"Ignore LinkedIn boasts. Success in banking is about quiet achievement"

If you work in banking, and you spend your days calibrating your inadequacy on LinkedIn, then step away.

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In the world of self-proclaimed LinkedIn wisdom, your feed will be flooded with advice on how to escape the rat race, find purpose, or live your best life. Yet for those of us who've chosen investment banking; one of the most technical, demanding, and unforgiving careers out there; the path isn't quite so simple.

Getting into investment banking requires intellect, perseverance, professionalism, and no small amount of sacrifice. Much like lifting heavy weights in the gym, technique matters. Get it wrong, and you're not building strength; you're just exhausting yourself and risking long-term injury. The same applies to your career: doing the right things the wrong way can cause damage that's hard to undo.

So how do you do it right?

First, if professional success genuinely brings you joy, then own that. If you've made it through the competitive exams, intense internships, and gruelling interviews, chances are you're someone who's intrinsically motivated by achievement. Don't let the posts on LinkedIn distort that motivation.

Because, truth be told, most of what you see on LinkedIn falls into two camps:

The Unscathed Linear Achievers: these are people who've followed a smooth, upward trajectory with little exposure to market downturns or idiosyncratic shocks. They may be talented and hardworking, but they often forget the role luck, timing, and good mentors play in success. The danger is that this group can lose humility along the way.

The Marketeers and Pretenders: these are people whose feeds overflow with "pleased to announce" posts, often masking insecurity or instability. Some have never truly built or sustained success, but project an image of constant triumph. Either way, it's rarely genuine.

Your barometer of success should never be someone else's highlight reel. It should be your own sense of achievement.

Even the most successful in our industry have faced setbacks; from Deutsche Bank MDs to UBS or Citi veterans, and yes, even Jamie Dimon has had his share of challenges. The difference between those who falter and those who endure lies in humility, self-awareness, and the ability to rebuild.

Companies can take away your title, but they cannot erase your learning. Personally, I lived through a tough stretch of five years when I not only faced limited opportunities and internal politics but also had to take a step down in my career. Yet in hindsight, that period taught me more, both technically and emotionally, than any other stage of my 17-year journey. There's strength in being an observer; in watching, learning, and quietly sharpening your edge when the spotlight isn't on you.

I've seen managing directors (MDs) at bulge brackets reinvent themselves as teachers, entrepreneurs, or advisors. The real winners aren't the ones constantly marketing themselves online. They're the ones who bounce back with grace, silently, steadily, and with renewed purpose. Respect, after all, is earned through delivery and relationships, not through digital applause.

I've also learned something else along the way; the real winners always have time. I've networked extensively, both during my university years and later at key inflection points in my career. And every time I've thoughtfully reached out to a Goldman Sachs MD, male or female, they've made time for an in-person meeting, offered feedback, or shared perspective. Even when I was switching careers, not a plug and play candidate, they engaged with genuine interest. Quite a contrast to email ghosting. It's a shame that the public face of our profession doesn't always reflect the ones who are experts, confident in their craft, and generous enough to give their time to people who are passionate about the industry

So, isolate your own sense of fulfilment. Find it in the work itself; structuring a novel deal, uncovering a new research angle, or engaging with a fascinating client. You don't need to be a rainmaker all the time; there's merit in simply being a keen observer. Sometimes, that perspective brings the balance so many of us chase.

And if things go wrong and you're laid off, passed over, or left behind, remember this: very few in this field face real financial peril. That's already a position of ultra privilege. The world may not always be fair, but don't let that consume you. The people who truly matter won't judge you based on a LinkedIn post.

In the end, the quiet achievers always outlast the loud prophets.

And let's be clear; none of this means giving up ambition. The choice to be happy and stay happy lies in mastering the right technique, just like in the gym. Learn to separate the joy that comes from professional achievement from the joy that comes from the rest of your life: your kids, your partner, holidays, adventures, sport, or whatever gives you a sense of meaning beyond the office. And if professional success takes a setback, fall back on these very rooms of joy; that's what keeps your balance intact.

Otherwise, you're just training for a lifelong injury; physically, emotionally, or both.

Philippe Carrel is a pseudonym

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