When your girlfriend is actually killing it in IB…feeling inferior

My girlfriend and I have been dating for a couple of years. We met working in the same bank but in different groups and she ended up moving to a BB and getting promoted. She is  literally killing it career-wise.  She is also the whole package. Smart, gorgeous, fun, and personable.  I am glad for her but maybe I am jealous by her success. Who the fuck knows. Or maybe she is moving on to bigger things and leaving me behind. It feels like our roles are now reversed and it’s a tough realization that her career trajectory is outpacing mine. I don’t want to screw up our relationship. Looking for advice here. Please don’t just tell me to man up and stop being a simp. I need to get my head straight before I fuck things up. 

13 Comments
 
Most Helpful

I’m pressed for time but can add more later.

Quite simply:

Careers are not linear. There will be ups and downs, success and setbacks over an extended period. You need to be her biggest cheerleader throughout that and vice-versa. If she’s that awesome, do not allow your insecurities to poison that relationship. It’s rare to find a partner that can both have a high powered career and be nurturing.

For you, be critical in what you think is going “wrong” career-wise. Do you enjoy IB or are you going through the motions? Does she enjoy it and as such she’s more wired to push herself to succeed? Ask yourself what the hell do you want out of life career-wise.  Long-term success in most careers requires some baseline level of “passion” - as corny as that may sound.  If she’s just simply outpacing you right now, so the fuck what? Insecurity has got to be the most unattractive thing to a woman but self-improvement is not.

Look dude. At the end of the day, it’s just a job (a high paying one sure) and as you get older and experience how shitty life can be you’ll smile knowing you’ve got an awesome girl in your corner.

hopefully not hitting you with a bunch of platitudes 

 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 

In my experience, finance girls and marketing girls alike are allergic to broke ass bums, regardless of the shape they’re in. You’ve got a good one OP, just relax and enjoy. 

 

image-20250112221249-1

"If you don't have any enemies in life you have never stood up for anything" - Winston Churchill | "It's a testament to the sheer belligerence of the profession that people would rather argue about the 'risk-adjusted returns' of using inferior tooth cleaning methods." - kellycriterion
 

I agree with the top commenter and he hit the nail on the head. You don't want to have a mindset of "you vs. her" rather "both of you vs. obstacles". This shift will allow you to celebrate in her success without letting your insecurities or envy take over. 

Taking on some introspection and looking inward can help you determine what you want out of life both professionally and personally. Some folks, myself included, dive headfirst into these careers with some vague sense of understanding the work or what we're getting into. For some, they realize immediately they dislike it for a number of reasons, the culture, the hours, the monotony, and others, they enjoy it for a number of reasons, the satisfaction, the research, the ecosystem. I'd say take a look and see where you fall in that scale.

On a side note, contrary to popular belief, finding someone who's company you enjoy, and someone you can have an understanding with on a deeper level is a great thing to have.

 

That's great for her, and if you feel she's in it for the long haul, that's even better. I'd try to put a ring on it by 28 before PE/HF & generational wealth 6'4" chad makes his way into the picture

 

Minus nemo ut voluptatem et. Et culpa reprehenderit saepe cum enim sit. Reprehenderit voluptate quas sint facere mollitia. Iusto quae laboriosam eum voluptas quia rerum dicta est.

Dolore voluptas qui cumque aut vitae animi voluptas. Voluptatem voluptatem sapiente nostrum autem consequatur at qui. Voluptatem iure iusto officiis possimus non voluptatibus. Saepe ducimus reiciendis minus ducimus numquam dolorum et. Ut et nihil iure et repudiandae quis.

If the glove don't fit, you must acquit!

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $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
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”