The WSJ has an article on their site this morning about the health and mental impacts from working in investment banking. It’s about a study that followed 1st and 2nd year bankers to see how they coped, or did not cope, with the workload of young investment bankers.
About the work:
“During their first two years, the bankers worked on average 80 to 120 hours a week, but remained eager and energetic, she says. They typically arrived at 6 a.m. and left around midnight.”
And the side effects:
“By the fourth year, however, many bankers were a mess, according to the study. Some were sleep-deprived, blaming their bodies for preventing them from finishing their work. Others developed allergies and substance addictions. Still others were diagnosed with long-term health conditions such as Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid disorders.”
what exactly do you do 100 hours per week? i do 100 hours of work a week, but 40 hours of it normally is for personal reading, investing etc…i’m not in front of a spreadsheet or at the office 100 hours for sure…
A lot of it is definitely face time. Also, waiting for things to happen. Like if your client says they will call “some time tonight”, you have to wait around until they call.