Third Year IB Analyst, I feel lost and I feel like I learned nothing
I am a third year analyst, and I work in a MM Bank. I am actively trying to leave my place but I feel I have actively learned nothing during my time in IB. I did little modeling beyond building a singular projected income statement out to five years with toggles with a simple build to UFCF. Even then, I had to pass it off to a junior analyst as I had to shift my focus on a heavier deal. My time here has been only mundane things like making powerpoint slides, cleaning up files, pushing buyer requests, a LOT of buyer tracker items, and doing data room prep, along with other admin tasks related to live deals. Don't get me wrong, my technical abilities to do things like make VBA code to automate tasks, excel shortcuts, and other MS Suite tricks are definitely there, but I just have been so deep in the weeds with these tasks due to being the only junior on the team that I had no time to look at the bigger picture.
As a result, I feel I have actively atrophied my brain. I don't even really fully understand what goes on with my deals anymore, I feel like a complete data drone, and I feel immensely uninterested in the work and am completely burnt out with the extreme hours of 80-100 weeks. Thankfully it has been more chill for like the first time in 1.5 years, but I am actively worried the constant lack of sleep has actually damaged my brain.
The reason I bring this up is because I actively worry about how I show up in interviews. I feel I appear ramble, not sharp, and not very familiar with what goes on with my deals. I have no one else to talk to because no one in my group near my level works on my deals (my teams are super lean) and I don't have finance friends to talk to about this. Worse yet, when it comes to basic technicals like walk me from revenue to UFCF I genuinely have no understanding of what goes into the stuff due to lack of experience; I truly feel like a college student just regurgitating an answer.
Does anyone have any insights into how to be "smarter" with my experience? I really want to leave IB, I don't want to do PE, I just want to do something that preserves my IB base like strategic finance but I have had zero luck at all getting interviews these days cuz of how bad the market is.
Based on previous WSO threads, here are some insights and actionable steps to help you navigate your current situation and improve your prospects:
Addressing Your Concerns:
Feeling Lost and Unlearned:
Interview Preparation:
Networking:
Career Transition:
Practical Steps:
Resources:
By taking these steps, you can regain confidence in your abilities, improve your interview performance, and increase your chances of transitioning to a role that better aligns with your interests and skills.
Sources: Reflecting on my Investment Banking Experience: Lessons Learned, Advice on career and the switch into investment banking, burnout / moving forward, BB Analyst Impacted By Layoffs - Looking for Insight, Advice From an Advisor to Senior Wall Streeters
You and me are the same person. Following
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