How do people with Aspergers/Autism make it in this industry?
I am a recent grad with minor Aspergers working in equity research at a BB. Learning to socialize was an uphill battle for me, especially considering I grew up isolated in a single parent household, but I could generally appear normal and polished for interviews.
However, I sometimes slip up while on the job, and had three faux pas over the past two weeks - for instance, our team was having a discussion on a company and being poor at reading a room, I interjected a question that came off as a challenge to the analyst covering the name (he let me know that). Another time, our team was a three hour meeting on an utilities company and due to being worked pretty hard the night before, I was very tired and tried to cover my mouth to sneak some silent yawns. I thought I was being discreet but my boss noticed and reprimanded me after the meeting.
I feel like my boss' demeanor has subtlety soured a bit - he used to be complimentary of my work ethic and research skills. How screwed am I and do other aspies here have any tips on surviving Wall Street with our disability? We tend to be very focused and analytical but our gifts are often overshadowed by our innateinability to make a good impression on people.
I feel like at least 70% of the ppl I interacted in IB/PE are at least mildly autistic ngl. Met some excruciatingly awkward ppl. That said I think this is something you can learn. I know someone who was 100% autistic and made it. He essentially analyzed how each human interactions he had would impact his relationships just like how he would analyze how each piece of news would influence the stock of a company. It sounds kinda psychopathic but it worked.
Oof - if at least 70% of people in IB/PE appear somewhat autistic to you then I must appear very poorly socialized. It's frustrating being born handicapped at basic human social skills because seniors expect (and mostly forgiven) some shortcomings with technical skills (ie financial modeling) in their juniors, but aspie. behavior makes them think there's something fundamentally wrong and unteachable with you.
I have a similar coping strategy to your acquaintance but you have to get burned a lot to gather data points to learn from experience.
Nothing wrong with it. Just channel it into learning human interactions. Also the 70% was more so a joke lol don’t take it like that. Point is a lot of the IB/PE ppl are very awkward (PE especially so)
They get paid well and are used like pieces of high-powered machinery but usually never get the VP and up promote.
That’s depressing - is it worth changing firms as a junior if you’re pegged as an aspie?
I have come to realize I’m a masked autistic recently and I would say you shouldn’t give up. Yes we have disabilities but if you have a a dream you’ll make it work. I will say I know a lot of people who are higher up and have some autistic traits like direct and blunt communication. I am not saying they’re autistic at all, just that in some cases having that ingrained in you later on can still be helpful. As for getting to VP you’re definitely going to need charisma. I know this sounds lame but watching a YouTube channel called Charisma on Command from a while back really helped me. I think from a mental health perspective it’s better to unmask your symptoms but for finance, you just have to get good at masking and find ways to avoid neurodivergent burn out. Hope this helps
Autism has its perks, I do nearly all the modelling and I’m an A1
When I started my job after grad, everyone on my team complimented my attention to detail and I end up getting tasked on complicated model building. Problem is I suck at interviews and struggling to lateral to a better role lol. Asperger has its pros and cons I guess.
Can you talk more about your level of aspergers and how it has affected your day-to-day?
As someone who also considers themselves mildly autistic (never tested, but if I'm not then something is really wrong with me), I don't think these are that big a deal.
Even non autistic people get tired, forget to read a room. Think you're being hard on yourself, which is understandable. But really doesn't sound like a long term major issue.
One thing as someone who has had employees with the 'tism, especially engineers (lol).
I think it's really helpful when someone tells me because then I can adjust my management style and I know they aren't being malicious when doing certain things. It also helps coworkers. A lot of the time people with a disability like this are great at their work, but maybe not the best at highlighting their work/value, delivering it, etc... and it's nice to know that so I can adjust and help them there.
Obviously depends on your work environment I guess. I can see how some people may not react favorably so maybe it is not a good idea to tell coworkers/your boss.
I don't know how well telling my current team I'm an aspie would go - they are mostly older WASPs from Fairfield County.
All my homies have autism
Do you know how many times I yawn during business meetings? I don't even hide them.
Who cares? Being reprimanded for that is laughable.
Well I'm just a fresh grad at the bottom of the totem pole and my boss decides my fate...
Some people have a newborn baby or a cat at home. Your boss should be more understanding. This isn't even a big deal, it's not like you are sleeping at your desk.
If your work performance is there, it shouldn't be a big deal.
High functioning autism is a superpower. Bill Gross and Michael Burry are my kings.
Well there's tons of high functioning smart autists who are left behind at some entry level role because their vibe was too off putting, despite their best efforts.
Getting called out for yawning is crazy
I think they come up with mechanisms to mask their Asperger’s and mimic normal people. That said, there are people in this industry whose social adeptness is off the charts - they will run circles around you.
I'm learning to mask, but I fear that when it comes down to promotion time the charisma gods will always be chosen above me. How do I ever compete with such people?
Dolorum voluptatem sed repudiandae consequatur et laboriosam incidunt. Nulla ex molestias est sint sit. Ut impedit asperiores molestiae dolor magnam molestiae. Quis doloremque distinctio est voluptatem aut blanditiis. Voluptatem ratione nisi et et ut nemo.
Placeat illo expedita voluptatibus. Amet excepturi odio animi qui. Totam excepturi iure saepe in.
Necessitatibus ut sit tempore fugiat id voluptatibus. Assumenda a non molestiae soluta fugiat facilis repellendus. Excepturi ut aut beatae. Eligendi iure qui quos recusandae enim totam autem.
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...
Molestiae omnis vel qui et laborum cumque sint fugit. Et ratione et qui deserunt non. Soluta pariatur quia et. Qui deserunt voluptatem itaque occaecati. Id vel quam illum molestiae. Incidunt placeat similique dolores voluptas. Maiores quo aut neque aut sint.
Repudiandae consequatur earum placeat earum. Assumenda ratione qui ipsum adipisci incidunt minus. Tempora ea alias ea distinctio illo qui. Consequatur ea nam praesentium non sed placeat. Accusamus dolores dicta esse asperiores culpa. Enim facere quia ad cum. Magni perspiciatis cum et libero omnis nisi.