<p>After doing some exploring on the Internet, I’ve found that the investment bankers I’ve come across are a miserable bunch, bemoaning the stress, hours, supposed repetitiveness, and all that stuff. Are there any investment bankers out there who love their profession? Could you elaborate on the qualities that you like about investment banking?</p>
<p>There are many who love their work. You are dealing with huge projects that make huge impact. It is intense. Your colleagues constitute an amazingly bright and capable peer group. The financial markets are intrinsically interesting to those who love it. </p>
<p>Crafting a viable and optimal plan of finance for a major city or company; then convincing them that it is right. Getting hired. Managing a workgroup of financial and legal experts to see a transaction come together. Interacting with securities traders, rating agencies, credit analysts, prospective buyers (eg fund managers). Selling yourself and your firm to clients. Selling your deal to investors.</p>
<p>It is a tremendous job for an Uber “subtle salesperson” personality with extraordinary analytical, presentation, and management skills, and a passion for the financial markets. And an unusually strong work ethic.</p>
<p>However the stress, hours, political infighting, all come into play and cannot be dismissed.</p>
<p>Repetitiveness not so much; maybe more at the junior level. Depends what you’re doing I guess. I would say on the whole less repetitive than most other jobs.</p>
<p>Hours get better as you move up, but they are never good, and are replaced by increased responsibilities.</p>