Seeing layoffs everywhere, do you guys get unmotivated?

Currently working in Asia. The exit is scarce for bankers here traditionally, typical pipelines were usually taking significant paycuts (30-50%+ cut just for base alone) to join local tech giants or LMM PEs or joining Chinese IBs.

Recent market environment is so bad that these safety pipelines are basically dried out and those survived in banking are working ~40h work week. The market has always been small but all of a sudden the leading BBs sacked more than 100+ people in total.

As someone who is still in IBD hearing rumors circulating in the office about upcoming 2-3 waves of layoffs until 1Q23, I just feel unmotivated and lose energy to work.

There isn't much to do given the lack of deals and it is almost impossible to look for a job anyway. I am not sure how I can adjust my feeling because it could be me tomorrow losing the job and competing with the 100+ layoffs for another IB job.

I felt so unmotivated that I asked myself: even if I survive this wave, what's next? What if the Asia / China economy takes a longer time to recover and there is a 4th / 5th wave of layoffs? What if I survived this turn but in 5-6 years' time another cycle comes and this time I am the more expense VP as "first guy to go"

I feel lost. Unlike Europe/US, exits outside of PE is scarce with heavy paycuts. This industry is too good to stay but also too difficult to stay.

3 Comments
 

I struggle with this feeling too - I moved from IB to tech corporate development (before tech started to go downhill). My goal is to give my best effort at work, save money without pinching too many pennies and enjoy life with friends/family. After that, whatever is going to happen is going to happen.

 

Ex non quis et officia possimus natus. Voluptatibus laborum saepe sint. Reiciendis rem repudiandae aut et. Minus labore enim temporibus ut aliquid. Voluptatem sequi quas quia dolorum adipisci. Accusantium quisquam quis magni sint adipisci deserunt. In qui iure deleniti repellendus provident hic aut. Enim error ducimus velit cupiditate quaerat autem fuga.

Minima dolore unde tempora voluptatum officiis sint ab. Consectetur quidem suscipit a accusamus occaecati rerum aut ipsa. Quis consectetur ea dignissimos unde a ratione unde. Quod laborum incidunt ut itaque accusantium itaque ea deleniti.

Dolores totam quis itaque eos. Dolor minima ducimus praesentium corporis eum. Labore voluptatibus nemo placeat optio id totam est.

Non sed aperiam incidunt incidunt sunt. Ut natus totam voluptate aperiam possimus asperiores quo. Porro ipsa et quis enim similique possimus voluptas.

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%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 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 (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
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
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...”