<p>from what I can tell from fellow students and interviewers, investment banking seems like its full of self-centered mean jerks who think they are above others, are all IB firms' cultures like this or is it better at boutiques?</p>
<p>Haha, well put as far as stereotypes are concerned. While there are certainly many self-centered, arrogant people, with superiority complexes in banking, there are those same types of people in trading, consulting, P/E, HF, etc. That said, there are also decent and interesting people in IB as well who don’t feel they are vastly superior to everyone around them simply because they work in IB. As with everything in life, there will be some negatives and some bad apples that get the bulk of the attention (yes, there is a fair share in IB). Just because you work there, you do not have to be arrogant, and you do not have to embrace arrogant people - you will definitely be exposed the very arrogant people as well as humble people, along with a healthy mix between. </p>
<p>Regarding boutique vs. BB, the same applies - arrogant/humble, good/bad, obnoxious/fun, etc. With boutiques, since there are less people, there are often less avenues in terms of socializing outside of work (if you were interested in that). In either case, you want to make sure there is a good fit between the group and you - during your interviews, after you’ve been given an offer by emailing/grabbing lunch, etc. While you are being judged by the interviewer, you should also be judging the interviewer as it pertains to fit. You will be spending a lot of time with these people and you should both want to make sure the fit is right. </p>
<p>PM me if you have any other questions and good luck.</p>
<p>IBanker</p>
<p>Haha what a generalization. A lot of us are mostly normal people.</p>
<p>@ C-Revs, your exactly what the OP is typing about.</p>
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<p>Yes, most people will act nice and normal, but everybody I know in IB hate their jobs and when we go out for dinner/drinks they are always talking about changing careers</p>
<p>There’s something about the culture/work of an investment bank that screws with your head, so even if you enter as a completely normal and nice person, you will still come out two years later as a very different person. </p>
<p>The money/career/exit opps can’t be beat though. Choose wisely</p>