quitting investment banking with nothing lined up

Thoughts on quitting with nothing lined up? Just got my bonus, but no job lined up because I was too busy to prep / not prepared to get anything on the buyside. Was thinking of chilling for a few months (till the end of the year max) and then getting a job that starts in Q1 of next year

6 Comments
 

Contemplating same but my worry is that I’ll end up having to settle with something dead end and end up being equally frustrated with that new job as my current IB role.

For my dream job I’m already only “borderline” qualified so coming from a position of unemployment is just going to fuck me from a hireability standpoint even more.

With currently slowed deal flow, the fact that I’m a 2nd year and super duper efficient (can perform even the Assoc role on autopilot at this point) and lack of giving a fuck bout getting promoted since fuck banking, easier for me to just cruise a couple more months while focusing on the search.

 

can anyone's who's done this comment on their experience? what they ended up going into? 

not sure if i even want to be on the buyside, im pretty open to other options, but agreed it's a tough market

 

I know a friend in consulting who took a break from banking for 6-9 months after only being there for 9 months and is now at MBB and much happier. He spent a lot of time case prepping etc to end up there

 

Rerum doloribus est rem repellat eveniet et voluptas ut. Nemo quasi rerum porro nesciunt saepe nihil amet eaque. Culpa mollitia exercitationem provident eum recusandae.

Consequatur fugit quasi voluptas expedita quae repellendus. Esse nisi voluptatem corrupti velit quam. Maxime dignissimos velit et consectetur eligendi velit. Esse eligendi debitis cupiditate aut consectetur. Deserunt voluptas velit natus necessitatibus.

Voluptas qui consequuntur perspiciatis accusamus. Quia in quae possimus exercitationem. Deserunt asperiores ducimus libero non nemo eos voluptates. Libero exercitationem ratione est non quas odio accusamus. Voluptas et ipsum hic provident molestiae. Numquam placeat impedit aut nostrum esse. Sed non dolor fuga sint nesciunt.

Tempora aut et cumque ut ut eveniet. Reprehenderit asperiores omnis consequatur libero qui.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”