2 spd + 3 interviews + 6 hirevues and I’m starting to think I’m not built for this
Class of 2026 here and simply in the library grinding on my superday prep and hirevues when everyone’s out partying for the long weekend. I’m usually the type that balances it pretty well but the work load here just seems virtually impossible to keep up with, and horrifying to think about how this is only supposed to be the start of things.
Totally not serious but it’s 1:30AM on a Sunday and j spent 30 min daydreaming about having a 50-hour-week, regular-paying job at Deloitte. Idk it doesn’t sound nearly as bad as it did to the freshman me
Keep at it my man
Bro those people out partying will be you as soon as you get an offer. It’s literally the ant and the grasshopper. Just do it until you’re finished.
Ah, the classic grind of the finance recruitment season! Based on the highest ranked content on WSO, it's not uncommon to feel overwhelmed when you're deep in the trenches of interview prep and networking. Here's a little wisdom from the jungle:
Superday Prep: It's a marathon, not a sprint. Make sure you're pacing yourself. You've got to be sharp for those interviews, so while it's important to prepare, it's equally important to rest. Remember, even the sharpest knives need honing and the occasional sheath.
HireVue Interviews: These can feel impersonal, but treat each one like it's your only shot. Practice makes perfect, so keep at it, and maybe throw in a smile. After all, a smile can be heard in your voice, even if it's just you and the webcam.
Work-Life Balance: It's tough now, but this is the investment phase. You're banking on your future, and sometimes that means missing a few parties. But don't forget to take a breather now and then. Even monkeys like me need to climb down from the tree and enjoy the jungle floor!
Daydreaming: It's totally normal to wonder about the road not taken. A 50-hour week at Deloitte? Could be the dream for some. Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all in careers. It's about finding your own banana—what appeals to you might not appeal to others.
Keep your chin up, Class of 2026! The grind is real, but so are the rewards. If you ever feel like you're swinging from vine to vine with no break, just remember that even the busiest monkeys find time to play. Keep the balance, and you'll find your way through the jungle.
Sources: Incoming Analyst, school online, what now?, Class of 2023 Kids, Recruitment Set Back To "Normal", Class of 2022/Rising Sophomore Roles at GS, MSF Class of 2016
Hey man, hope you are having a great day. When I was a freshman/sophomore, I literally said the same things you are saying and complained about the same things.
It is only when you realize that this is literally your choice and their choices and that all decisions have consequences that u can really determine what you want to do in the future. Just focus on the next 1/2 years, don’t look further.
I truly believe our generation is living in really tough times because we were born with instant dopamine and have totally lost the ability to sustain frustration. Just pick something to look forward to for the next 1/2 years (ie getting an IB internship) and give it your 100%. Those people partying 4 years in college and getting a 3.1 gpa are going to be working when they are 58 for less than what you will make at 23 yeara old, and you (if u decide to pursue these kind of jobs) will have made more by the time you are 30/35 than them in all of their career (if money is important to you then this by itself should motivate you to grind as much as you need and not complain).
Just remember man, there are ALWAYS trade-offs. Every decision has a good and a bad thing, just please try to think long term and don’t be blind-sighted by the short-term stress. If u like finance and u do an internship you will learn A LOT. If u do the internship and decide u should do something will less hours, then thats also great. U have a great education and are hardworking, so life will be good for you financially. U dont need to have 5 mill by 35 to be happy, thats all
Im still young but im truly realizing that finding the thing you do everyday interesting/engaging/exciting is soooo important for overall happiness.
Remember you are free to choose whatever job you want to do, and also remember life is long, so start looking at the long-term benefits and stop complaining. And also do this for you, don’t do this for external reasons, you have absolutely NOTHING to prove to anyone. Coming from a country that is much less materialistic than the us (but worst in many other aspects) I can truly assure you that only doing this for the money is not worth it. Nose
I mean, you will face exactly the same on the job too. Friends going out on Friday evening and weekend while you are aligning the footnote on slide 155 in the appendix.
But keep it up, the harder it is to get the offer the more you will value.
I spent five or six Friday nights working alone until 2am in the business school on my campus during the back half of Sophomore Spring when my workload got crazy during recruiting. I ended up getting a great offer and it all worked out. Went back to going out Friday nights again right after and life has been good since. Keep at it!
I killed myself for 3 months during recruiting doing non stop work every single day and now I'm going to a top EB whilst my friends have nothing special lined up.
Lmao there are absolutely no superdays out yet, i don't know what you're waffling on about
I had a EB/MM diversity round spd this Friday and one regular with DB next Thursday. Maybe what you are seeing is not the whole picture.
Im only a senior yet the number of interviews at top notch places I have failed at is probably at like 20 now. You become numb to it, make a note of what you did wrong, and move on, and once you bag an offer you forget about it. I also don't really see what's the big deal about grinding on the weekend in college for like a 3 month span. All the STEM kids were already doing that for 4 years straight.
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