What are some cool hobbies/things to do after work?

I just graduated this past May and work at a buyside job where I'm out of the office by 7 or so at the latest. I often stick around and try to learn on my own as well, but there usually isn't a need for me to be in the office too late.

I already have a full workout regime that takes up about an hour out of my day, but I find myself coming home around 8 and just wasting time until I sleep at midnight or so. I have a few friends around but I want to find other things to do

What other cool stuff can I do in a big non-NYC finance city? I'm looking into playing intramurals, studying for the GMAT, etc. What else can I do?

292 Comments
 

Frankly, figure out what you need to do to get up the curve to a better buyside job. I realize this is flamebait, but if you're just graduated and getting home by 7pm (and aren't on the west coast, where you get in at ~5am), with no real other draws on your time, why not spend your early-mid 20s putting your career on a higher trajectory?

CFA, maybe, GMAT, something you should probably do just to have the option value - otherwise, do more learning on your own, different sectors / names / etc.

 

A. Career enhancement: CFA, GMAT, independent research, etc.

B. Do something important (that will coincidentally help with MBA admit if you need it): join a non-profit, become a mentor, work on planning a startup, etc.

C. Get a girlfriend. Note: only do this if you don't plan on doing anything else with your spare time.

D. Get some girlfriends. Note: this is ideal if you'd like to vary your experiences.

in it 2 win it
 

@DaCarez: Yeah thats what I was planning on doing. I'm writing the CFA L2 next July but I want to fill the next 3-4 months with something. I'm probably going to the write the GMAT before Christmas.As for learning to do on my own, I'll probably go and read some textbooks about my field or something.

@Kassad: B) is the kind of stuff I was hoping to get out of this thread, are there any good mentorship programs or non-profits to look into, or are they all very local?

 

relationship?

possibly w/ another pokemon not at the daycare - daycare center pokemon just wanna breed whether u r same sex or not -_- it sucks.

"so i herd u liek mudkipz" - sum kid "I'd watergun the **** outta that." - Kassad
 
drstrangelove

@DaCarez: Yeah thats what I was planning on doing. I'm writing the CFA L2 next July but I want to fill the next 3-4 months with something. I'm probably going to the write the GMAT before Christmas.As for learning to do on my own, I'll probably go and read some textbooks about my field or something.

@Kassad: B) is the kind of stuff I was hoping to get out of this thread, are there any good mentorship programs or non-profits to look into, or are they all very local?

I dunno dude, you don't want to have too much fun your head might explode.

My drinkin' problem left today, she packed up all her bags and walked away.
 

Yeah, I expected more interest in how to pursue option D.

@Doc: this one is really up to you. If you follow anybody's suggestions, you'll wind up doing some weird shit you don't really care about. I recommend giving yourself some time and eventually you'll think of something.

in it 2 win it
 

i almost spit out my water @ work LOL n1 Kenny

"so i herd u liek mudkipz" - sum kid "I'd watergun the **** outta that." - Kassad
 

Uhhhh, this is almost as bad as threads asking about content of networking emails. If you're looking for non profits, Google is your friend.

If you're looking for hobbies, find an Ultimate group. Sounds like sitting next to you is like a day at the dentist.

 

Exercise, learn a language, pick up a couple sports, volunteer. Some other people mentioned getting a girlfriend (like it's as easy as picking one up from the girlfriend store) - so I wouldn't focus your time on that but just keep an eye out through other activities you get involved in.

 

I have blue collar hobbies and "white collar" ones as well.

I am into sportbikes and can't wait to get a new one. I am into modifying cars and I can't wait to get another car. I sold my bike and car before I moved to NYC :(

For sports, I am into soccer, hockey, golf, and snowboarding.

And then of course I'm playing GTA V which is as blue collar as you can get by robbing cars and shooting people for money :)

Everyone in my office isn't from the states so hockey isn't a thing they know a lot about other than the New York Rangers play at the Garden so when I bring it up they always have a lot of questions. Especially when I had a new hockey stick shipped to the office.

make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier
 
Art.Vandelay Say you just got in from work, and you have a couple hours to spare before bed, but not enough time to go get drunk, what do you do?

Power drink?

Competition is a sin. -John D. Rockefeller
 
Hooked on LEAPS
Art.Vandelay Say you just got in from work, and you have a couple hours to spare before bed, but not enough time to go get drunk, what do you do?

Power drink?

butt chug - skip the liver, get there quicker
 

Golf, go during lunch twice a week during the winter at a simulator to keep fresh

Frank Sinatra - "Alcohol may be man's worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy."
 
Art.Vandelay Say you just got in from work, and you have a couple hours to spare before bed, but not enough time to go get drunk, what do you do?

Something I enjoy doing that I can do in a couple of hours.

"You stop being an asshole when it sucks to be you." -IlliniProgrammer "Your grammar made me wish I'd been aborted." -happypantsmcgee
 

I'm currently enrolled in college. As I take my classes/ lectures very seriously, I do not have a lot of free time. I go, however, for a run three times a week, at least 8 kilometers, sometimes up to 15 if I feel good. Also, I play Badminton with some of my co-students. and (even if this might sound a little boring) I love reading. good to relax. and once a week I sacrifice 20 minutes of my time to watch the big bang theory ;) (other than that I don't watch TV actually, except news and on occasion go to the movies with friends)

 
BusinessSenseCooking. Also helps to impress your dates.

Agree, wish I was better at this, but honestly they just appreciate the thought + effort. Keep the food light and the wine flowing. Burritos or lasagna while delicious are generally not going to make a girl feel DTF.

Getting the girl to your apartment is usually the hardest part of the date- this solves that problem. It is a lay up to at least hook up.

 

As I live in a shit appartment I try to do things outside. Anything from golfing, bicycle riding and running to art galleries (free drinks) and taking night classes at the local college (shit I didn't study, but would love to learn more about).

CNBC sucks "This financial crisis is worse than a divorce. I've lost all my money, but the wife is still here." - Client after getting blown up
 

Insulting consultants, laughing at non STEM majors, leaving flaming bags of shit outside Big 4 offices, brickbreaker, picking apart the formatting of restaurant menus and squash. Oh, and being a slick, impeccably dressed charmer; less of a hobby, more an osmotic consequence of working at one of the preeminent financial institutions in the world.

"After you work on Wall Street it’s a choice, would you rather work at McDonalds or on the sell-side? I would choose McDonalds over the sell-side.” - David Tepper
 
OreosInsulting consultants, laughing at non STEM majors, leaving flaming bags of shit outside Big 4 offices, brickbreaker, picking apart the formatting of restaurant menus and squash. Oh, and being a slick, impeccably dressed charmer; less of a hobby, more an osmotic consequence of working at one of the preeminent financial institutions in the world.
Soooo......when you break it down, brickbreaker and squash?
 
Oreoslaughing at non STEM majors

We're similar in some sense. I like to laugh at those STEM majors who were too stupid to discover something in their field, so they switched to finance.

''Hey everyone, look, I memorized a bunch of formulas discovered by other people. Look at how smart I am!'' - Typical STEM kid attitude.

In addition, I cannot forget those kids who got a job solely due to their old man connections, and then come on here to give advice on how to get a job, lol.

 

Work out, eat, apply for jobs and/or study, play games, cuddle with the cat, shower, sleep.

Currently: future neurologist, current psychotherapist Previously: investor relations (top consulting firm), M&A consulting (Big 4), M&A banking (MM)
 

GTL baby...gym, tan, laundry

Disclaimer for the Kids: Any forward-looking statements are solely for informational purposes and cannot be taken as investment advice. Consult your moms before deciding where to invest.
 

Gym, study for GMAT, look for better jobs, paint or practice guitar/piano during the week. Weekends, bartend and keep up to speed on small company I partly own.

Get busy living
 

walk the dogs/play with them. play ps3, go to school, do homework, spend time with the fiance, eat. play hockey, drink

Those were in no particular order and not done on a daily basis, except walk the dogs, spend time with the fiance and eat.

make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier
 
goblan

Lift, chow down, bubble bath, wreck randoms in halo 3, text slampiece, watch TV, bang out to trap music, sleep

Must be a quant.

Play the long game - give back, help out, mentor - just don't ever forget where you came from. #Bootstrapped
 
the_stig

Interesting. A lot more video gaming than I expected.

One of the best destressers.
Currently: future neurologist, current psychotherapist Previously: investor relations (top consulting firm), M&A consulting (Big 4), M&A banking (MM)
 
CaR

Work out, contemplate higher plateaus of consciousness, crack stick, etc

I believe those last two are the same thing..

This to all my hatin' folks seeing me getting guac right now..
 

Study two hours a day for CFA during work, compensate by coming in hour early/ staying an hour late. Workout on lunch break so that I can do the better part of absolutely nothing when I get off work.

Rarely will any of my posts have enough forethought/structure to be taken seriously.
 

Those taking CFA this Sat, how'd you do for the 2013 CFAI mock? I got 87% am and 92% pm and I'm quite worried about Ethics, the questions are quite tricky for me

 

Gym on most days, alternating between cardo and lifts each session. A workout each day keeps me energized. Hit bar usually wed. thur. and weekends if work my current workload allows it. Bottles are usually purchased on the week days.

I'm bi-winning. I win here, and I win there.
 

For fucks sake some of this shit is lame. I don't work but when I did I rushed home and fucking blew a MASSIVE load all over the mirror while I flex and style my hair.

Follow the shit your fellow monkeys say @shitWSOsays Life is hard, it's even harder when you're stupid - John Wayne
 
heister

For fucks sake some of this shit is lame. I don't work but when I did I rushed home and fucking blew a MASSIVE load all over the mirror while I flex and style my hair.

P Bateman style. Werd

I'm on the pursuit of happiness and I know everything that shine ain't always gonna be gold. I'll be fine once I get it
 

CFA Swollnasium Lady piece Research Would love to train for a triathlon; not enough hours in the day

I'm on the pursuit of happiness and I know everything that shine ain't always gonna be gold. I'll be fine once I get it
 

You obviously don't work for a BB if you have "after work" on your mind... In order to Ball Hard you gotta Bank Hard... And if you do get home from work with enough time to sleep.. You gotta go hit on chicks and act like you are somehow less nerdy/awkward than you were in undergrad now that you have a Business card that says "____(Bank), Analyst"

We started from the bottom now we here

You know you are still a Virgin if you give out business cards at a bar... Or lead a conversation with "I'm an Analyst at ______"

 
calikid3820

You obviously don't work for a BB if you have "after work" on your mind... In order to Ball Hard you gotta Bank Hard... And if you do get home from work with enough time to sleep.. You gotta go hit on chicks and act like you are somehow less nerdy/awkward than you were in undergrad now that you have a Business card that says "____(Bank), Analyst"

We started from the bottom now we here

You know you are still a Virgin if you give out business cards at a bar... Or lead a conversation with "I'm an Analyst at ______"

as someone who was very socially awkward and is now finally started to open up, a piece of advice i got that helped me a lot when meeting new ppl was: rather than starting a convo by asking people what they do for a living, ask where they are from. i live in NYC so there's ppl that are originally from all over the place so it makes for a much better conversation than "so what do you do for a living" and also it comes off as way less douchey esp if you are not around finance types who aren't as career-driven as you may be.

 

Tinder dates, duh.

Ace all your PE interview questions with the WSO Private Equity Prep Pack: http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/guide/private-equity-interview-prep-questions
 

apart from being hilarious thanks for wasting my time. im still confused how you think everything everyone else does is worthless and meaningless, yet you think what you are going to do in life is going to make people bow at your feet as if you were jesus...everything in this whole waste of life post is purely contradictory

Control your own destiny, or someone else will.
 

Most of mine are pretty boring as well, but one I've been starting to dabble in is glass making. By that I mean doing cool things with beer bottles.

Also interested in starting MMA of some type this summer while I'm in NYC but not sure what to do.

 
Will M

Most of mine are pretty boring as well, but one I've been starting to dabble in is glass making. By that I mean doing cool things with beer bottles.

Also interested in starting MMA of some type this summer while I'm in NYC but not sure what to do.

Yeah, you can do one cool thing to keep your drink or beer botles cool is use of custom can koozies to cover them so as to keep your drink cool. 

can cooler

 

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______________________________ Freeze those knees, my chickadees!
 

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