"I work in TMT investment banking for a European bank. It is a nightmare. No one seems to care"
I am a junior investment banker working in the technology, media and telecoms team of a European bank in London. Life in this team is a nightmare and many of my colleagues have left.
The bank doesn't seem to care. Over the past year we've lost around ten analysts from the broader team and this just seems to be considered the norm. No one in a management position seems to be asking why.
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People have left for private equity, for sovereign wealth funds and for rival banks. Maybe this is just what happens, but I know that some people have also had medical issues because of the amount we are expected to work.
The problem here begins and ends with a few managing directors (MDs). There is no electronic system for monitoring working hours here and some of the MDs seem to think it's fine to make their juniors work crazy hours. There have been complaints and reg flags have been raised but nothing ever gets done about it.
People are therefore leaving with their feet, or risking their physical and mental health. I thought it wasn't like this in 2026. It's ruining young people's careers from the start.
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