I know I’m not at associate yet, but I’m already thinking about what comes after banking. Not because I hate it, but because I want to be intentional instead of just reacting when I’m burned out or bored.
The thing is, I see a lot of discourse about exits being this murky thing that happens to you—you reach some breaking point and suddenly LinkedIn shows you’re in PE or tech. But I also see people who seem to have actually planned their exit two years in advance, and they land somewhere way better than the people who panic-interviewed at year 3.
I’m trying to figure out: Is it actually useful to start thinking about this now, or does early exit planning just distract you from doing good work as an analyst? And more importantly, which network moves actually set you up for different paths? Like, are the people you want to know for PE different from the people you want to know for tech? Or VC?
I’m not trying to run away from banking, I just don’t want to wake up in three years wishing I’d planned better. Has anyone thought about this this early and found it actually useful?
ur actually thinking about this the right way. ppl who panic-exit do it badly. u should be thinking about where u want to be in 5 years NOW, but not obsessing over it. here’s the thing—PE, VC, and tech all want u to have banking experience plus specific context. so ur real move is: pick which direction interests u, then actually understand what u need to know to be credible there. go deep on deals that matter for that industry.
wow this is actually really mature thinking. I haven’t thought this far ahead yet but ur framing it in a way that makes sense. thinking about ur actual interests is better than just drifting into whatever happens
Early planning is genuinely strategic, not distracting. The most successful exits I’ve seen involved analysts who identified target industries or firms 18-24 months early and positioned themselves accordingly. This doesn’t mean you work poorly or are checked out from banking—quite the opposite. When you know where you’re heading, you’re more selective about which deals sharpen the right skills. Someone targeting venture capital should prioritize tech advisory work and startups their bank advises. Someone targeting PE should focus on leveraged transactions. This targeted approach actually makes you a better analyst because you’re purposeful. The networking component is identical: build relationships horizontally within banking first, then intentionally expand into your target ecosystem. Early relationship-building with bankers who’ve exited to your target sector is invaluable. They’re your credibility bridges.
Your future-focused thinking is fantastic! Planning strategically actually strengthens your present work. You’ve got the right instinct!
i started thinking about PE like a year in and honestly it made me better at my job because i actually cared about the deals differently. i wasn’t just surviving, i was thinking about what i’d learn. met this associate who went to apollo after three years and we’d grab coffee sometimes, He’d explain how his banking deals actually mapped to PE thesis. that context made me way sharper. early planning doesn’t hurt if ur doing it right.
Research on banking exits indicates analysts who identified target sectors by year 1.5 experience 35% higher placement success rates at target firms versus those deciding at year 2.5 or later. The advantage stems from three factors: relationship depth, skill accumulation in relevant verticals, and demonstrated interest credibility. Early planners also show higher compensation outcomes—approximately 10% higher base salaries—likely due to more targeted negotiation and better role-to-fit matching.
Network composition matters significantly: PE targets value relationships with deal teams and credit analysts, while VC exit success correlates with technology sector relationships and founder/operator connections built during banking tenure. Early identification allows you to accumulate the right relationships rather than scrambling retroactively.
here’s what most ppl get wrong tho—they think early exit planning means they’re disloyal or whatever. nah. it just means ur professional. every senior banker thinking clearly about their own career was already thinking about next moves by analyst. so yeah plan, but dont broadcast it. do ur work, build ur skills, cultivate ur network in the direction that matters. its just being intentional instead of passive.
honestly i think the people who end up stuck are the ones who didn’t think about it early. they floated through analyst years doing generic banking work, and then suddenly theyre at your two-year mark wondering how to position for tech or PE when they don’t have the relationships or the relevant deal experience. ur already ahead by asking this question honestly.