Quit ib, ended up accepting $110k job and feels difficult with this in a VHCOL city.
I feel like I was immarture for quitting but I didn’t know how to handle the environment. wish I was still in the running for PE. Any advice on how to get back? Do I network like CRAZY?
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There’s a drill in which marines need to avoid drowning. Most fail, but the ones who don’t figure the trick is to stop struggling - and you float back up. I think your problem is deep resistance to your situation. You have a good job - $120k pa, I’m guessing corporate, with banking experience as well. It is a tough economy. But don’t take your current gig for granted. You can rise within whatever corporation, lateral around that industry, and join PE as an operating partner down the road. I’m sure VC (smaller tier) will be an option eventually. I’m sure even going back to IB (or consulting) might happen. You have more opportunities open to you than you realize. Sounds like your spite is mentally closing avenues
In the same boat. Finance isn’t worth it and I’m looking to leave the industry to something else. Outside of the usual FO roles IB/PE/ER/HF, the pay is horrible over the long run and the job security and mobility is weak.
Huge survivorship bias on this forum or people born 20 years ago where being successful in finance was a cake walk (they won’t admit this but ask them what they were doing at 22 years old…newsflash it wasn’t grinding interviews, grades, and sweating over perfect internships and jobs like every anxiety fueled prospect on here)
Either get back to FO and trade time/stress for money (no shame in that) or find another industry. The idea that there are a ton of paths and promotions are available to you in corporate (outside of maybe some early stage tech companies) is laughable
Realistically if you burned out of IB you would probably do the exact same in PE
Careers are not linear. 5-10 years out of school, so few of the people who go PE are there anymore... or they're in smaller funds because they couldn't get promoted.
Find something you're good at that doesn't ruin your life or mental health - and $120k is a very solid salary as someone not far out of college. Money is not everything.
“Money isn’t everything” meanwhile you clip 300k+ annually based on your title and are likely younger than 35. Don’t sugar coat it 120k in NYC in today’s age is horrible.
Dude you need some perspective. If he makes $300K a year it’s because he’s working a shit ton of hours and traded some of the best years of his life to get to that point. Most young people in America make barely anything and live at home with their parents. You have 1 year of work experience, you’re not all that skilled of labor at this point and you’re owed nothing. Frankly in this job market, you should be glad you’re employed at all.
You are young, well paid for someone with literally 1 year of work experience (no matter what you think), and have time. Figure out what you want to do with that time that will make you feel more confident and fulfilled as a person.
Get on LinkedIn and network with other people who left IB for corporate and ask for their thoughts on their careers. Find mentors and find a new path that allows you to optimize for your strengths and the hygiene factors (sleep, stress, money, boundaries) that are needed for you to be successful and motivated in a job. The world isn’t just filled with people working in IB and PE, there are a ton of other careers out there that are more rewarding.
I’m wiling to make the sacrifices needed time and stress
.
You could probably get back into IB eventually but you're going to need to stay in your current role for at least 24 months. You can't keep moving jobs as soon as you're unhappy.
What about 12 months ? I was happy in IB just didn’t know how to handle it
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