So I’ve been getting asked this more often lately as I get closer to the 18-month mark. Partners and senior people will casually ask in conversations like “what’s next for you?” or “where do you see yourself going?” And I genuinely don’t know how to answer it anymore.
The thing is, I’m not entirely sure I want to go to associate. I’m exploring what’s out there—PE, maybe venture at some point, potentially even fintech. But I also don’t want to torpedo my current position or come off as someone who’s already checked out mentally. It feels like there’s this weird middle ground where I need to seem committed enough to the firm to keep getting good projects and partner attention, but honest enough with myself that I’m not pretending I’m definitely climbing the ladder.
I’ve heard stories of people who signaled too much interest in exiting and suddenly stopped getting staffed on good deals. But I’ve also heard about people who committed hard to associate and then felt trapped when they realized they wanted out.
How much honesty is actually safe here? Do you just tell people what they want to hear, or have you figured out a way to be genuine about exploring options while still maintaining your reputation internally?
don’t tell them anything real. say whatever keeps you on good deals and keeps them happy. the moment you hint that ur thinking about leaving, ur dead weight to them. they’ll staff u on garbage and u won’t get the visibility u need. keep ur exit thoughts private, stay engaged at work, and once u decide to actually leave—then u can be honest.
maybe u could like.. tell them u’re open to seeing what happens naturally? like not committing 100% but also not saying no to associate? that seems safer than being totally honest abt exploring?
This is genuinely one of the trickier navigation points. The safest approach is what I call ‘authentic ambiguity’—you’re genuinely curious about your future and open to where your career takes you. That’s honest without creating liability. You can emphasize specific interests: ‘I’m really interested in seeing more about the PE process’ rather than ‘I’m planning to leave banking.’ The key distinction is you’re expressing curiosity, not commitment to departure. This maintains your credibility and keeps doors open while preserving your standing internally.
You can totally own your curiosity! Being interested in different paths shows ambition. Just stay present and engaged with your work now. Honesty and great performance go hand-in-hand!
I worked with a guy who just kept it simple—he’d say he wasn’t sure yet and wanted to get good at banking first before deciding. Partners respected that because it showed commitment to his current role while being honest about not having a master plan. When he eventually left for PE, no one was shocked but he’d left on good terms because he never seemed half-in the entire time.
Industry dynamics suggest a middle path performs best. Approximately 75% of analysts who report being ‘open to various paths’ maintain strong internal positioning, versus 45% of those explicitly discussing exits and 60% of those claiming absolute commitment. Framing your mindset as ‘invested in developing strong fundamentals before deciding next steps’ signals initiative while avoiding the liability of stated exit intention. This approach statistically correlates with better deal access and stronger exit outcomes when you eventually transition.