Is 2 week vacation acceptable?
Looking to go to Asia early next year and feel that for it to be worth the hassle I’d need to spend at least 1.5 weeks there. Leads to my question, what’s the longest acceptable vacation one should be able to take in PE/IB? Is two weeks too much? Feels like Wednesday through the following Sunday has become a thing so would it be that big a stretch?
Dont think ive seen analyst do two weeks but have seen associates do them. Interned at a place known for bad culture fwiw
Find some work related angle and make it all vacation days but with some work on the side. Impress the boss with your work ethic without really giving up much vacation time
Based on the most helpful WSO content, taking a two-week vacation in Private Equity (PE) or Investment Banking (IB) can be acceptable, but it largely depends on your group and the timing. Here are some key points to consider:
Group Dependency: Vacation policies can vary significantly between different groups. Some groups may be more lenient, especially during slower periods like August or around Christmas when many Managing Directors (MDs) are also on vacation.
Advance Notice: It's crucial to inform your staffer and deal team well in advance. Putting your vacation on a shared calendar and keeping everyone informed can help manage expectations and workload.
Timing: Avoid planning vacations during critical deal-related deadlines or management meetings. Planning around these can make it easier to get approval for a longer break.
Standard Practice: In investment management firms, two weeks is generally the standard vacation length. This is typically 10 weekdays if specified in the policy, or 14 days if counted as calendar days.
Workload Management: Ensure that your absence won't significantly impact ongoing deal processes or the supervision of existing deals. The work still needs to get done, and there is often a surplus of qualified candidates ready to step in.
In summary, a two-week vacation can be feasible if planned carefully and communicated well in advance. It’s essential to consider your group's specific dynamics and the timing of your trip to ensure it aligns with your professional responsibilities.
Sources: Vacation as an Analyst?, The Promised Land of Private Equity Turned out to be a "Monster Land", The Promised Land of Private Equity Turned out to be a "Monster Land", Handling Stress / Burnout in Private Equity, Turning down HBS/GSB/Wharton for the Promote-Through
Bump
Damn the comments from US bankers are depressing. It's two weeks go live your life.
Crazy that you cannot even take two weeks off at once, you're taking you laptop with you anyway.
If people take 3 week-long honeymoons, 2 week-long vacations shouldn’t be an issue
People in my group have taken two weeks. Not the best idea tho since you burn a ton of PTO all at once then don’t have much the rest of the year. Mentally it’s easier to take two vacations 6 months apart.
Maybe wait til you are done with the analyst job? Then can take more time to explore the area. Easier to take vacations closer to you in the meantime.
Is it only in Europe with consecutive 2-weekers off on an annual basis for FO roles in Banks (including US ones)?
Take the damn vacation. In a few years you’ll look back and notice that it doesn’t matter how much PTO you took so maximize it as much as possible.
Blows my mind that this even needs to be questioned....
Plan your work, get your team up to speed so you're not missed, don't go during a busy time, make sure you're somewhat available for emergencies (but also keep it to emergencies, I guarantee they can figure 99% of things out without you).
Take the vacation, make the most of your time.
Went about 4.5 years into my career without ever taking more than 3 days of PTO in a row, but now I've done 2 weeks off for a couple years in a row.
I did 2 weeks as an analyst but that was for my honeymoon and it coincided with the natural Christmas / New Years lull. 2 weeks of straight vacation will likely seem aggressive to your co-workers but I hate that it's perceived that way. I've since left the industry and my advice is to not care about what people will think and just use your PTO. You'll be happy you did.
How the fuck is anything remotely approaching 2 weeks (excluding weddings, honeymoons, new babies, death of immediate family) even being viewed as reasonable in this thread? Must be all Europoors in here. I don't think anyone at my apex tier independent (think M Klein/Allen & Co/Dyal/CVP/PJT/LAZ) ever took more than a weekend off, generally already a holiday, apart from their wedding, honeymoon or "paternity leave" where they need to support their wives for the next couple of days. Only exceptions may be D/ED+.
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