Workload in IB - advice

Hi all - I hit the desk a few weeks ago and have been crushed by the workload. I can handle the hours and don’t need a whole lot of sleep but the time pressure and stress has destroyed my health. What is a typical workload for a first year <6 months in and 2/3rd year analysts. Currently on 5 pitches all within 2 days

 

Wait you’re really working on 5 pitches at the same time ? This is bullshit you gotta speak to your staffer man. Imo being staffed on more than 3 live projects at the same time is a VERY bad idea, especially as each project will have a “all hands on” situation at one time or the other.. and also if you’re working 90h weeks for pitches, how the hell are you supposed to have capacity to work on deals once those convert ?

 

Depends on how in-depth (or # of pages) the pitches are, I guess. 90 hours is a lot, but not unheard of in IB. Do you know how much other kids your class are working?

You also will get a lot faster at common tasks and more comfortable telling associates “I can’t get to this for X hours [or Y days].” Sometimes they’re just checking in so they can plan on their end, rather than demanded the work be done ASAP.

 

1) Over communicate with your staffer and don’t hesitate to push back a bit but in a smart way - ie I already have deadlines at the same time, not sure it’s sensible to put me on this as well.

2) recycle is the way to go - saw you said you had to update a chart, that’s great don’t know what it was but most of your job should be taking an existing page refreshing/adjusting the analysis. In 2-3% of cases you’ll have to start something from scratch. 

3) you’ll get fast and do a better job overtime, I understand WFH is not easy. 
4) 90 hours isn’t bad man (don’t know if my team is sweaty though, but that’s like 9-3am assuming 0 weekend work (which I doubt) should be more like 9-2am + 10~ hours on weekend. 
5) if you get stuck ask - just call you asso/ana2, they will know the trick and will save you 30mins. Normally you’d jus ask the person sat next to you but in the current environment you just gotta pickup the phone (not easy to do at first and then it gets easy). 

 

If you're this worried about doing a good job you're not the worst analyst. Don't forget expectations are very low right now, you're probably exceeding them even if it doesn't feel like it. Talk to your staffer, there's nothing wrong with saying you enjoy the job but it takes you a long time to do things correctly and don't have capacity for all of these projects. 5 pitches and a bakeoff is excessive even for a third year analyst.

Take it 1 day at a time - any time you have 10-15 minutes between comments, get off of the computer and go outside or walk around, don't let yourself sit on your phone or computer if you get a break. Even if this is only twice a day it's a mental break.

 

Hmmm... 9-3am is pretty bad already. That’s 6 hours of sleep at the very best. 

 

IDK if you're doing this but a very common mistake i've seen 1st year analysts make is trying to make somethign from scratch when it's been done a billion times over. Ask around 2nd year's primarily if they've got certain charts / analyses saved down that you can refresh. 

Also, idk if your bank has it but if they have the offshore india slide presentation team...make use of it. Slam them with a few reuqests while you work on other stuff even if it's just to grab logo's / match color schemes. 

It's the small stuff that adds up over time given the sheer workload

 

Aliquid molestiae impedit omnis enim. Fugiat molestias ea ut maxime dicta deleniti est. Reprehenderit architecto consequatur rerum in veniam animi accusantium quibusdam. Natus illum earum magnam et aut et. Asperiores nulla sed omnis mollitia aut.

Voluptatem voluptatem neque dicta. Labore fugiat officia omnis pariatur non. Rerum non in repudiandae et excepturi numquam.

Aliquam debitis animi dolores beatae architecto itaque et provident. Quod minus quis ipsam corrupti nesciunt. Vero totam necessitatibus ut magnam earum distinctio.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (87) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
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...”