Realized IB is not for me, next steps?
Current sophomore at non target, For the past couple of months all I wanted was the shining “incomming investment banking summer analyst” title on my linkedin but I realized that IB isnt for me. I have zero passion for finance and I know that im going to be miserable doing it, also my end goal in life has nothing to do with finance. I kinda realized this during interviews how unauthentic I sounded and how hard it was for me to even fake my passion for finance. Its also the reason why I wasnt able to get any offers, my technicals are solid just the behaviorals i sound scripted and didnt sound like I was gonna enjoy the job. I thought to myself, if I cant fake my passion for finance for a 30 min interview how can I fake it for 2 years?
So currently im trying to get a more work life balance role so that I can focus on something that I want to do for a living, which is content creation. I dont need people telling me that its hard to make a living off of it and how for every person that succeed theres 10k who fail, just want advice and insight from any experienced ppl in the field.
What jobs have good work life balance in finance and also whats their recruiting timeline?
To give more background ab myself, like I said, im a non target, 3.7 gpa multiple pe/ib internships and also very active w campus orgs. Any insights would be greatly appreciated tysm!
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s a roadmap for your situation:
1. Exploring Finance Roles with Better Work-Life Balance
If you're still considering staying in finance but want a better work-life balance, here are some roles to explore: - Corporate Finance: Roles in FP&A (Financial Planning & Analysis) or Treasury at a corporation often offer more predictable hours compared to IB. - Wealth Management/Private Banking: These roles focus on managing client portfolios and financial planning, with less intense hours. - Investor Relations: This involves communicating with investors and managing a company’s public financial image. It’s less demanding than IB. - Consulting: While not finance-specific, consulting at certain firms (especially boutique or regional ones) can offer a better balance. - Endowment or Foundation Roles: Working for a university or nonprofit endowment fund can provide meaningful work with manageable hours.
Recruiting Timeline: Many of these roles recruit on a rolling basis, but corporate finance and wealth management often have structured timelines in the fall or early spring. Networking is key, especially as a non-target.
2. Transitioning to Content Creation
If content creation is your passion, here’s how to approach it: - Leverage Your Finance Background: Create niche content around finance topics, such as personal finance, investing, or career advice. Your experience in PE/IB internships and campus orgs gives you credibility. - Start as a Side Hustle: While pursuing a finance role with better hours, build your content creation portfolio on the side. This allows you to test the waters without financial pressure. - Network in the Content Space: Just like in finance, networking is crucial. Connect with creators in your niche, attend relevant events, and learn from their experiences. - Monetization Strategy: Focus on building an audience first, then explore monetization through ads, sponsorships, or selling products/services.
3. Actionable Steps
4. Key Insights
For more detailed advice, check out threads like https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/non-target-rec…</a">Non-Target Recruiting Guide Part I or https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/job-search/career-in-finance-real…</a">Career in Finance - Reality or Reach?. Good luck, and remember, even monkeys can pivot successfully! 🐒
Sources: Non-Target Recruiting Guide Part I: Resume and Networking, Career in Finance - Reality or Reach?, Non-Target Recruiting Guide Part I: Resume and Networking, Simplified Guide to Breaking in as Non-Target (EASIER THAN YOU THINK), Navigating Recruiting at Target Schools
Been there bro. Can't think of many formal industries you can work in to start content creation, but it's a very relationship based business, would be very helpful (but hard) if you could reach out to the content creators you like for advice.
Personally after realizing 1) I'm not interested in banking, and 2) banking isn't interested in me, I looked at other finance roles and figured S&T would be good for me since I have a more quanty background. Work life balance isn't the best you can get in finance but it's way better than banking, around 50-60 hours/wk, the timeline is similar to banking but maybe a few weeks/months later for each bank. The finance roles with the best WLB (on average) would be corporate roles, asset management, and family office, you can have 40 hour weeks in many companies in these spaces.
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