I Burned Out But I'm Better Now... Avoid The Top 6 Mistakes I Made During My First 2 Months As a Private Equity Analyst
I started my big boy job on wall street in February. Did an IB internship at an EB in NYC last summer and was fortunate enough to land a role right in PE out of the gates.
If you're starting as an analyst this June/July, please learn from me and avoid what I did wrong during my first couple months on the desk:
-
Trying to be macho man. Telling the two co-workers that I trusted most about my feelings of being overwhelmed was the best decision I made for my mental health.
As a “manly man”, I had to challenge myself to let these feelings out, but getting it off my chest instantly relieved the pressure. They could both relate since they went through it too.
-
Falling into perfectionism trap. Like many high-achieving people in investment banking / private equity, my self esteem is tied to getting things right the first time since that is what school rewarded. I stress over details like re-reading every email five times before sending it.
I’ve learned to take advantage of the fact nobody expects me to know anything and now make rules like only allowing one read-through max to avoid mental burnout.
- Not setting unplugging boundaries. The anxiety I had my first couple weeks from feeling like I had to respond to every single email at all hours of the day ruined my sleep and mood. I couldn’t ever relax. Asking an analyst a year above me about their methods what the expectations are from the managers helped me set boundaries for when I respond.
-
People pleasing my way into mental burnout. Face time! Ever heard of it? I got caught in the people-pleasing trap of always wanting to be seen at my desk for the first couple weeks. Truth is - nobody actually cares.
My approach is to make myself get up from my desk and go for a 10min walk (even if it is walking in reverse up the escalator in our building’s lobby). This refreshes my mind and allows me to pick up where I left off with more energy.
- Forgetting about my family. I now have a rule that I must call my parents at least once every single day, even if it is only for five minutes between calls. It takes energy to make new friends with co-workers, so maintaining relationships with your core prevents social isolation, which I fell victim to.
- Not taking time to process/reflect. I found myself wanting to rush right into the next task or ask for more work every time I finished an assignment. This made me burn out quick. I now take 10min at the end of every day and 1hr every Friday to process what I’ve learned that day/week, which helps keep me motivated since I’m always amazed at how far I’ve come in such a short period of time.
Based on the WSO threads and discussions, it's clear that the transition to a Private Equity Analyst role can be challenging, and many new analysts face similar issues as you described. Here are some insights and advice that align with your experiences and the common themes observed in the WSO community:
Emotional Openness: It's commendable that you chose to share your feelings of being overwhelmed with trusted colleagues. This is often advised in WSO discussions as a way to build support networks within the workplace. It's important to remember that finance, particularly roles like PE and IB, can be high-pressure, and many of your peers have likely felt the same way.
Avoiding Perfectionism: Your strategy to limit re-reading emails to once is a practical approach to combat perfectionism, a common trap for high achievers in PE. WSO members often discuss the importance of balancing attention to detail with efficiency, especially when the workload can be very high.
Setting Boundaries: Learning to set boundaries for work communications, especially emails, is crucial for maintaining work-life balance. As you've done, seeking advice from more experienced colleagues about their methods can provide practical strategies to manage expectations effectively.
Managing Face Time: The realization that constant visibility at your desk isn't valued as much as quality work and results aligns with the advice given in many WSO posts. Taking short breaks, like your 10-minute walks, is often recommended to improve focus and productivity.
Maintaining Personal Relationships: Your commitment to calling your parents daily is a great example of maintaining personal relationships, which is crucial for mental health and overall well-being. WSO community members often stress the importance of keeping in touch with family and friends outside of work to prevent social isolation.
Reflection Time: Allocating time to reflect on your work and progress is a smart practice. It helps in recognizing your achievements and areas for improvement, which is essential for personal and professional growth. This practice is often overlooked but highly valued among seasoned professionals in the WSO discussions.
Overall, your strategies and adjustments are in line with many recommendations shared by experienced professionals on Wall Street Oasis. Keep leveraging these insights, and continue to adapt based on your experiences and the advice from the WSO community.
Sources: Handling Stress / Burnout in Private Equity, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/breaking-into-private-equity-from-banking?customgpt=1, Do's & Dont's - 1st Year Private Equity Associate, Why The Grass Isn't Greener: The Private Equity Associate Crisis (PEAC), Was it a mistake? A confused Private Equity junior.
Stfu no one cares.
bro burned out after 2 months lmao
He stopped being a macho man
dox
Bros trying to impart wisdom on us with 3 months experience lol.
Just suck it up for 18 months, get great reviews, then start coasting on your past reputation
Wait, you're telling me I shouldn't be listening to SAs imparting wisdom after a summer in banking?
bruh you're gonna burn out 6 more times in the next 14 months at this rate
Maybe just look at the sky a few times a day??
Buddy... 2 months?! Talk about burnout after you've been in the seat a few years first hahaha
That said, overall good list with a lot of truths in it so +SB
Deserunt non ipsam aut. Voluptatibus id provident et quibusdam quia expedita. Harum error est dolorum ea aut. Sit deserunt porro necessitatibus non vel dolor aut.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...