1st year analyst - how to prepare for 1st year end review this year?

1st Year Analyst (started in June) after UG

How should I prepare for the year end review that will happen in December?

It goes without saying, obviously I’ll keep doing what I’m doing, working hard, learning, and improving my skill set.

I understand it’s several weeks out, but on that day I don’t want to be caught off guard.

Is there any preparation you’d suggest? I think it’s a great time to have one on one time with the boss and the door will be open to conversation.

Is that when I should expect my raise? I’ve only been on the job a few months now. Originally, I had assumed my raise would come one month after hire but given the nature of the firm - there isn’t a recruiting class, I am starting to think that the raise will come this December. Originally I had in mind at least $10,000 next summer. Is that something that’s reasonable this December?

28 Comments
 

If your raise comes this December, as some sort of company-wide event, $10k is a bit much to ask for after 6-7 months. For your first year almost, you're probably costing the company money - doing things slowly or inefficiently, learning, etc. They take that hit because once you're trained up and comfortable, you'll be making them money. It's doubtful that in 6-7 months you've cleared that hurdle. That said, feel free to ask for it - no way to know if you don't.

Go in with intelligent questions and ask for specifics. "Keep doing what you're doing, work hard, learn, and improve your skill set" is worthless feedback.

  • What am I doing well?
  • What is one thing I need to work on in order to get better?
  • How do I best address that area of improvement?

etc.

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

Hi CRE, I also have the same question/concern as the poster, RERobert. Please see my other related post at: https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/commercial-real-estate-capital-m…

I will be at the company for exactly 1 year in January 2019, when the comp calls happen. I came out of Ivy League (UG), and worked in corporate real estate ops for 1.5 year and then this current job for about 1 year. What do you think in my case to expect my bonus, my base raise for next year? If you could give ranges for the base raise, bonus, as well as how to negotiate/argue realistically/reasonably, that would be great!

And thank you in advance.

DX
 

Lol, it's a boutique firm. Firm wide, we have 50 folks across all functions. In Capital Markets, I'm the only Analyst, and then an Associate, he's here for 4 years. Not comparable to those Analyst in underwriting/Investor Relations.

I mentioned Ivy UG only to throw in more info in the hope of getting more precise data point or range of compensation for a position like mine (more details see my other post - see the link above). Thanks bd.charlus and anyone else who may throw in your two cents here.

DX
 

Maybe re-examine the value you add to the group and where this is relative to what a reasonable person might have assumed when they hired you. Head’s up - if you were a real steal based on your education/experience, they would’ve given you visibility to what a raise would look like this year.

Said another way, you exclusively listed stats that your hiring manager would have known when they hired you. That is all totally irrelevant to what you should get paid (which is a function of the value you add and your marketability to competitors).

Life's is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
 

My biggest advice would be to prepare mentally. Especially in my first few reviews, it was difficult hearing constructive feedback sometimes (I'm very type A). Even if it was 90% positive and then 10% about a few weaknesses, I would get a little defensive. Realize that when people say you need to work on (big picture thinking, modeling, formatting, etc.) it doesn't mean you suck at it, it just means you are stronger in other categories.

Stay humble accept the feedback and really try to gauge how you are perceived. To be honest it'll be another 1-3 years before you can really start making demands in terms of pay raises, promotions, etc.

 

This is actually outstanding advice. Keep in mind that whoever is tasked with doing your review is more than likely being given the opportunity to show they can manage people. This means they have every incentive to improve on any of your weaknesses and ignore your strengths.

BTW, they will be right about your weaknesses 9 times out of 10, so my point is not to ignore them. It's to recognize this as an opportunity to improve, not a crisis to be rectified.

Life's is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
 

Qui sit neque suscipit odit id veniam. Magnam ratione est illo illo id. Aliquid et nesciunt distinctio minima. Sint exercitationem quas et est voluptas hic. Aut nam officiis omnis quaerat. Voluptates sint maiores magni. Sequi est et nihil voluptas magnam dolore maxime.

Optio velit aut velit sit et eos sed. Quia adipisci labore ipsam minus. Nostrum provident recusandae voluptatibus sit illo error.

Minus et exercitationem qui. Distinctio sit aut rem illo. Animi magni eaque atque officia voluptas dicta.

Reprehenderit sequi sed dolor maxime similique et voluptas autem. Accusantium voluptates tenetur eum at ea iusto. Nobis dolor rerum delectus ea dicta. Fugit qui iusto repellendus voluptatem dolor voluptas est. Delectus rerum est explicabo. A nobis dignissimos eos ab repellat et. Numquam fugit et ad aliquid vero non sit impedit.

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 (66) $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

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...”