QuoteYes. As has been said many times in this forum, the compensation is highly skewed in the favor of senior people and there are only a fixed number of "head of X" type people that a large firm can sustain. Most people look at their compensation and align their expectations to these high numbers. 5 years in the industry should tell you that being in the right place with the right backers is infinitely more important than the quality of work or intellectual capacity you bring to the table. The other aspect that is not addressed as much is the topic of working for someone. Most tech folks in the valley always have a startup as their ultimate game and only work for others to realize this goal. In finance, it is sufficiently hard for a quant-type person to start up a fund on his own.What is the point of admiring people who are lucky. The only reason I think of is - these people are in your face all the time and telling you they got there because they are beautiful. People do not admire lottery winners. But everyone is fascinated not by success but the trappings of success.

QuoteOriginally posted by: capafan2QuoteYes. As has been said many times in this forum, the compensation is highly skewed in the favor of senior people and there are only a fixed number of "head of X" type people that a large firm can sustain. Most people look at their compensation and align their expectations to these high numbers. 5 years in the industry should tell you that being in the right place with the right backers is infinitely more important than the quality of work or intellectual capacity you bring to the table. The other aspect that is not addressed as much is the topic of working for someone. Most tech folks in the valley always have a startup as their ultimate game and only work for others to realize this goal. In finance, it is sufficiently hard for a quant-type person to start up a fund on his own.What is the point of admiring people who are lucky. The only reason I think of is - these people are in your face all the time and telling you they got there because they are beautiful. People do not admire lottery winners. But everyone is fascinated not by success but the trappings of success.Who is talking about beauty, dude? I don't think you need to look like Tom Cruise to have a powerful person back you. It is more or less a function of whether you would strengthen that person's position, reputation or compensation. However, if you are referring to the fairer sex and all the empowerment drives by HR, then there is some truth to it.

QuoteWho is talking about beauty, dude?.That was sarcasm my friend indicating that luck has a lot to do with gaining influence. It is not upto the beneficiary to be chosen. They just get chosen and then convince themselves that they were chosen coz they are smart, brilliant and whatever.

QuoteOriginally posted by: capafan2QuoteWho is talking about beauty, dude?.That was sarcasm my friend indicating that luck has a lot to do with gaining influence. It is not upto the beneficiary to be chosen. They just get chosen and then convince themselves that they were chosen coz they are smart, brilliant and whatever.I personally think one should move on without getting emotinally drawn into the vagaries of position in relation to skill. One can look around and see people in positions that they don't deserve. On the other side, there are people who are under-positioned. The average however tends to be a man/woman of average skills placed correctly!

QuoteOriginally posted by: capafan2QuoteOriginally posted by: pterodactylWould the same %s hold for IB Technology.Absolutely not! IB Technology has a large demand and has become smarter by taking experienced people from other areas of Technology (Non-Finance). They tell them, they are lucky to become part of this privileged group (Hotshot Bank IT that is). These smart programmers/architects/team leads are thrilled like they got kissed by Marlyn Monroe. They feel good because the bank matched their "high" salary elsewhere. Soon they realize life in NYC is not so cheap. Also from day one there is a threat to move them to "Florida","Utah","North Carolina",..... with a consequent pay-cut. In 3-4 months they are convinced they got shafted. Smart ones move out quickly. But most people would rather be right than smart so they stick on convincing themselves that the mirage of wealth on the horizon their boss shows them each review is real. How do I know? Coz I was one such sucker. But I was smart. I bailed out quickly and very happy. Some other people I know bailed out too. They were smart too. But some people are trying to make i right and getting screwed year after year.Violins playing in the distance...That is a great encapsulation of how people who are wealthy by normal standards (i.e. the marginal distribution of income) end up feeling like poor serfs when compared to a conditional distribution of income (i.e. income given people at higher levels in bank 'X'). What right do any of us have to be super wealthy? What are the true costs of this aim? Even if you are an IT serf how do you feel if compared to a street sweeper or an unemployed single mother?

QuoteOriginally posted by: neuroguyQuoteOriginally posted by: capafan2QuoteOriginally posted by: pterodactylWould the same %s hold for IB Technology.Absolutely not! IB Technology has a large demand and has become smarter by taking experienced people from other areas of Technology (Non-Finance). They tell them, they are lucky to become part of this privileged group (Hotshot Bank IT that is). These smart programmers/architects/team leads are thrilled like they got kissed by Marlyn Monroe. They feel good because the bank matched their "high" salary elsewhere. Soon they realize life in NYC is not so cheap. Also from day one there is a threat to move them to "Florida","Utah","North Carolina",..... with a consequent pay-cut. In 3-4 months they are convinced they got shafted. Smart ones move out quickly. But most people would rather be right than smart so they stick on convincing themselves that the mirage of wealth on the horizon their boss shows them each review is real. How do I know? Coz I was one such sucker. But I was smart. I bailed out quickly and very happy. Some other people I know bailed out too. They were smart too. But some people are trying to make i right and getting screwed year after year.Violins playing in the distance...That is a great encapsulation of how people who are wealthy by normal standards (i.e. the marginal distribution of income) end up feeling like poor serfs when compared to a conditional distribution of income (i.e. income given people at higher levels in bank 'X'). What right do any of us have to be super wealthy? What are the true costs of this aim? Even if you are an IT serf how do you feel if compared to a street sweeper or an unemployed single mother?Whatever happend to:And be a simple, kind of man.Oh be something, you love and understand.Baby be a simple, kind of man.Oh, won't you do this for me son,If you can?Forget your lust, for the rich man's goldAll that you need, is in your soul,

QuoteOriginally posted by: ArthurDentWhatever happend to:....died in a plane crash.