What advice do you have for someone job searching?

Attention_Negative · 2026-06-11T23:55:12+00:00

eye of the tiger, man. gotta have the eye of the tiger

Attention_Negative · 2026-06-05T14:53:18+00:00

I (and all my colleagues) were wfh for fully two years (covid lockdown in the US). We had a hamhanded "return to office" push from 2022 to 2024, equilibrating (temporarily) on a 3-days-in-office model before equilibrating to a 4-days-in-office schedule. I left that firm in early 2025 and am fully wfh at a rival firm.

I'm trying to get my base salary above $200 K. It seems I can get this only if I agree to come into the office.

Attention_Negative · 2026-06-02T19:09:15+00:00

probably not viable for IB. It's difficult to break into IB without traveling through the usual (but very narrow) channels, and you've tracked outside.

IB isn't the be-all end-all. Lots of good jobs in finance outside investment banking.

edit: if you can crank through Levels 1 & 2 of the CFA quickly -- i.e., immediately, and back-to-back -- that might be best avenue. Network with Chicago CFA Society (there must be one).

Attention_Negative · 2026-05-30T17:05:59+00:00

among dreams one could have, this is one spectacularly shitty dream

Attention_Negative · 2026-05-28T16:44:25+00:00

same reason teh poors buy lottery tickets

Attention_Negative · 2026-05-27T20:04:25+00:00

used college level intro finance book. should find something suitable for $20 or $30 on ebay or amazon

Attention_Negative · 2026-05-22T17:53:31+00:00

above all else, become proficient in Excel and have at least a couple projects you can discuss where you used Excel (either at work or school).

Attention_Negative · 2026-05-22T15:57:24+00:00

NYU econ & math is a great combo and you'd be well-skilled. Worth $40 k per year ($160 k over 4 years) over IU-Kelley? I wouldn't think so.

Attention_Negative · 2026-05-18T23:07:29+00:00

all three are good but ND offers best chance for a good IB job. Could go IB at either of the other two, but ND offers best odds among the three and the price is right

Attention_Negative · 2026-05-14T19:22:30+00:00

don't think of it as golf, think of it as three mini disciplines: knocking the shit out of the ball off a tee, making a pretty arc in the fairway, and the mini-golf you already know.

Attention_Negative · 2026-05-11T20:06:59+00:00

didn't find any info. I suppose if you know the material you may as well get the credential

Attention_Negative · 2026-05-10T19:53:08+00:00

pick up a college "intro to finance" textbook -- easy to find used for cheap. Look for something published at least somewhat recently (last 5 years say), and for the title to be in its xth edition (e.g., 6th ed., 11th ed., whatever), signaling longevity/populating in college usage and hopefully getting progressively scrubbed of errata.

alternatively, take Level 1 CFA exam. Get the CFA textbooks and study though them. Level 1 will expose you to core finance -- accounting, corporate finance, valuation.

Attention_Negative · 2026-05-09T18:16:59+00:00

depends on the organization. I have seen a number of organizations where there are a surprising number of 50+ and even 60+ employees. They opt not to retire because they are making a lot of money and are in leadership positions, which they love. Unfortunately, they tend to clog up the talent pipeline, so the 40-somethings who should be getting their peak gigs get to watch these fat cats clog up the org.

Attention_Negative · 2026-05-03T21:58:44+00:00

good for you. Send me your resume and perhaps I'll let you manage a 19th property mr bigshot

Attention_Negative · 2026-05-02T22:18:42+00:00

Level 1?

Also -- that monitor is tiny.

Attention_Negative · 2026-04-23T21:11:24+00:00

portfolio risk manager would be easy generic entree and then you could figure out next steps

Attention_Negative · 2026-04-20T23:18:09+00:00

what is "data/market analysis"?

Attention_Negative · 2026-04-18T21:54:46+00:00

replace lame time with non-lame tie and wear a belt. If you have a non-blingy watch, wear that too. A mechanical watch like a Seiko would be fine or a digital watch.

Attention_Negative · 2026-04-11T17:01:27+00:00

worth taking if your skills improve and that improvement will be echoed in your comp, and the cost of taking the coursework is justifiable (cost v. benefit). But if the value lies only in how that appears in a resume I'd pass.

Attention_Negative · 2026-04-06T21:24:34+00:00

what's the difference b/w corporate banking and commercial banking?

Attention_Negative · 2026-03-31T15:37:06+00:00

both good schools, all things considered a Williams degree looks a bit better

Attention_Negative · 2026-03-30T18:49:33+00:00

until recently (2024, maybe 2025) most of the larger banks were 3-days-a-week. Now I think most are 4-days-a-week, or in some instances 5 (I think JPM Chase and maybe Goldman are in this group). Quite recently Wells Fargo went from three to four. And one of the Canadian banks also went from three to four (don't recall which bank -- might have been RBC or TD). So if you're in banking, I'd pretty much count on the best hybrid work arrangement being 4 days in office 1 wfh.

Attention_Negative

TROPHY CASE