What do you do when it hits 9/10 and you have no work but can’t leave?
Most days I’m out of work at that time. I’m a full time analyst, so it’s not as simple as just asking for work, since I’m staffed on files.
It’s a sweaty team, so I know the work will come, but I’m under 3mo on the desk, and this team is big on facetime culture so I can’t leave early, or at least before associates and a couple an2s leave.
At best, I’ll have some comps I can stretch out for a few hours, but it’s so boring. Do I just come later? I’m just sitting around it’s so annoying that I have to deal with this part of banking after my internship
Practice modeling by going through old model files (ask your second year analysts or experienced associates to send you some good ones) and practice building some of them from scratch. If you’re gonna have to sit there, might as well learn some things / try to get faster at modeling especially if you plan to recruit for PE.
usually go home
Can’t
Maybe I'm just too far removed but if it is that late I'd just go home. It's not like its 5pm - I'm guessing all the MDs, Ds, and VPs are gone and if they are still there at that time, and not on a file you are on, then the last thing they care about is that the new analyst is being a team player and sitting in his chair twiddling his thumbs.
The 2nd years definitely don't care - they know in a short time they are going to be able to dump their worst coverage accounts on the new 1st years. As you said, the work will come and in 6months or a year during review season I doubt anyone remembers your facetime unless it is blatant.
Maybe the associates care but again if you're 28-30+, have a wife or GF or even kids, and you are in the office at 10pm then the only thing on your mind is getting home.
Respectfully you’re a bit far removed, or maybe my team just sucks extra hard, because it was the second year analysts and first year associates who pulled me aside to get mad about my FaceTime, basically saying that being the last here is my job until we get summer interns.
I wouldn’t give a shit, but they also are the people who will have the most impact during my reviews this year
I formatted pdf books under a report like format so it doesn't catch other's attention and spent my time reading books
so smart. Ray Dalio's books won't read themselves!
Your team blows. Most banks in the year of our lord 2025 have cut down on Facetime. Most people are just at the office because we have actual work to do. The first 3-4 months are a ramp up period and you are treated with kiddy gloves to a large extent so take advatange of this while you can.
Name and shame. Sounds like terrible culture
sounds like BMO lol
Welcome to JPM M&C—keep spreading those comps fella.
In a sweaty group at a BB. My 1st year, usually left the office by 10-11, unless I needed to meet with my team late in the evening. 2nd year, usually left the office by 9-10, rarely stayed later. I would stay until at least 10 but make sure you’re still available from home after that. Also, potentially come into the office a bit later
When i started, i had reg exams to work for so would stay in till 10-1130 just practicing and spamming mocks. Would also go through pitch decks, IMs etc to familairise myself. Then started going home earlier when i had nothing to do and WFH if needed. IMO if you're not busy, you should go home BUT be responsive
This whole concept is just embarrassing. The company doesn’t get production. The employee doesn’t get to live their life. It’s performative time wasting.
Yeah, that’s the grind in the first few months. Honestly I used to drag things out too, spend more time making decks “perfect,” reread comps, or find random stuff to learn on CapIQ just to look busy. Eventually the flow of work picks up and you won’t be stuck staring at the wall as much. If you can swing coming in a bit later without raising eyebrows, do it.
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