First Call made the announcement today. My Analyst has decided to pursue other opportunities.

On Wednesday morning, she came in to tell us that she was moving on. I was in shock. I thought she was a lifer. And I was filled with such a mix of emotions. I was happy for her because I think her new position will provide much better life balance. Selfishly, I was also thinking, "Here we go again with the resumes and interviewing."

For some reason it is difficult for people to understand the dynamic of sell side equity research. My company has said they will try to find a place for me, but I really worked for my analyst. Finding a spot internally can likely happen, but it may take a while, and I may not like it because it could be covering a sector that's less interesting, and more importantly and more likely, I could be working with a team I like a lot less than the kick ass group we had.

So, I'm using this as an opportunity to AGAIN seek employment. I'm hoping to make the leap to the buy side. Private equity, VC, hedge funds, mutual funds - any of it would be great. I'm also open to relocating. A change of scenery and a lower cost of living would be welcome.

And, of course, I am also exploring where I can travel and what fun side projects I can take on as I transition. I hate that it takes half an hour to explain my resume, but I love the variety of experiences I've been able to have.