How happy are you on a scale of 1-10?(10 being the happiest)

You've always considered investment banking your dream job, now that you’re living your dream, do you still feel fulfilled and satisfied?

Has the reality of the job met your expectations, or have you encountered challenges and aspects you hadn’t anticipated?

Are you happy with where you are, or do you find yourself questioning if this is truly the right path for you?

RATE ON SCALE OF 1-10 (10 being the happiest)

30 Comments
 

I'm just an incoming intern, but already 2! outlier tech comp at shit like NVIDIA while doing jackshit for it makes me wanna switch to product management!

 
Most Helpful

I was let go two months ago, and I believe it's the best thing that ever happened to me—a true blessing in disguise. I never would have quit, but this forced me to stop and think about what I truly care about.
I've had many interviews since then, with several startup companies offering a base pay similar to what I earned as an associate, (around $250k). My bank didn’t even provide good bonuses while I was there and I hated my life. My happiness is way more precious than that extra $100k.
I realise I’m better off trying to build something from scratch or starting on my own to do something I care about.
Life is too short to hate your job, and I don't want to spend another day feeling that way.
Wish you all the happiness and success!

 
Funniest
just breathe

I was let go two months ago, and I believe it's the best thing that ever happened to me—a true blessing in disguise. I never would have quit, but this forced me to stop and think about what I truly care about.
I've had many interviews since then, with several startup companies offering a base pay similar to what I earned as an associate, (around $250k). My bank didn’t even provide good bonuses while I was there and I hated my life. My happiness is way more precious than that extra $100k.
I realise I’m better off trying to build something from scratch or starting on my own to do something I care about.
Life is too short to hate your job, and I don't want to spend another day feeling that way.
Wish you all the happiness and success!

Rate on scale of 1-10 

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 
haha_what

2. i dont know if i want to be alive anymore. anyway hope ur good

damn dawg sorry to hear that - feel free to PM me and vent a little if needed. Just put one foot in front of the other in the right direction and you’ll be going places in no time.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

7.5 for me - parents are slowing down a lot and nearing death. I’m trying to deal with everything and either go back to school or restart my finance career.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 
monkeyvjit

Considering all that’s going on, 7.5 seems pretty high?

I was at a 10 in April. Fulfilling all my family obligations. And was playing high stakes poker tourneys with a promise of $1.8M for first. I didn't win the poker tourney and my Dad's health and mobility have declined. What used to be easy days with his mobility have turned to hard days of helping to get him around. He is a fall risk and I just am trying to help him avoid falling as he would shatter if he fell. He is 88 and has mild dementia and stage 4 lung and bone cancer. Any day could be his last or he could live 5 more years who knows. 

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

1/10

Work is a cutthroat, confrontative, unpleasant environment doing meaningless work with people I dislike. 

My physical and mental health has gone to shit and I’ve grown increasingly distant from my family and friends because I don’t have enough time for my relationships. My significant other broke up with me because I didn’t have enough bandwidth to dedicate to a serious relationship. 

I’m top bucket too but it’s so not worth it and banking has just done serious damage to my life 

 

6. Post MBA job search has dried up a bit (still technically in a process from a company last month but I may be silently rejected at this point). Started networking a ton. Now just waiting around to get follow ups. Have a trip planned around Thanksgiving / early December that will be super fun.

Hoping to land a job by October / early November before the trip. Might have to move cities for work based on some of the calls / leads I have. I do not want to do this but I'm willing to move for 1-2 years (from the NYC area and long term, I want to be here). Two of the people I networked with have offered me either a part-time internship (TBD on details) or an interview for a FT role (my contact is in a position to hire so he might interview me at some point later this month). If the Ft opportunity gives me an offer, I'll probably try really hard to negotiate a remote role with willingness to travel ~50% of the time if needed. I think its just a matter of time until I get an offer somewhere. 

 

how are you maintaining overhead costs and other expenses during this time? Also how does the MBA debt payback process work? Thanks

 
NewIndustryHorizon

6. Post MBA job search has dried up a bit (still technically in a process from a company last month but I may be silently rejected at this point). Started networking a ton. Now just waiting around to get follow ups. Have a trip planned around Thanksgiving / early December that will be super fun.

Hoping to land a job by October / early November before the trip. Might have to move cities for work based on some of the calls / leads I have. I do not want to do this but I'm willing to move for 1-2 years (from the NYC area and long term, I want to be here). Two of the people I networked with have offered me either a part-time internship (TBD on details) or an interview for a FT role (my contact is in a position to hire so he might interview me at some point later this month). If the Ft opportunity gives me an offer, I'll probably try really hard to negotiate a remote role with willingness to travel ~50% of the time if needed. I think its just a matter of time until I get an offer somewhere. 

I thought 90%+ of T15 FT MBAs get employment shortly after graduation? What kind of MBA did you get?

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Adipisci quod nesciunt fuga molestiae consequatur voluptas. Dolorum et eum voluptatem est harum necessitatibus. Autem maxime accusantium qui ut adipisci. Mollitia aut praesentium totam ut beatae molestiae. Sed et iure aliquam qui. Eum sit reprehenderit aut illum quia quis aspernatur.

 

Et impedit explicabo reprehenderit qui. Accusantium ad autem et. Voluptatem nihil aut placeat voluptas velit quasi harum. Sunt voluptatem quo ratione enim deserunt velit hic. Sit quia ullam quo. Ipsam aut omnis pariatur non sunt tempora repudiandae. Eum dignissimos ratione laudantium autem odit. Rerum quas animi illum et architecto.

Illo facere repellat quidem consequuntur ea maxime quam. Voluptatem quia aut dignissimos officiis inventore explicabo. Fugiat quo aliquid qui quos.

Dicta id delectus commodi repellat explicabo neque. Esse animi accusantium quibusdam et. Suscipit sapiente aut dignissimos quis facilis modi. Quidem aliquid voluptas magnam non omnis velit ut sit.

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%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 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 (79) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”