How many investment bankers are happy? | Asim Qureshi posted on the topic | LinkedIn (2024)

Asim Qureshi

CEO JIBBLE | Now on X.com: @asimjibble

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I was recently asked if most investment bankers are actually happy. A pretty good question because for many it's a dream job.From my experience - and I spent 8 years in the industry, many of my friends are investment bankers - most are indeed deeply unhappy. Saying that, many will be happy once they’re out.Most dislike their job, it’s a grind, it’s hard work, it’s soulless. I mean everyone is frustrated at some level.And while the money is good it’s never enough. You might be making US$1m a year, but the guy 4 desks away is making US$3m.It’s like you want to get out, but you can’t - you’re addicted to your shot - that bonus. You need one more. And then one more after that. But you never get enough. Your $10m net worth isn’t enough because the guy 7 desks away from you has $30m.And you’re insecure. You know you’re not really worth US$1m a year - no other industry will pay you more than US$200k for the same level of skills - so you better stay put.I mean, everyone has their "number", that's the amount of money you need before you're out, as ultimately that's the dream of every investment banker - to not be one.On a superficial level there is a LOT going for investment bankers - money, respect, authority, bling, top restaurants, business or first-class flights. But it’s a trade - you get all this - you just need to give up one thing as part of the trade - your soul. And that’s a heavy price to pay for someone with a ton of options.

  • How many investment bankers are happy? | Asim Qureshi posted on the topic | LinkedIn (2)

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Arnav Gupta

Associate Consultant at Bain | VC | Public Equity

5mo

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That took a dark turn

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Naveed Iqbal

Opinions expressed are solely mine

5mo

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So there is no such thing as a soulful investment banker?

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Norman Yanuar

I help individuals and companies turn their strategies into reality | LinkedIn Top Voice | SVP at Saratoga

5mo

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Thanks for sharing your experience, Asim. I totally agree with your views. Similar to my management consulting experience, despite relatively higher earnings than other industries, many are unhappy due to the personal sacrifices involved. It's a trade-off, and everyone needs to know when it's 'enough.' The allure of bonuses and recognition comes at the cost of personal happiness and security.

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Harsh Shethia

Head of Startups at World Trade Hub | International Partner at WBAF | Revenue Led Growth | Drop me a DM if you want to take your Product Global with International GTM | Ex Paytm, J&J, Bisleri, Ah Ventures

5mo

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Being an investment banker can be a soul-crushing trade. The money and perks might seem enticing, but the happiness is fleeting. It's like selling your soul for shiny objects.

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James Umpleby - Indonesia C-Level Headhunter🎯

Indonesia Executive Search Specialist 💼 | MD & Owner of ProCapita - Indonesia's Premier Headhunter Agency 🥇| 1,000+ Executive Recruitment Hires Since 2014 ⚡| Passionate Gardener 👨🏻🌾

5mo

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Also incredibly long hours, especially when entering as a new rookie! But the big picture "rewards" are fantastic. I believe Investment Banking is a great career path for any ambitious smart individual. As it opens a Lot of longer term Career Doors 🚪. From a very early point in your career you are interacting with the movers and shakers of the corporate world. Gaining invaluable exposure and experience. It's obviously helped to take you to a good place Asim Qureshi ⚡

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Gaurav Gupta

5mo

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Wow, that's deep and hard hitting Asim Qureshi

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Vaibhav Gupta, FRM, SCR

Director, Sales Engineering | APMEA | FIS

5mo

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On this note, I would recommend reading ‘Monkey business: Swinging through the wallstreet jungle’ book

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Traction

5mo

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The price we pay for the price we deserve. Employee A is different from Employee B, what each one seeks to achieve is different. Their goals, work mantra, persona and benchmarks are different. Yet the comparative nature they imbibe inherently to outperform their current status is a play in itself. Which price are they picking?

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Ashutosh Shukla

Senior Analyst ( Product, Data , Infrastructure and HR system, Fintech system Analyst.

4mo

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Moral of the story - Nothing gives satisfaction to humans in life even if you are Elon Musk of the era 🙌

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How many investment bankers are happy? | Asim Qureshi posted on the topic | LinkedIn (42)

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How many investment bankers are happy? | Asim Qureshi posted on the topic | LinkedIn (2024)

FAQs

How many people are investment bankers? ›

How many people are employed in the Investment Banking & Securities Intermediation industry in the US in 2023? There are 390,975 people employed in the Investment Banking & Securities Intermediation industry in the US as of 2023.

How to answer why investment banking questions? ›

Common Answers for “Why Investment Banking”
  1. Learning experience.
  2. Fast-paced environment.
  3. Relevant internship / club experience / personal experience.
  4. Opportunity for lots of responsibility at a young age.
  5. Interface with executives from different companies.
  6. Exposure to different business models and industries.

How many applicants do investment banks get? ›

Since investment banking is a highly paid, prestigious, and competitive field, banks do not have to do much to “attract” candidates – in a single year, over 100,000 candidates might compete for a few thousand spots worldwide.

Are investment bankers happy? ›

From my experience - and I spent 8 years in the industry, many of my friends are investment bankers - most are indeed deeply unhappy. Saying that, many will be happy once they're out. Most dislike their job, it's a grind, it's hard work, it's soulless.

How many people are bankers? ›

There are 2,595,852 people employed in the Commercial Banking industry in the US as of 2023. What is employment growth in the Commercial Banking industry in the US in 2023? The number of people employed in the Commercial Banking industry in the US increased 6.1% on average over the five years between 2018 and 2023.

How many investment bankers are there in the world? ›

Size of the workforce in the investment banking sector worldwide 2015-2020. In the first quarter of 2020, there were 49,000 full-time employees working at the 12 largest investment banks globally, which is five percent lower than the same quarter in the previous year.

How to pass an investment banking interview? ›

Preparing for an investment banking interview requires a lot of preparation. Before going into an interview, research the particular bank, familiarize yourself with the deals it has done in the past or is currently working on, and be prepared to talk about the economy and financial markets.

How to answer why JP Morgan? ›

Reputation: JPMorgan Chase is a highly reputable and respected company in the financial industry. Working at such a well-established and successful organization would provide me with valuable experience and opportunities for growth.

How do you stand out in an investment banking interview? ›

Preparing for Investment Banking Interviews: Dos and Don'ts

Interviews are an opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge, skills, and fit for the role. Prepare by researching the bank, reviewing technical skills, and practicing behavioral questions. Also, dress appropriately, make eye contact, and stay engaged.

What is the hardest bank to get into? ›

Goldman Sachs is often cited as the hardest investment bank to get into, due to its prestigious reputation, highly competitive hiring process, and rigorous standards for candidates in terms of experience, education, and skills.

Why is it so hard to get a job in investment banking? ›

Obviously, any investment bank that is going to hire you is going to want to know that you have enough technical knowledge to do the job. At a high level, this means you have to be well-versed on the following topics: 1) accounting, 2) valuation methodologies, 3) M&A, and 4) LBO.

What is the acceptance rate for JPMorgan jobs? ›

How to Prepare for a JP Morgan Interview. Like with any prestigious position, competition for offers is high and acceptance rates are low – routinely under 5%. Preparation is key for a successful interview.

Are investment bankers smart? ›

The field of investment banking has many people who want to be highly successful, and your peers are likely to work just as hard as you. The job requires intelligence and analytical capabilities, and colleagues and clients may need to perform at a high level to maintain their competitiveness.

Do investment bankers really make millions? ›

Successful mid-career investment bankers can make tens of millions of dollars a year.

Is it hard to be hired as an investment banker? ›

Is it hard to become an investment banker? Becoming an investment banker requires several years of higher education in addition to licensure. It also requires strong mathematical and analytical capabilities, which may be challenging for some people.

What percent of people make it into investment banking? ›

Last year, the five top-ranked U.S. business schools sent, on average, 7 percent of graduates from their master's of business administration programs into full-time investment banking roles, down from 9 percent in 2016.

What percent of people get into investment banking? ›

Across the industry, even at the firms which saw slight year-on-year falls, the norm seems to be that the crude percentage chance of getting accepted to an investment banking graduate program is a bit more than 1%, but significantly less than 2%.

What are the odds of becoming an investment banker? ›

The lucrative and fast-paced career of an investment banker is a highly competitive one. For instance, in a recent year, 236,000 applicants competed for roughly 3,500 internships at Goldman Sachs. This is common across the industry where acceptance rates for programs are typically less than 2%.

Do investment bankers make 7 figures? ›

Investment Banking Managing Director Salary + Bonus: Base salaries are in the mid-six-figure range, with total compensation in the high six figures to low seven figures. An MD doing decently should earn between $1 and $3 million per year, and sometimes a low multiple of that (as of 2022).

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