Hi All,
I am an analyst with a top 3 BB in CEE in the back office (finance) since February, and I dread every day coming to work. The work is extremely mundane and boring and I am not learning anything as most of the work is running macros here and there. I feel like every day my will to live/work/do anything that brings me joy is slowly deteriorating due to my severe unhappiness with my work and the fact I moved here from my (even shittier) country for this job. To add insult to injury, my last job was a year long internship at a Big 4 in M&A and I declined a full time offer from there just to get out of that country. I am applying for interesting positions left and right and of course I get dinged without even so much as a phone call, which only contributes to my mental crumbling.
Since I have a lot of free time at work (when I'm not running fucking macros) I took it on myself to learn the logic behind them and grasp the theory of my work, however, I have a feeling it's not gonna help me with what I want to do in the future (investment banking) and that it's just a waste of time, so I replaced that with studying for the CFA in order to expand my knowledge and increase my chances for a top MBA (planning to take the GMAT after the CFA in Dec). I read a lot about people getting out of situations like mine through networking, but I am not even able to do this as I am nowhere near the front office guys since they are all in hubs like London and Frankfurt.
Given the pace of my mental decline, after only 6 months in this job and I'm already so unhappy I don't know how I will be able to stay here for another year, or however long it takes, until I am able to apply for a good MBA that can land me in investment banking or by some mad luck end up in a place where I can actually network with front office people. What should I do? How do I keep going?
In addition, even in my current mental state, according to my managers, I am doing a splendid job and have been promised a fast track promotion to associate next promo cycle in February, which is kind of making me think I need to tough the mind-numbing work out in order to get the promotion and therefore have higher chances for an MBA. I am mentally dying and have nobody to talk to as I have left everything and everyone behind to get trapped in this borderline degrading job. Please offer me your advice WSO. Thank you kindly in advance.
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Thanks for your answer. I'm not doing the CFA for IB but to increase my chances for an MBA. I don't know how to network with FO as I am in a location where there is only a BO. (CEE)
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If you're going through hell, keep going.
Good luck man.
Thank you.
Though I didn't move to another country, I just moved 1500 miles myself for a job. As someone who is always thinking ahead and tends to overanalyze things, I've found that focusing on old hobbies has helped me a lot--even though sometimes it's the last thing I want to do.
I used to love to read and play golf when I was younger, but then got to college and almost stopped altogether. Since graduating, even though I still didn't feel like it before I went, would go out and play or hit the range at least once a week. Can definitely say it's made a big difference for me. Best of luck man, you got this.
Thanks a lot for the kind words. Glad to hear you managed to get in a good mental state yourself.
A summer associate at my EB worked in risk in Central Europe at a top 3 BB, became a VP, got into a top US mba and is now at my EB.
Thanks for your response.
Risk is considerably more interesting than what I am doing and I have a feeling I wouldn't be as miserable if I were in risk.
While his MBA path is reassuring, I can't stand to think about staying here doing this mind numbing job for 6 years until I become a VP. However, I do plan on applying to MBAs next year. Hope I get in and it takes me out of this hellhole. Was it a top 10 MBA or Ivy league or something else your SA went to?
MBA business schools">M7 MBA, maybe try internally transferring to a department you might like better. That should be the easiest path to more fulfillment
MBA is a good path for you. You need to get out of there. As soon as your MBA applications are out the door, put your time into preparing yourself for IB. Reach out to bankers to learn about their day-to-day jobs. Just say you're going to b-school to do IB and you're trying to figure out what kind of group because you know IB recruiting starts quick once you're at MBA. Take a modeling course like BIWS. If you show up to school with a good working knowledge of the IB role, you'll be well positioned to get something.
I don't think CFA will be much help to you. It's good for some things, but far too many people are attracted to it just because they want an official certification to signify that they've learned something. Truth is, if you've really learned things that are relevant for IB you won't need letters to prove it. It's clear enough just from talking to people who knows their stuff and who doesn't.
Thanks a lot. This is incredibly helpful.
I would be happy to hear more thoughts from the community.
obviously be mindful of your health both physical and mental. as cheesy as it sounds if your health starts to go, you won't really have anything.
in your off time or after work, find a hobby and really really stick to it. I found that in biking - helped clear my mind mentally and keep me fit physically. great social aspect too if you ride with a local cycling club et all.
good luck
Thank you for your advice.
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