It’s very difficult, basically only saw my girlfriend on the weekends and didn’t take a single real vacation my first year. A lot of senior bankers are divorced or have poor relationships with their kids and family, it’s an unfortunate reality of working in high finance and part of the reason I left.
This is by far the most in depth day in the life explanation on the internet. Coming from a high deal volume group at a BB I'm getting slight PTSD hearing it all again lol
Might make a video specifically on coffee chats, but general tips include: preparing a few good questions to ask that demonstrate you’ve done your research, arriving early, and really focusing on building a genuine connection (I.e., don’t be afraid to smile and show your personal side). Hope this helps!
This is the million dollar question...and frankly with the knowledge I have now, I wouldn't have allowed the limiting beliefs I had in college about what was possible (e.g., "I'm not smart enough to succeed in case interviews, I'm not well-spoken enough to be a consultant at BCG") to hold me back from recruiting for MBB consulting while in college. That said, I still believe starting my career in Investment Banking was worth it because it forced me to confront a lot of tough questions early on (e.g., "how much am I willing to sacrifice my personal life for career success?", or "how much do I value money vs freedom?"), and taught me to operate at a high level which continues to serve me well at BCG.
Are analyst buy side jobs in equity/fixed income funds not pursued by grads after university? It sounds like everyone wants to go into I-banking/strategy consulting/tech.
There are certainly some students who go directly into buyside roles, but it's less common because there tend to be less buyside seats right out of undergrad. A lot of these firms are smaller in size and don't have the time / resources to train a fresh grad with no experience - instead, they prefer to hire individuals who've been trained in banking or sell-side equity research for 1-2 years. I think another reason why more people go into I-banking/consulting/tech is most college students don't really know what they want to do, and so they optimize for roles that provide the most optionality. Buyside roles at equity/fixed income funds aren't perceived as having the same level of optionality.
hey matt, just saw your "consulting explains" video, it has given me lot of clarity as a uni student, thanks . just wondering who edit your videos is it you or some editor?
Hey Laveran! As of now, I do still edit all of my videos - it's time consuming but I enjoy letting my creativity come out in the editing process. Glad you like the videos!
Where there any days were you felt extremely sleepy or tired espically working late into the night ? if so do you continue working? as it may result in a lackluster performance or make alot of mistakes on the way , that will just result in more work the next day
Plenty of nights where you’re really tired but still have to work. It’s definitely not optimal for attention to detail if you’re sleep deprived, but you just have to push through (drink lots of water, use a standing desk, take breaks/powernap, etc.). If you’re too tired, you might just go to sleep and wake early to try and finish your work instead, but either way it needs to be done.
Damn, how can you build a relationship with a partner, and be a family person when you’re working till 10pm every night?
It’s very difficult, basically only saw my girlfriend on the weekends and didn’t take a single real vacation my first year. A lot of senior bankers are divorced or have poor relationships with their kids and family, it’s an unfortunate reality of working in high finance and part of the reason I left.
Currently at my first M&A internship and could relate to a lot you are saying. Great video, thank you Matt!
Thanks man! Hope you're having a good experience at your internship!
To be an investment banker is no easy job. Thanks for giving me a glimpse of a bad IB day😅
By far the best day in the life of investment banking breakdown on UA-cam I've found to date 💯
Well done sir..👍🏾
And thank you 💪🏾
Much appreciated! Stay tuned for more 🙏
Matt, thank you so much this is the most helpful and detailed vid I watched!
Hey Hamza! So glad to hear this!!
Glad i did MSc financial mathematics and now quant trader. Can work remote most days
Quant trading is the move - kudos to you
This is by far the most in depth day in the life explanation on the internet. Coming from a high deal volume group at a BB I'm getting slight PTSD hearing it all again lol
Haha my apologies for triggering your ptsd - glad you found it relatable!
good inside info, thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
“And the next day, it starts again” I’ll stick to cooperate trust sales 9-5 lol. You have to be built different to do that for years…😅
Agreed, it definitely takes a certain type of person to grind it out for years to get to the top
I’m so glad I’m a software engineer lol
You made a good choice! Investment banking is not for everyone, definitely takes a certain kind of person to succeed
can you share any tips for coffee chats? thanks
Might make a video specifically on coffee chats, but general tips include: preparing a few good questions to ask that demonstrate you’ve done your research, arriving early, and really focusing on building a genuine connection (I.e., don’t be afraid to smile and show your personal side). Hope this helps!
As a lawyer in finance, I hate your guys’ spreadsheets😂
Haha I’m sorry for all the pain our diligence trackers have caused to you lawyers 😂
Do you need to be registered as a lawyer? Or you can do it without being, a lawyer per se. How much can you make as a lawyer
Great video 👍
Thanks Owen! Appreciate the support!
Very interesting. Thanks. toronto canada
Glad you found it insightful!
Hello! So question: if you could pursue anything in business/finance with the knowledge you have now where would you go? (Role or industry)
This is the million dollar question...and frankly with the knowledge I have now, I wouldn't have allowed the limiting beliefs I had in college about what was possible (e.g., "I'm not smart enough to succeed in case interviews, I'm not well-spoken enough to be a consultant at BCG") to hold me back from recruiting for MBB consulting while in college.
That said, I still believe starting my career in Investment Banking was worth it because it forced me to confront a lot of tough questions early on (e.g., "how much am I willing to sacrifice my personal life for career success?", or "how much do I value money vs freedom?"), and taught me to operate at a high level which continues to serve me well at BCG.
Are analyst buy side jobs in equity/fixed income funds not pursued by grads after university? It sounds like everyone wants to go into I-banking/strategy consulting/tech.
There are certainly some students who go directly into buyside roles, but it's less common because there tend to be less buyside seats right out of undergrad. A lot of these firms are smaller in size and don't have the time / resources to train a fresh grad with no experience - instead, they prefer to hire individuals who've been trained in banking or sell-side equity research for 1-2 years.
I think another reason why more people go into I-banking/consulting/tech is most college students don't really know what they want to do, and so they optimize for roles that provide the most optionality. Buyside roles at equity/fixed income funds aren't perceived as having the same level of optionality.
hey matt, just saw your "consulting explains" video, it has given me lot of clarity as a uni student, thanks . just wondering who edit your videos is it you or some editor?
Hey Laveran! As of now, I do still edit all of my videos - it's time consuming but I enjoy letting my creativity come out in the editing process. Glad you like the videos!
Where there any days were you felt extremely sleepy or tired espically working late into the night ? if so do you continue working? as it may result in a lackluster performance or make alot of mistakes on the way , that will just result in more work the next day
Plenty of nights where you’re really tired but still have to work. It’s definitely not optimal for attention to detail if you’re sleep deprived, but you just have to push through (drink lots of water, use a standing desk, take breaks/powernap, etc.). If you’re too tired, you might just go to sleep and wake early to try and finish your work instead, but either way it needs to be done.
I dunno this bad day seems like a standard day at my firm. Bad days end after 6am with 8am meetings “the next day”.
Sorry to hear that you've had work so hard at your current firm. Hours will vary by bank, of course. Thanks for watching!
Wow. Is it the same for Payments Analyst?
Sounds like a life path towards burnout. I hope your end of year bonus is worth it.
Definitely easy to burnout if you don’t manage your mental and physical health
Network?
Are hegde fund manager from an investment banking field too?
Hedge fund analysts typically come from investment banking or sell-side equity research backgrounds
Title: Day in the life of investment banking analyst
Video: Trauma
That's one way to put it 😆
That haircut
eggroll
brutal haircut
Thank you so much for sharing! May I have your LinkedIn?
Thanks Mai! Glad it was helpful. You can connect with me on LinkedIn (link in the channel description)