What are your community's perceptions on finance?
Hey all, wondering what your non-finance friends and family think about what you do for a living?
I'm an intern this summer at a BB/EB and will likely be returning FT (contingent that I get an offer at the end). Both of my parents work in engineering roles at FAANG as do most of my relatives, and it feels a little like they look down on my career path. My mom doesn't understand why I'd choose to work such long hours and get paid so little (relative to FAANG i guess) when I could be a SWE at a tech shop earning more per hour and living a much better lifestyle. I also go to school at Berkeley, where half our school population goes into CS. Most of my friends and family have no idea what my firm is and how difficult it was to get an offer, which does make me make me a little frustrated and wary of going down finance long-term. Thoughts?
If you're doing it to impress your friends and family, then that sucks. If you're doing it cuz you like it and/or you like the money (no shame, it's a major factor for most people), then it shouldn't really matter. If all you want is to flex on your college friends when you add your position to linkedin, then I think you need to grow up. However, I'd bet than a huge portion of finance guys (and FAANG, for that matter) do it in large part for the flex/prestige, so you're definitely not alone if that's how you're thinking right now.
Alternatively, you could just come to WSO and soak up the envy and respect from all the prospects who would gladly take your offer, if that's easier
Can confirm, I will gladly die for ib
I also go to Berkeley. I guess ppl view those into consulting/ finance to be sleazy. You know how the reputation of Haas is that it's filled with snakes. Even back home, people view my goals as selfish and greedy, but idgaf about what others think. If you live your life to the expectations of others then you will never be satisfied and be filled with regret. You will always have people talking behind your back no matter what.
The Number 2 PM for a billion dollar quant equity fund. Couldn't tell his family what he did. Yeah, it was a pain. As the lead research analyst it was even worse.
I think the issue here isn't as much about the public's perception of finance is it is about the people around you blowing off how hard you worked. If I took my offer home to my parents and had them question why I would ever do that to myself, I'd be pretty crushed. I'm sure people older and wiser than us can vouch for the value of following your own path over attempting to please your parents, for what it's worth.
To answer the other question: the people around me don't quite know what I do, (I don't blame them, I'm still figuring it out, and I'm sure I will be for quite some time) but they respect that I put a lot into it and are happy that I'm happy, and that's all really all I can ask for.
I don't know, and I don't care. if they ask me how I'm doing, I'm vague but honest.
early in your career you will have all sorts of questions like this as you try to find your place in the world. maybe finance isn't everything for you, maybe it is. I would argue that you will be incredibly unffulfilled if you stop chasing this dream to pursue a software route, even if you don't stay in finance forever.
if you want their input, ask. if they just want to tell you their opinion unsolicited, they're entitled to do that, just like you're entitled to ignore what they say and do your own thing.
just because people disagree with your life choices doesn't mean you're wrong or that they're wrong.
Interning at an EB right now.
Perception from peers at school is that I'm a sell-out, but I'd argue most people that aren't in Finance don't really know what the job entails.
A girl unironically asked me if I knew that "investment bankers are evil and steal from the middle class" before I took the job.
You should've asked her back, "Did you know if bankers didn't exist, you wouldn't be able to buy your precious Lulu-lemons and pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks?"
This is 10x more cringe than what that girl said
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