Forum Home > GMAT > Quantitative > Problem Solving (PS)
Events & Promotions
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
May 2310:00 AM EDT
-10:30 AM EDT
Learn how to write winning Harvard essays with expert advice from Sia Admissions. Understand what it takes to grab the attention of the HBS admission committee!
May 2312:00 PM EDT
-01:00 PM EDT
Join Lawrence Mur’ray, Executive Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, at an event in Amsterdam, Barcelona, London, or Munich in May/June.
May 2203:30 PM PDT
-04:30 PM PDT
Schedule a call for Profile evaluation and enrichment for MBA Admissions in India and Abroad.
May 2612:00 PM PDT
-01:00 PM PDT
In this podcast, we talk to Lindsay Loyd, Executive Director, of MBA Admissions at NYU Stern, Hunter Brickey, NYU Stern alumnus and Daisy Cheng, a current student at NYU Stern, and more.
May 2603:00 PM PDT
-04:00 PM PDT
Looking to secure a coveted spot at a top business school? Our team of seasoned MBA admissions consultants, including top B schools alumni and industry leaders, is here to help turn your dreams into reality. Let’s kick-start your journey to success!
May 2708:00 PM PDT
-09:00 PM PDT
Inquire for a free profile evaluation and guarantee statement for possible admits and scholarships!
May 2910:00 AM EDT
-11:00 AM EDT
Applying to business school this fall? Don’t miss Personal MBA Coach’s MBA Admissions Roadmap E-book. Find out how to write compelling essays, what application mistakes to avoid, how to maximize your chances of getting an MBA scholarship and more.- May 30
08:30 AM PDT
-09:30 AM PDT
Ever wondered how to score a perfect 805 on the GMAT? Julia did it, and she’s here to share her journey to an impressive 805 GMAT Focus score! Scoring 805 is an incredible achievement, and Julia’s story is sure to inspire you. - Jun 11
05:30 AM PDT
-12:00 PM PDT
Register for the GMAT Club Virtual MBA Spotlight fair, the biggest MBA fair of the year. You will have a chance to hear Admissions directors from almost every Top 20 program speak, network with peers, and more.
Summer Reading - Monkey Business
[#permalink]
22 May 2007, 19:07
22 May 2007, 19:07
I just finished this book. Like Liar's Poker, I laughed my ass off. Another page-turner. The subject matter is Investment Banking (as opposed to S&T in Liar's Poker) and tells the story of a couple of guys from Wharton & Harvard at DLJ from recruitment until ... I don't think anyone reads this book for the plot, but I'm about to give away the ending - if you don't want to know it don't read the rest of this paragraph ... they leave after 2-3 years and join hedge funds. It seems that their timing was fortuitous because as I remember, DLJ imploded shortly afterwards.
Anyhow, these two guys really hate banking, especially how they are treated by people higher up the beanpole. The working conditions they describe are about as bad as it can possibly get, and their firm seemed to be loaded with real a-holes.
Some of the sections really rang true for me. The section about drafting sessions was spot on. I sat in on a bunch of these things as a lawyer. They could have taken the words right out of my mouth when the described how no document was ever done, they just decided it was getting too expensive or there was no more time. I felt that way about every single prospectus I ever did. I guess I had it pretty good in that the word processing dept and copy center at my firm in NY were both top notch, but I definitely understand how prissy they can be if you don't take care of them.
I only went to the printer once in my life. I'm not sure they do that any more. Lawyers used to make a big deal about doing to the printer as well, but the process was being phased out in 2001-2002 while I was working on those types of deals. It has never occurred to me to ask about deal specifics when I catch up with them, but I'm pretty sure the process of going to the printers has fallen by the wayside.
Personally, I have no desire to join the banking business in NY. I believe the book overstates the work load a little bit - the hours that they describe are definitely peak times - but there's no question that the hours are brutal. I think it's 1/2 the IB business and 1/2 the NY culture. When I was with an LA firm, drafting sessions resembled the ones in NY, but people generally cut out by 9 or 10PM at the latest. It was rare for all the assembled groups to stay deep into the night like they do in NY.
I definitely recommend this book - it's a fun read. For anyone that joins a NY IB and loses their mind after two years, they can't say they weren't warned.
I'm actually interested in checking out a book about consulting. Does anyone know of any colorful stories that describe life on the road?
Anyhow, these two guys really hate banking, especially how they are treated by people higher up the beanpole. The working conditions they describe are about as bad as it can possibly get, and their firm seemed to be loaded with real a-holes.
Some of the sections really rang true for me. The section about drafting sessions was spot on. I sat in on a bunch of these things as a lawyer. They could have taken the words right out of my mouth when the described how no document was ever done, they just decided it was getting too expensive or there was no more time. I felt that way about every single prospectus I ever did. I guess I had it pretty good in that the word processing dept and copy center at my firm in NY were both top notch, but I definitely understand how prissy they can be if you don't take care of them.
I only went to the printer once in my life. I'm not sure they do that any more. Lawyers used to make a big deal about doing to the printer as well, but the process was being phased out in 2001-2002 while I was working on those types of deals. It has never occurred to me to ask about deal specifics when I catch up with them, but I'm pretty sure the process of going to the printers has fallen by the wayside.
Personally, I have no desire to join the banking business in NY. I believe the book overstates the work load a little bit - the hours that they describe are definitely peak times - but there's no question that the hours are brutal. I think it's 1/2 the IB business and 1/2 the NY culture. When I was with an LA firm, drafting sessions resembled the ones in NY, but people generally cut out by 9 or 10PM at the latest. It was rare for all the assembled groups to stay deep into the night like they do in NY.
I definitely recommend this book - it's a fun read. For anyone that joins a NY IB and loses their mind after two years, they can't say they weren't warned.
I'm actually interested in checking out a book about consulting. Does anyone know of any colorful stories that describe life on the road?
Re: Summer Reading - Monkey Business
[#permalink]
22 May 2007, 21:22
22 May 2007, 21:22
The one phrase that stuck with me over the years was crossing the t(s) and dotting the i(s) in the middle of the night. That ended my brief flirtation with a banking career.
[#permalink]
25 May 2007, 06:07
25 May 2007, 06:07
When reading Monkey Business, I think it's paramount that you realize this is a caricature of IB from 1st year bankers. I've never read the book, but a few banker friends have told me many of the stories, and they agree most of the accounts are highly exaggerated.
The bottom line is that if you can't stand to start out at the bottom of the IB ladder, then this probably isn't the profession for you. However, if you can pay your dues for a couple years until you move up to VP and beyond, then you will have opportunities to take leadership roles on interesting projects while also making some nice compensation.
Personally, I wouldn't make my decision on whether to work in a particular industry based on a book by two former lower-level employees that appear to have an axe to grind.
The bottom line is that if you can't stand to start out at the bottom of the IB ladder, then this probably isn't the profession for you. However, if you can pay your dues for a couple years until you move up to VP and beyond, then you will have opportunities to take leadership roles on interesting projects while also making some nice compensation.
Personally, I wouldn't make my decision on whether to work in a particular industry based on a book by two former lower-level employees that appear to have an axe to grind.
