Could leaving my first FT job 6 months in have lasting consequences on my career?
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Nope. If you do it multiple times maybe. But 5 years down the road there's a good chance this job won't even be on your resume.
So, by highlighting the two above quotes, I can tell you have a lot going on. First, to be frank, your experience isn't all that weird/crazy, analyzing models others built is a function/task at large firms, and really first jobs are rarely good/sexy. I'll be blunt, I think your expectations are probably too high for this job, quitting is hyper dangerous at this stage. On a pure career advice standpoint, I would recommend fighting onward. The alternative is literally hitting resent in "level 1" of this game, and the chance you get as good a placement are much lower than before. Can you get a new job?? OF COURSE, and really the negative impact will be only this search (assuming you stay at next gig a reasonable amount of time).
As a fair warning, I've know a few people who quit jobs a big places early on (like less than 6 months), NONE of them are working any where near the type of firm they started at. This is not to say they are career failures, far from it, they just at third tier, semi-institutional type firms or local brokerage. Can the reverse happen? Sure, nothing is impossible. If you quit now, the chances are very low you get back to something likes based on my observational experience. Then again, you may not really want to work at a "top 50 REPE" firm, and may be much much happier at a smaller/regional firm, there is nothing wrong with that! I would still aim for at least the 1 year mark is possible (or at least don't quit until the next gig is secured..... best strategy of course).
Now, on to that second point.... My gut says the being away from family/home town is really like 90% of the issue, and the other stuff is just a way to justify quitting and moving back. Total amateur psychologist take on it, and could be wrong! This is natural/normal, and honestly, may be a very good reason to quit and return home. BUT, I will warn you, this could be a short-term pain induced decision that leads to some serious long-term regret. Be careful, take your time, and consider how you may feel about this 5 and 10 years from now!
Given COVID, maybe you can work remote from home some of the time. This is not career optimal, and the travel expenses will be yours, but family is family (not sure how serious the issue is you refer to). I would personally stick it out, but I am probably a true "career-ist" of sorts who takes the pain and punishment, not saying that is right, just my personal decision. Maybe network with some firms/connections in the hometown, if a good opportunity pops up.... take it! Still, be long-term strategic on this one, too easy to make a quick decision you may regret later.
So..I’ll have to respectfully give a counter point to Redever. I left my first job after 6 months. It was with a top brokerage (CBRE/CW/JLL/Newmark). It wasn’t for me and once I knew that, I decided to leave. I than transitioned on and used graduate school to do so. I landed at an institution and excelled there. Stayed for a chunk of time where I then moved on to a PE firm. Unfortunately that job didn’t work out and I was there for less than 6 months. However, I landed again at a top developer in my city. In my opinion, your career is a winding path and you don’t exactly know where it’s going to take you. But you’re only down and out if you believe you’re down and out. You can leave and get right back up again. It all comes down to how you tell your story and if people accept it. If you can find a way to tell your story and you’re leaving after 6 months to move home, people will get that and you’ll find the right spot for you.
I don't disagree that you can totally jump and swap as so needed, but is risky nonetheless. That said, if you are willing to go to graduate school you are making a major leap far and beyond the last job, so I kinda feel that proves my point even more!
Still, the winding road of a career is totally accurate, why so much stress discussed on WSO is totally not worth worrying about!
I think you're jumping the gun a bit too soon. I'd wait until you've got at least 1 year before jumping ship, by then you'll have had a decent amount of experience to really judge if this particular role is right for you. I can understand the need to be near due to certain circumstances, but think realistically on this. Is this a long-term concern with family, or is it likely temporary? It's a tough situation because distance really prevents you from being there as much as you'd like, and you'll have to think if you are nearby can you actually be helpful to make that circumstance "better". If there's a pressing need explain it to your boss and see what can be done in terms of working remotely out there for a little bit, or being able to take time off for it.
In this day and age, you don't really get branded as a "job hopper" unless you make a habit out of it. If you work somewhere for 6 months and follow that up by working somewhere else for 5 years, no one is going to care about the 6 month stint. It will definitely come up as you start job hunting, but "I want to be closer to home to support my family" is as good of a reason as it gets in my opinion.
All that said, far too many people getting into this industry idealize "modeling" because it's one of the few things you can focus on as a young person, but I can't explain how little it ultimately matters in the long run. I haven't built a model in 5 years and I couldn't imagine ever wanting to. Even filling one out feels like a waste of time that I'd rather have an intern do. Estimating exit values with estimated inputs just doesn't matter as much as everyone online acts like it does.
Welcome back! Haven't seen you around in awhile
Thanks, man. A bit too busy, a bit jaded, and a bit disinterested these days, but WSO will always be a part of me. Hope everyone here in the RE forum is doing well.
What department are you in? Doesn't sound like acquisitions, but more like you are auditing acquisitions assumptions and what not.
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