How/ When do I get back into IBD?

I joined a BB as an analyst in IBD in Europe right after undergraduate two years ago. However the workload and sleep deprivation really got to my health, so I decided to quit last November.

I then had a really hard time just to get interviews even with the smaller shops this spring. After a frustrating job search I joined the Restructuring team of one of the Big4.

After a couple of weeks into the job, I already realize that working at a Big4 will just not do it for me. The learning curve is flat and the culture is outright painful just to name a few negatives.

As I see it, I have basically two options:

1) Stick it out a couple of years with the Big4, make the best of it, take the CFA exam and then get an MBA and hope it's a new ballgame for the IBs
2) Try to get another job soon with a boutique (who are looking again) which would probably make me happier but also mess up any consistency in my CV.

Your thoughts and especially other suggestions are much appreciated!
Thank you very much

 

I disagree - As an analyst in the western world, with many friends who are analysts in the western world, I can tell you that most analysts are still logging long hours. Everyone isn't working 100 hour weeks but it is still no 60 hour cakewalk. When there aren't life deals to close, it just means more pitching and more stupid work. Senior bankers will make use of the resources they have.

If you hated banking the first time, I don't understand why you would do it again. Unless your group was especially awful, banking has not gotten any better since you left.

 

Well, there ya go. I think Wall Street could make good use of the book "The 4-hour Work Week". But it's unlikely that things will change--my company is a giant bureaucracy that refuses new ideas, so I guess it shouldn't surprise me that analysts are still pulling 70-80 hours when there is very little deal flow.

Array
 

It's actually not like I didn't like what I was doing from day to day, but I believe there is a threshold where the workload just becomes too ridicolous.

When I compare my hours back then with those of friends at other banks, there are definitely differences between the BB where I worked and mid market banks/ boutiques who actually get the weekends off most of the time and don't work until 3/4 a.m. everyday. Maybe this is different in Europe and the US but I know a lot of people who work at smaller places and still have a life which was just not possible at the group I was in.

 
fladb:
It's actually not like I didn't like what I was doing from day to day, but I believe there is a threshold where the workload just becomes too ridicolous.

When I compare my hours back then with those of friends at other banks, there are definitely differences between the BB where I worked and mid market banks/ boutiques who actually get the weekends off most of the time and don't work until 3/4 a.m. everyday. Maybe this is different in Europe and the US but I know a lot of people who work at smaller places and still have a life which was just not possible at the group I was in.

I'm still very skeptical. I can't imagine your whole BB/division/group disbanded because they couldn't handle the hours. Just not plausible. No shame in it, its a hard lifestyle and its not for most people.

 
Best Response

Vero consequuntur aliquid quibusdam voluptas quibusdam debitis voluptas accusantium. Ut quasi debitis quod molestiae voluptas. Dicta vel ut similique cum.

Sunt provident rerum quo quo omnis id sunt eum. Numquam officia magnam libero repellendus consectetur at. Nihil iure dolores quam dolorum. Libero fuga ea cumque officia perferendis.

Et sint quisquam ut quasi exercitationem velit laborum. Rerum similique et perferendis maxime illo quam ut blanditiis. Qui est laudantium est voluptas recusandae culpa.

Rerum et recusandae nesciunt non ipsa ipsam. Et voluptatem omnis accusamus eius molestiae id. Odio velit neque magnam qui reiciendis ipsa quis. Non est ut deserunt excepturi et. Aut assumenda nam ut.

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 04 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (20) $385
  • Associates (89) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (67) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”