Working in IB as a Jew
I understand that investment bankers can have upwards of 120 hour weeks on live deals, but would firms respect not being able to work for religious reasons? Would I face consequences for not doing melachot (working) during Shabbos? I’m pretty sure that firms cannot discriminate per race/religion, but would that be a cause for concern?
Your company will allow it, but your deal teams will be pissed at you in secret because they constantly have to pick up your slack every Friday night. (Worst night of the week to be dumping anything on anyone)
Your call.
"your call" lol. i assume op is observant and wouldn't be using this as an out only when it's convenient. this is totally fine. and don't apologize for it. let the experience inform how you want to shape your career and life
Shut up goy. It is an honor to take an Israeli's work every Friday. We must all strive to sacrifice for Israel
Protected Saturdays were promised to them 3,000 years ago!
Del
Based on the most helpful WSO content, working in investment banking as a Jew observing Shabbat is possible, but it requires clear communication and strategic effort. Many firms and teams are understanding of religious commitments, especially in diverse environments like investment banking. Here are some key insights:
Respect for Religious Observance:
Compensation for Time Off:
Team Dynamics and Communication:
Potential Challenges:
Ultimately, while observing Shabbat in investment banking may present challenges, it is not insurmountable. With strong communication, a solid work ethic, and a supportive team, it is possible to balance religious observance with a demanding career.
Sources: https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/jewish-ib-analysts-keeping-sabbath?customgpt=1, Christian in IB, Banking in Israel
What?
What language is this?
You’ll be fine as long as you actively show folks you’re not using it as an excuse: come online Saturday night / Sunday. Are you coming in as an intern or full time?
I’m coming in as an intern.
Congrats on Judaism!
Del
Do not listen to this, this is false and bs
Only if you’re at a bank with truly crappy culture is this true. I was in banking with some Mormon guys, and Sunday mornings/early afternoon they were never online for a couple hours for their services, even during a live deal. Understandably, 2 hours is different than 24 hours, but feel like it’s still a relevant example
The Mormons I’ve worked with wouldn’t work at all on Sundays (for religious reasons- totally understandable)… were they just lying to me lmao
100% people will respect the sabbath for you and not bother you to work. At all.
But in my experience you’re much more scrutinized for your work ethic and work quality on all the other days and will be expected to pick up work on non-Jewish holidays for your teammates. Your total output each week still needs to match those of your peers. If you don’t finish what you were supposed to before sundown on Friday and leave it for your teammates they will not be very happy
OP on speedrun for Partner, congrats
If you genuinely hold religious beliefs, banks will respect it. Especially if you are actually good at your job. But if you are going to take time off for shabbat or Yom Kippur or something like that, you better not be responding to emails.
You can't half ass it. If you are genuinely observant, banks will accommodate. If you tell them that you observe shabbat, and you actually observe it, they will be fine with it.
Oy vey! The goyim will cover for you don't worry.
Totally fine but you have to work Christmas
Yeah that’s not a problem, I’m Jewish lol
This lowly goy hopes only that his work may be pleasing to Israel. The goyim team looks forward to your return on Monday
Hashem isn't paying you a 6-figure salary, is he?
he actually is - and he’s paying all of your salaries too bh
Pretty sure it shouldn’t hold you back, I know a few Jews in banking and they’re killing it, so as a precedent you should be fine
Your first mistake was posting about it here - there are plenty of Orthodox Jews in banking that have made a career out of it, should’ve sought advice from them vs. this cesspool of a forum.
You will be fine as long as you communicate that and are proactive with your work. You will 100% be scrutinized if you’re careless and your work ethic shows to be lacking. You should be online as soon as the sabbath is over so that your team doesn’t have to cover for you more than they should. This also holds true for the Jewish holidays.
If you truly do keep the sabbath, do not compromise an inch or you will end up giving them a mile. I’ve had associates try to make me compromise for my religious beliefs and even tried guilting me into it. Happens to be that those are also the worst performing associates and everybody hates them. They’re also coincidentally on a visa and are MBA associates - they should understand what a sabbath is, they did one for 2 years in business school.
In short, it’s doable, you’re not the first one nor the last. Just the best advice is to control those things in your control and be sure to have a good attitude, good work output, good work ethic and you’ll be fine. Plenty of good orthodox friends also in banking who despite them keeping the sabbath have been top of their class and went onto really awesome buyside opportunities after.
At the end of the day it is not just the Jews who have kept the sabbath, more importantly, it is the sabbath who has kept the Jews
Hope this helps.
As much as the Jew has kept the sabbath, the sabbath has kept the Jew. Good shabbos
.
Oy vey! I too get upset when my goycattle teammates ask me to do the job I was hired to do
Stay strong, shabbat is the source of blessing.
On a practical level, just make sure to communicate clearly to your manager/colleagues and put in the time/effort outside of shabbat, you will be surprised how much people will respect you and your boundaries.
Thank you!
.
“I understand that investment bankers can have upwards of 120 hour weeks on live deals, but would firms respect not being able to work for religious reasons? Would I face consequences for not doing melachot (working) during Shabbos? I’m pretty sure that firms cannot discriminate per race/religion, but would that be a cause for concern?”
there are 168 hours in a week (24x7). If you aren’t working for 24 of those hours then you still have 144 hours in the week. Minus 120 hours for work that leaves you with 24 hours of “free time” spread across 6 days. So only 4 hours of each day are you allowed to “not work”. If you can do that then good for you. This is America I am not sure if anyone can “force” you do to Melacha on Shabbos. It seems like an uphill battle to try to work 120 hours in only a 144 hour workweek as opposed to a 168 hour workweek.
Good luck. Hatzlacha rabbah! 🤠🕍🕎✡️🙂
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