance: Unrealistic deadlines and long hours negatively affect personal relationships. In 2021, 84% said their work hours negatively affected relationships with family and friends. This trend continued with 75% in 2022 and 72% in 2023.
Work from Home (WFH): Preferences for WFH have varied. In 2021, first-year analysts preferred working in-office, while second-year analysts and associates preferred WFH. By 2023, all levels (first-year analysts, second-year analysts, and associates) preferred WFH.
Given your situation, it seems you're experiencing what many other analysts have reported. It's crucial to address the decline in your physical and mental health. Consider discussing your workload and health concerns with your team or HR to find a sustainable balance.
Sources: WSO 2023 Investment Banking Work-Conditions Survey RESULTS (3rd Annual), WSO 2023 Investment Banking Work-Conditions Survey RESULTS (3rd Annual), WSO 2022 Investment Banking Work-Conditions Survey (Part 1/3), The Truth about "Hours" at the Analyst Level, WSO 2021 Investment Banking Work-Conditions Survey (Part 1/2)
These are sweatshop hours and I have been there before. I wouldn't say normal but not uncommon. All I can say is please prioritize your mental health and if you ever feel like you're stuck or can't take it, remember that work is not the most important thing in life
That sounds pretty rough. Definitely talk to your staffer and tell them you’ve been getting grinded and need to slow down / you’re burning out. If you’re too analyst they’ll respect it and want to accommodate to keep you happy.
Are you exiting to PE? If so, you should try to start coasting a little more.
OP here
Yeah staffer is out of the picture - very poorly managed group
PE offer signed for July. Took the first offer i got after studying prep from 2-3 AM on nights after work when possible. Smaller firm with 20yr track record of massive returns but disappointing because i think I could have gone MF/elite UMM but doesn’t seem worth it anymore. Open to any thoughts
Are you on multiple deals or just one super busy one? How close are these to signing / closing? When new staffings are coming around turn them down and say you don’t have capacity (even if you do).
Keep quality of work high, just take longer in between turns and slow things down. You might still have late nights, but velocity of work will slow down and you won’t be as tired. Big difference working from 10am-3am and only have 20 minutes of downtime vs 10am-3am and a few hours of downtime (from working slow).
Also wouldn’t stress about UMM / MF. If you found a firm where you like the people and it has a good track record, all that really matters. Bigger funds will likely be a repeat of your current experience
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