Lack of Direction Post-Recruiting

For the last 1.5 years of my life, everything I've done has been in service of getting an offer in IB/PE. I accepted an offer at my dream PE shop a little over a month ago, but after the high of achieving that long-term goal has started to wear off, I have no idea of what to do with myself. 

I want to preface this by saying how lucky I am to be in this position and that this is a problem I am grateful to have to deal with. I come from a non-target school and never thought I would place as well (or as early) as I did. I would have killed to be in the position I am two months ago, but now that I'm here I don't know what's next.

I'm a very goal-oriented person as many people here are, so I'm asking for advice on what I can do to make something of my remaining 2.25 years in school. I spent the first two weeks after getting the offer drinking and going out with friends nearly every night, not because I even enjoyed it, but simply because that's what I have been having to sacrifice to focus on recruiting. This got old quickly and now most of my day is spent doom scrolling or watching TV. Working towards something like a job in PE gave me purpose. I've felt the best I ever have mentally and physically over the last two years, and don't want to fall back on old bad habits.

Maybe I'm crazy and nobody else ever felt this way after accepting their offer, but when I hit the desk and free time becomes a thing of the past, I don't want to look back on my last two years of school as something I completely wasted. I wouldn't trade where I am now for anything, but I would really appreciate any advice. Thanks.

6 Comments
 

All of this over getting an internship?

"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
 

Go meet girls man — there’s no other time in your life where you’ll have this many attractive girls your age all around you

 

Officia vitae non enim temporibus excepturi perferendis. Ut expedita corporis doloremque optio nesciunt voluptate voluptatem. Neque eum eaque in optio ex tempora ea. Dolorem aut sit eaque dolor aut ipsum.

Impedit perspiciatis sit fugit eveniet velit. Quisquam tempora qui labore architecto. Voluptatem reprehenderit ipsa illum tenetur error ut. Voluptates aliquid magni magni rerum. Asperiores enim fugiat velit nam sed deserunt vel. Nihil et repellat enim esse.

Tempora corporis aliquid nam ut. Dolorem repellat molestiae repellendus omnis architecto earum consequatur et. Similique sequi nam voluptatem sed ut recusandae. Consequatur incidunt odio ullam aut laudantium et. Aliquid sunt adipisci in pariatur magnam. Sit rerum quibusdam totam et non autem iure quod.

Omnis temporibus omnis eligendi suscipit ea. Sint sequi impedit velit nihil quod asperiores. Reprehenderit et quis laboriosam hic.

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 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

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 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”