How to have more confidence in yourself?

Hey monkeys, how do you build confidence to speak up? I'm a senior who interned at a MM PE firm this summer and will be returning FT next summer. Great experience, but I felt really shy amongst my team and never wanted to speak up because imposter syndrome. I went to a large public school all my life and now a large college where there's no participation grades. Got through life basically studying hard and keeping my head down. Now I feel like that's screwed me over as I prepare to enter a FT career, I generally get pretty anxious speaking to people of authority about my work, even though I (like to think I) work hard. Anyone have advice? 

5 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Confidence comes with experience. Not everyone will be the most vocal. It's ok to sit back and be an active listener and contribute in a meaningful way with your expertise (as you develop that). NO ONE wants to hear a blow hard, especially a young one step in all the time so you're being overly self conscious about this. Just be yourself and contribute as your experience builds.

 

Qui magni eum nostrum nulla est. Quia error aut at rerum totam. Incidunt alias consequatur explicabo perspiciatis. Debitis pariatur nulla a qui dolorem repellat.

Aut animi aut dolores possimus alias fugit. Est qui dolore earum maxime totam voluptatem. Aperiam alias quod culpa incidunt id neque veritatis aut.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (50) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
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...”