Frank
Los Angeles, CA
Male, 35
“It seemed like a good idea at the time.”
As a liberal arts grad with mountains of debt and molehills of direction, I took an analyst job at a top NYC investment bank. Neck-deep in spreadsheets and working around the clock, I fought to keep my head above water in a sea of brilliant, khaki-clad sociopaths. While the money and education were great, I quickly learned how the finance world really works... and I wanted no part of it. After 9/11, I left for good.
Personally I don't think anyone's too old to get into any profession, though at 39 I doubt you'll be cast as a child actor any time soon.
As for banking, it's less about age than it is experience. If you have a quantitative/analytical background working in a particular industry, you could be a candidate to work in a banking group dedicated to that industry. For example, a classmate of mine who worked in the accounting departments of several tech firms is now working as a venture capitalist.
If, however, your career thus far has been completely devoid of analytics and relevant industry expertise, I'd say business school is your best bet to transition into financial industries (including banking).
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Rightly or wrongly, banks tend to care more about the school than the major. The Harvard English major has a far better shot than the Mississippi St. finance major. That doesn't mean the latter isn't qualified or has no shot, but the target-schooler has a better chance of getting a foot in the door.
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It depends on the day. On the more hectic days, you're more or less chained to your desk given the volume of work and deadlines. On other, slower days, you might be able to sneak away for lunch/dinner/coffee. Keep in mind that long days (12+ hrs) aren't necessarily dense, because quite a bit of that time you might be waiting idly for feedback from superiors, responses from clients, or output from the document processing center.
In short, breaks/meals aren't institutionalized in the way that they are at more traditional, 9-to-5 jobs, but they're not altogether absent. Bankers grab food or take a breather if/when time permits.
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Private Detective
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Subway Store Manager
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