Monkey Business - The truth about Investment Banking

Nothing can prepare you for the "Investment Banking" life. When I interviewed with an investment bank for summers, they asked me, "How many hours do you think you'll have to work?". I replied 17, thinking I had over estimated and was showing my willingness to work long hours. He replied, "It's more like 19!", and it was.

Investment banking jobs are no-longer the most coveted on campus. People are increasingly paying attention to the "work-life balance". This is not about jobs at IIM, but it is to highlight that jobs that pay well, promise a screwed up life.

Monkey Business : Swinging through the Wall Street jungle by John Rolfe and Peter Troob is a quick summary of the life you sign up for. Having experienced a snippet of the life for myself during my summers, I can vouch for most of what is described in the book. I would suggest everyone who is planing to get into investment banking, or dreams of landing an investment bank offer after MBA should read this book.



It also does an excellent job of describing the placement process at business schools including the IIM's. The media in India has created an image of B-school placements that betrays reality. It does not highlight the cut-throat and shameless attitude that students adopt to land the jobs that they dream of. It also shows how the recruiters are aware of these instincts and being veterans at the game, exploit them to the fullest. This book should serve as a real eye opener for the starry eyed MBA aspirants who think CAT is the end of the struggle. Its probably the easiest of all hurdles that need to be crossed.

Labels: CAT, IIM Bangalore, Investment Banking, MBA, Novel