Vacations

Too many young people think it's not okay to take vacation. Those who do think it's okay to take vacation often take vacations that are too long. Let's think through the vacation conundrum. The firm will give 2-3 weeks vacation to a junior person. I'd say you probably should not use all of it, but using about two thirds of it is perfectly normal.

Those who take no vacation their first year I just think are being silly (hint: Nobody really cares and it just makes you look like a tool). Some firms will have people one level above you who think it's a right of passage to not take any vacation your first year. Again, that's silly. The real decision-makers don't really care. If the person directly above you is that petty, you should probably consider another area or another firm.

Every once in a while I do hear a new person take two weeks straight off to go on a trip to Europe or something. I'm afraid that makes you look like you don't care much for your job. Two weeks is a lot in this industry. A lot of the S&T side's VPs and up need to take a straight two weeks off for regulatory reasons, but there's little reason for a first year analyst/associate to be doing so. There may be some exceptions for people with family in Asia working in the US.


Another problem with young people is often not using the vacation as vacation. Always doing work doing vacation does not make you look cool, despite what you might think. Some of the senior people might have to check-in frequently to make sure everything is going smoothly, but junior people just waste time doing so. Unless the deal is absolutely contingent on your being there (which it's not if you're able to take vacation) or you run your own trading book, you probably don't need to check in much.

Take for vacations, enjoy them. Spend a couple of long weekends spending some of your exorbitant pay. You will look more mature for doing so.