Hey folks I’m a 1st yr analyst at a bottom tier BB in APAC. Just for a bit of background I’m a US citizen who also spent a significant amount of time in China and went to a top semi-target in the States. Ive been a bit lost lately as to what to do with life after banking.
Obviously, as most would agree, banking is not a job for the long term for most, and given my family background (net worth a couple dozen mm USD), remaining in IB and making several hundred k a year doesn’t really seem to be worth all the 80-hr workweeks anyway....
Now although my lower BB doesn’t get very good deal flow, historical exits into MF or top tier regional funds have been more or less the norm. But buy side exit in APAC (esp. China/HK) isn’t as attractive as it is in the States either, due to the lack of buyout deals and lower comps in general.
So currently I’m considering two options: 1) going back to school after a year or two in banking (maybe MBA or another less academic program) or 2) help out with my parents biz (they're not exactly industrialists, mostly invest and co-invest through “guanxi”) before their friends in the gov’t retire in another 5 years.
I’ve considered other options too, like entrepreneurship etc. but I’m not exactly a technical person either. So any advise / enlightenment from personal experience would be appreciated. You’re welcome to roast me to if you’d like.
sell everything and become a bartender in tokyo under a false name
Maybe go work Uighur Muslim concentration camps. Your parents have Chinese political connections so they could definitely help you land the job. If you put in a couple years oppressing religious minorities, you can eventually make it to Hong Kong and beat the shit out of protestors, which is extremely rewarding work.
From there, you’ve got the keys to the kingdom. Maybe move into the prison system and torture people until they admit to crimes they didn’t do? The opportunities are endless
Gotta love that classic knee-jerk "but he's a commie" reaction
Why is this shit answer getting so many SBs...have you ever been to China, or you just believe everything you read from newspapers and magazines? The newspapers/magazines are credible because they have a reputation? Oh, guess what, D Trump has a reputation too...do you believe the things he say? lol.
reveal yourself instead of hiding under an anonymous name.
Found the china boi. Yes, I’ve been to China. I loved visiting HK but it doesn’t change the facts surrounding the protests, Uighur Muslims and other political prisoners. You’re using Trumps tactic as well... claiming fake news. Look in the mirror
Extremely stereotypical and lame answer coming up.
Go travel. Go to random places where you don't know anyone or anything (ie. Not partying up in 5 star joints in Berlin, but going to like Gambia, or something). Wander, see, hear, feel, eat, party, whatever. Don't do it 5 star style either. Talk to people. Volunteer for a few months. See the struggles of others. Make new friends. etc etc etc.
You mention your parents are well connected (I'm guessing in China). I will leave politics aside, but you may find it worth your while to explore and see what others say/see/feel etc. You won't get straight answers in China, but you may in places like Flushing, parts of Africa, or in Turkey or other places with large communities of people who, are, erm (how to put this nicely) in direct contrast to the current regime in Beijing. You may not have to agree with them, but listening (be sure to have a cover story and play American) may open up a world of different thinking, ideas and bring about empathy for others (this is a very general point). In general, people are friendly when you are friendly to them and are open to listening to whatever they have to say. The randomest people will open up and its a fantastic learning experience.
This may give you more perspective in general. It may make you a smarter, more driven, more empathetic, more focused person if you work at it. Why? Because you will have time to explore.
You are not going to get that in Asian finance where a lot of people are of your same background and only really care about themselves, partying, or making more money whichever way possible and trading off their family names etc (I am not saying you do this by any means), and will do lord knows what in order to make an extra dime.
This board is not the place to ask such questions (and I don't mean that in a derogatory way). Only you will find out the answer of what's best for you and that will mean doing something different and facing discomfort and self reflection and questioning.
Good Luck
Hey man thanks for your answer and for not trolling. I wholeheartedly agree with what you said about going out into the real world and see more. TBH I have had my fair share of travels to the far reaches of the world as I've been to quite a few countries in Latin America and parts of the Mid-East / Africa (granted they're usually the more touristy parts, and I did end up taking the easy 5-star routes).
The thing is, I realize that the world is a fucked up place and there are so many problems with it, and I genuinely want to make others' lives easier and do something more meaningful than reformatting ppts for 80 hrs a week. The question is how and if there's anything I'm good at that could be put to use towards furthering those goals.
You answered your own question, then. An idea may be to go back to the same places and not do them five star and not to have a touristy agenda.
Go join local clubs, gyms, hopefully non-expat groups. Volunteer. See what makes you happy. Like in many things it’s about trial and error. You have a better chance of the answer coming to you this way rather than asking here.
You can also go to your parents hometown and try different things there. Things you would never dream of doing that helps people out. Seriously. Being a regular at a soup kitchen and helping out is adding value. Tutoring poor kids is adding value. Etc etc. you will see problems in a more in depth light and perhaps try to think of solutions or things that you can do to help out or something you find more fulfilling than, say, ppts.
Good Luck
Ps it takes time to be good at most things. So patience is the key.
It would also be possible to do this in a more structured manner - i.e. join the peace corps
Question for those who left IB after working those long hours after leaving did you notice all the hours in a day? Like did the day seem longer or was it more beneficial for you?
SHAVE YOUR HEAD and become a BUDDHIST MONK
You seem to be pushing this Buddhist Monk career path a lot Lloyd, please take your meds
This time it kinda fits though
Bottom tier IB in APAC to MF? Lol...
PE in APAC is a whole different beast than it is in the states...
Different in what ways?
Do a 10 day Vipassana silent retreat. Ask yourself deep down what you want. Think in-depth about it. What did you want to be when you were a 5 year old? Go do it! Go back to basics. Drop the pen. Think. Then do.
Tempora voluptatem voluptatem ea sint aliquid dolor odio velit. Temporibus delectus et consequatur quasi libero quisquam maiores. Sit in a porro est ratione. Repudiandae eius eveniet eligendi sequi accusantium placeat sed hic. Ea quibusdam ipsa soluta iusto velit. Autem nisi nihil vel fugiat.
Reiciendis delectus est repellendus minus incidunt provident distinctio numquam. Qui aut repudiandae aut cum. Fuga libero amet cum et perferendis dignissimos. Repudiandae in amet rerum culpa.
Adipisci qui et eveniet dicta eum non. Molestias ea nam omnis itaque expedita quidem molestiae. Libero sit est quisquam quia esse ea. Autem repellat dolores repudiandae id suscipit. Inventore rerum sunt libero vitae est id ut. Voluptatem voluptas tempore distinctio eaque qui totam.
Molestias porro adipisci quia voluptatum. Aperiam optio et incidunt blanditiis incidunt voluptatibus voluptatem. Blanditiis sequi dolores est nihil quas impedit. Sed eum ut suscipit accusantium laboriosam nostrum. Porro et neque placeat accusantium quia placeat qui reprehenderit. Consequatur deleniti distinctio non deleniti libero soluta.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...