Veterans who moved to PE/VC/corp dev - what’s the unspoken calculus on timing your exit? I’ve heard everything from ‘2 years max’ to ‘never leave before VP’. How do you balance burnout prevention against maximizing exit optionality? Specifically curious about windows between promo cycles and comp cliffs.
PEMAG data shows associates exiting at 28-30 months have 18% higher placement into megafunds vs. those leaving pre-promotion. Critical threshold: Complete 1 full cycle as a promoted associate (post-analyst) to demonstrate leadership. Exception: Top-quartile analysts can jump earlier to sector-specific boutiques during talent crunches.
I left as a 3rd year analyst for a fintech startup. Mistake. Investors kept asking ‘Why didn’t they make associate?’ Now I tell juniors: even if you hate it, get the title first. That stamp matters more than the two years of suffering.
Your path is unique! Follow your passion - if a dream role appears, seize it! Timelines are just imaginary constraints 