Starting IB in mid-20s

Hi gang. Given the Covid stuff going on just thought I'd ask a question sitting on my mind. I'm currently finishing my masters in finance at top uk uni, and was meant to be having my first IB internship this summer with at MM. The thing is that I am turning 24 this September and will be ~25 by the start date of my analyst stint (assuming my internship isn't cancelled which is another fear, or that I can convert yadda yadda). Is this normal at all in the UK? I'm just concerned that I'll be surrounded by 21yo and wonder wtf I am doing or whether this matters at all and corona isolation is getting to me.

Like fuck I'm going to be 24 after the summer with no job in the middle of the worst recession in a century. I thought I'd have my life together by this point.

TLDR: going to be 25 by possible IB start date, thoughts?

 
Most Helpful

You're not that old - its all good.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Cheers bro. Figured that I'm bitching out a little but its been a month in this box apartment and I think I'm going slightly mad.

 

The longer your career, the less these small age differences matter. A lot of people get stuck at certain promotion levels, move to less demanding (many times less prestigious) jobs, or change industries entirely. That difference of starting at 25 instead of 23 or whatever won’t matter. Would you be disappointed if someone reached MD at 37 instead of 35? I’m throwing out random numbers here but it goes to show that small difference won’t matter. And who knows, maybe your maturity can give you an edge. Always ways to spin things to be positive.

“The three most harmful addictions are heroin, carbohydrates, and a monthly salary.” - Nassim Taleb
 

Thanks man, that's a great way of looking at it. I guess things just seem a little crazy at the beginning, with who is at what bank and who has what internship etc. I normally don't care for prestige or peer pressure, more would rather just fit in at my bank (and then stand out for the right reasons).

 

Bookmarked this. Its 25 or never so there really only is one choice. Thanks.

 

its especially common in the UK. some europeans have 4 year bachelor degrees with 2 year masters programmes and some have mandatory military service etc. I seen some career switchers from law to analyst class that were early 30s. It is so inconsequential.

 

It is extremely common in the UK where you have French, Germans, and people from the Nordics to start as analysts when they are 23-25. Kids in France have to do high school, then prepas (2 years) to get into a Grande Ecole uni, and then a 5 year degree. So I wouldn't worry about it at all.

 
Pan European Monkey:
Had a person that was 27 or 28 (can't remember) in my analyst class.

I wouldn't worry about it unless you feel bad if a 23 years old associate corrects your work.

Making associate at 23 seems rare - means graduating college at 20 basically and doing 2 years as analyst with a 3rd year as analyst and straight promotion to associate without B school.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

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