When does investment banking get better?

I don't mind how hard a path is, as long as i get to where i want to be at the end. I'm prepared to work like a dog if i have to. The point of the question was to ascertain wether it is possible to one day get there, and just to generally understand what the life in IB is like, because i haven't been able to talk with someone in IB. I understand you have to be aware 24/7. That is usually a perquisite for any demanding job such as medicine or law.

I don't mind how hard a path is, as long as i get to where i want to be at the end. I'm prepared to work like a dog if i have to. The point of the question was to ascertain wether it is possible to one day get there, and just to generally understand what the life in IB is like, because i haven't been able to talk with someone in IB. I understand you have to be aware 24/7. That is usually a perquisite for any demanding job such as medicine or law.

You will have no life to begin with and work will never leave you. If you have doubts about the hours then this isn't the career for you. You can start a family whenever but it depends on your girl, and how she feels about your job. I know some people tend to start a family at VP level, hours significantly drop at MD level (I.e. you will have a life), as you get more senior you might have to travel more. Generally, year on year, the hours get slightly less and the pay gets slightly better. Bear in mind, in IBD, most people don't stay after three years. Also, this applies to IBD, global markets is slightly different but work will still dominate your life. Also, it isn't like 100 hours every single week. You will have quieter weeks and busier weeks, especially towards the end of deals which is where the hours get ridiculous. Even in a quieter week, the hours are still very long though.

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There are 9-5 jobs in MO and BO that have better hourly wages and better work/life balance than the people that work 24/7. Look into that

Why?

I don't mind how hard a path is, as long as i get to where i want to be at the end. I'm prepared to work like a dog if i have to. The point of the question was to ascertain wether it is possible to one day get there, and just to generally understand what the life in IB is like, because i haven't been able to talk with someone in IB. I understand you have to be aware 24/7. That is usually a perquisite for any demanding job such as medicine or law.

MO and BO are not 9-5, more like 9-6.30 and occasionally believe or not they will be living the office at 9/10pm.

I was referring to SW1X's post. I don't think you've bothered to read any of the other posts. I was talking about a job in IB and the need to be demanding nature of the job, often requiring you to be available to work at most times.

What specific roles are those shorter hours?

Having spent a good bit of time speaking to people at all levels of the chain:

Analyst you can expect to work between 80 and 120 hours in any given week--depending on the group the average is usually somewhere between 80 and 100.
Associate your hours will decrease in most groups, with the longest weeks being the same (when there's a big deal closing it's all hands on deck) but the shortest weeks being closer to 60-70 hours and the average usually being around 65-85.
VP hours are comparable to associate, a little less. Usually 60-75 depending on group.
MD hours are quite a bit less, usually averaging somewhere between 55 and 65 depending on the group.

There really is a huge amount of variability group to group. Some groups within banks have the reputation of being 'lifestyle' groups while others have the reputation of being sweatshops--the trick is to find the group to suit you. Lifestyle groups still aren't going to let you have your weekends off as an analyst or anything--you'll just be working closer to the lower bound averages I quoted above.

Also, if you want to switch to a better work-life balance later in your career banking sets you up very well to move into a corp strat/corp dev role within industry (especially if you work in an industry coverage group). I've spoken to a couple people in corp dev and they are definitely still looking to hire bankers into those roles.

OK so you're saying some of them work 20 hours a day Monday to Saturday. Or maybe just 17 hours a day 7 days a week.

Sure they are, fella.

OK so you're saying some of them work 20 hours a day Monday to Saturday. Or maybe just 17 hours a day 7 days a week.

Sure they are, fella.

They are often in the office 18-20 hours per day.

They're not actually working intensively for all (most?) of those hours. In effect many may be looking at research whilst on standby for propertly 'business critical' work to be dumped on their desks.