Is this toxic culture normal?

Recently completed an internship at a BB and I'm shaken by the toxic culture. Consistently worked >90/week, every single weekend. Team members gossip behind each other's backs. Every analyst seems to be battling depression and openly despises their job.

Received a return offer to start this summer, but I'm hesitant. The team is reputable in Europe and I had high hopes, but now I'm uncertain. Is this level of toxicity normal? Am I simply being naïve and should pull through, or are there better environments elsewhere?

 

Appreciate the honesty!

I do have another FT offer from MBB and did intern there a while ago. Honestly, I didn't enjoy the type of work in consulting as much as I enjoyed banking (content-wise), but the full package incl. respect, WLB and perks was quite attractive. Only issue is that I ultimately see myself in an investing role, and I feel that the exit is much more difficult coming from MBB as compared to IB. On the other hand, I have seen quite a few people leave IB burned out w/o any aspirations left to perform in whatever follows next, and that is particularly what I am afraid of: choosing IB for the exit, becoming desperate, and ultimately not doing the exit for which I did IB in the first place.

Any thoughts on that?

 

Incidunt quisquam omnis aut nam est. Ipsam voluptatem eum laborum dolores.

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Lazard Freres No 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. 25 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 04 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (21) $373
  • Associates (91) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (68) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
10
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”