26 years old, too old to be an analyst?
So I graduated from a master in RE last December and started working as an analyst. I am 26 years old going to be 27 this year. I realized I am pretty old as being an analyst.
I studied in engineering and worked in different industry before I moved to RE and I wasted 2-3 years of my life.
People I knew or in my firm are probably 2 to 3 years older than me but already a senior analyst, or associate director or even director.
Any suggestions on how to avoid this "age anxiety" at work?
There's a lot of people starting out much older than you in cre.
I'm 32 and was an analyst at my first job out of my MBA. I worked with another analyst who was 22 and fresh out of undergrad. It's only weird if you make it weird. My superiors at the VP-level were my age or a couple of years older...no big deal. Check your ego at the door and do what you need to do.
thanks! really appreciate your reply! i think yeah its just my ego problem
Nope, a lot of 30 plus year old analysts out there.
My buddy is 30 who just a job as an acquisitions analyst. Doesn't seem weird to me.
Cut the mentality of "I wasted 2/3 years of my life." That's absurd. Everyone is on their own path. Go own yours.
27 year-old analyst checking in! Life is a marathon, not a race. Repeating another person from above, go at your own pace!
I can agree with every person above.
I'm currently 28 and finally was able to network myself into CRE last November. Earlier this week I met with a developer well known locally and he told me that he hasn't been to work for a long time (when he worked in a different industry). He's about 70 and told me that if you do what you love and wake up everyday excited to see what CRE brings your way, you can "work" forever. Moral of the story, being 26 and an analyst is not a big deal because there is so much potential. Be a sponge, soak up as much information as possible and network your ass off.
Hope this helps!
Well, I mean, the bigger moral is if she loves it. If she doesn't she'll burn out or be complacent.
Nah you good B.
As one of my managers used to tell me, "just because you are an associate, doesn't mean that you have to get paid like an associate." It doesn't matter what they call you, it matters what they pay you.
I generally agree with the thoughts above, with one caveat.
The bank might prefer to hire younger analysts because of the notion they'll "work for cheaper". So, make you better be willing to take a low(ER) salary and check the ego at the door, or else the younger guy takes the job.
I'm fresh out of b school, 29, and am a Senior Analyst. Instead of focusing on your title, worry about doing the best job you can. Look at the situation from this lens: you need to outwork your peers and play catch up if you will just to reach the level they did earlier than you. Now apply that work ethic for the duration of your entire career and special things will happen; your title will not dictate what you make of your life nor will it hold you back from being the person you ultimately want to become in the industry.
Don't let your ego get ahead of your career goals.
Get stuff done and make it rain, my friend.
Besides what everyone here has already iterated, I advise you to look at the big picture. Based on what you wrote, you moved from a job/industry that you presumably didn't enjoy and broke into an industry that is extremely competitive without any prior relevant experience. That alone is an accomplishment that many people do not obtain in their lifetime. Now that you have broken in, show your superiors that it was worth hiring you so start doing your job and stop thinking about the past and what others think of you.
Rather be a few years older than the subjective "average" of your position than stuck at a dead-end job, working for a company that couldn't care less of you. It's all about perspective. Best of luck!
no.
I recently networked with an analyst from Rothschild who is actually 26 years old. He told me how he "wasted" 2-3 years of his life. I think as long as you show that you are serious about the job, willing and able to perform, as well as never being in any major senior roles (meaning you will work for cheap), that's really all that matters.
I was an analyst/sr. analyst from 22 to 27 in RE.
Think of it this way..
Prime of career is ~35y/o
Figure 3 years or so of being Analyst then that brings you to 29 starting as a Senior Analyst/Associate. I have no idea the usual experience level to get to VP (I'll consider VP a good benchmark for "prime" of career) but let's say 5-7 years and you're right on track.
In conclusion.. no 26 is not too old at all.
Know a guy who went to Princeton for financial engineering, and just couldn't make a break, did odd jobs here and there for 7 years. Then got accepted to Harvard for an MBA, and at age 32 finally got his first real gig, as an Associate. He's 38 now, and an Executive Director when most guys his age are already years at the MD level.
I found that it's not uncommon to see "older" people in junior roles. Everybody's circumstances are different, and no one's gonna see you as inadequate based on that. I got my very first "real" job at 26-27, but found that the life experience I got in the "wasted" years really gave me an easier outlook on the job, as well as looseness and confidence in handling my managers.
Bottom line: relax, beat it into your head that nobody's judging you, and your age gap does not make you less than anyone. Simply, everybody has a different story. Identify the strengths your "older" age gave you that the "kids" lack at the moment, and focus on constantly upleveling yourself.
Offer from MD (BB) Intern in IB - I'm 26 y.o. isn't it too late for me???? (Originally Posted: 02/01/2013)
Hi Guys,
I'm completely new at WSO, so I’ll be grateful for not throwing any monkey shit on me, but like in the Devil’s Advocate, you got free will to do whatever you want to. Thus, my problem is as follows:
I’m now 25 y.o. I will turn 26 in June and I live in Continental Europe (DACH Region). I graduated (June 2012) a year later than my peers, because of the problems with my health. I got my master’s degree – Finance and Banking from a non-target university with 3.8 GPA and additional non-degree 1 year program in corporate finance from a target university – No 1 in DACH. Since February 2012, I’m trying to get into one of the BB’s through one of the MD’s that I know. I’ve send him couples of emails and spoke with him several times. I wanted to get into an IB in NY or London, but I was offered with an internship in Local office – Frankfurt, because I did not meet the application deadlines. I‘ve had 2 additional phone interviews from London, one with an Associate who was German and the other one with an Associate who was British. The interviews took place in September. Since then, I contacted the MD twice with the question, whether I’m still in the game. He answered that I have to wait till summer and that I will have an off-cycle internship for 3-6 months, because he waits for the final approval. He also wrote, that he can’t promise me, that I will have a full-time offer on my desk after completing the internship.
I’ve got a pretty big dilemma… Should I wait till June and work for a small investment boutique as an 1y Analyst (full time offer) and after a call from MD quit the job and try this off-cycle opportunity? This boutique is not the place in which I would like to work permanently, because the firm isn’t “the best place” and its focusing on some deals between €10 MM – 25MM. I’ve heard some negative opinions about them…
I’ll be pleased to hear any advice from you, because as you can see I’m pretty old like for a 1y Analyst - I’ve got a friend who’s working as an Associate in BB at my age ;/ Not to mention, that average age on MBA is 26 something, I’m pretty mad about myself. I wanted to enter some MBA program in US at maximum 27/28 y.o. and if everything is going to be the same, I think I can cross out the MBA from my plans.
To sum up, I’m concerned what will happen after the internship. I know I will have some nice brand in my resume, but I don’t won’t to be unemployed at 26 in January. I’m going through some harsh times right one with a job. I thought, that the whole thing would go a lot faster and I’d be able to start a lot sooner, than in June this year. Last year, I took one internship in MM investment boutique (2 months), one corporate finance firm (1 month) and additional (1 month) internship in other MM investment boutique. After completing the last internship in September I wasn’t looking for anything, because I thought that in a matter of 2 months I would start this job as an Intern. I fell, like I’ve lost almost a half year right now. I wasn’t applying for a job anywhere, almost every friend of mine is working somewhere right now and I feel like a moron sitting at home since September. Time’s passing by and I don’t think that almost a one year gap would look good in my resume.
Regards, DD
Take the full time offer and get over your BB obsession. You are in no position to bitch about deal size - you don't have a job and don't have any full time banking experience.
26 is pretty old. I've only ever heard of byu kids sneaking in that late
How about army guys? Wouldn't they also be about the same age?
Take the full-time offer, and don't worry about the internship. Life is not always about the end result, but how you live it. Right now, you're just focused too much on the end result. Get the Analyst job and try to introduce some stability in your life. My two cents.
26 might be old for Americans. But I think in Europe it's not such a bad thing. In this economy take the FT offer, accumulate new contacts and keep exploring other opportunities.
26 isn't too old for continental Europe. Lots of people start their stint at about 25 or so, so don't worry about your age. However, just take the boutique offer or try to get an offer at another boutique, any job is better than no job imo.
Age should pretty much be a none-issue. Nobody will know your age anyway unless you either: tell them yourself, or they study your resume. After you get the offer, nobody is looking at your resume, so, it is really up to you whether or not anyone will know how old you are. Don't sweat it and take the offer.
You're perfectly fine age-wise. PM me for eine deutsche Perspektive.
I would, like everyone else here, take the full time offer.
Know a guy who broke in at 28. You're fine
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