i’m about halfway through my analyst contract, and i’m genuinely not sure if i want to stay in banking for five more years to make associate. i like the work some days, but i’m increasingly curious about what’s on the other side—whether that’s VC, consulting, product management, or something else entirely.
the thing is, i don’t want to be obvious about it in conversations with senior people. like, if i start asking everyone “so why did you leave?”, it might get back to my team that i’m not committed, which could complicate things. but at the same time, a lot of these coffee chats feel like a waste if i’m not using them to actually figure out what i’m going to do next.
i’ve had a few conversations with people who’ve gone to different places—one guy went to VC, one person went to consulting, and one is now at a tech company doing product. but i realized i wasn’t really asking the right questions. i was kind of just listening to their story instead of actually digging into whether their path would make sense for me.
so here’s what i want to know: if you’re thinking about exit opportunities, what are the questions you actually need to ask that would help you figure out whether a particular path is real or just romanticized? like, are there things people don’t tell you about until you ask explicitly? and how do you actually frame these conversations so that you’re getting useful information without raising flags internally?
have you guys done exit coffee chats successfully? what would you change about how you approached them?
Frame exit conversations as exploring what’s next in general terms: ‘I’m thinking about how my banking experience might apply outside banking—curious how you saw it playing out.’ This signals intentionality without sounding like you’re bailing. Ask three concrete things: (1) What surprised you about the transition—both positive and painful? (2) What specific banking skill or perspective do they use most now? (3) If you were to do it again, would you have stayed in banking longer or made the jump earlier? The third question reveals regret or validation. You’ll learn whether people see their exit as an upgrade, a reset, or a dodge. One nuance: people often don’t mention deal flow challenges, compensation gaps, or cultural mismatch until you ask directed follow-ups. Do that work.
Exit patterns show distinct paths: VC typically requires 3-5 years of banking experience and relevant deal exposure; consulting values deal execution and client management but not technical depth; product roles weight analytical thinking but often require a reboot on product frameworks. Average time-to-role after exit: VC 6-12 months, consulting 2-4 months, product 8-18 months. Ask specifically: ‘How long were you interviewing, and did your banking background accelerate that or require repositioning?’ and ‘What did you miss most about banking your first six months?’ This reveals adjustment friction and candidly, whether the grass was actually greener.
people will always tell you their exit was the best decision they ever made, even if it wasnt. they wanna feel good about the choice. what you actually need is to read between the lines—do they sound happy or do they sound like theyre selling something? and honestly, just ask them straight up what they wish they’d known before they left. thats usually where the real answer is.
ooh framing it as ‘exploring whats next’ is smart!! makes it way less risky sounding while still getting the info you need. love that
I had a coffee with someone who left for VC, and when I asked what surprised them most, they got really honest. They said the deal pace was actually slower than banking, and the politics were somehow worse. But they also said the learning curve on companies and founders was way steeper and actually made them a better investor. That honest answer—comparing the trade off—helped me way more than just hearing ‘VC is amazing.’
Smart thinking ahead of time! These conversations will help you make the choice that’s right for you. Whatever path you choose, your banking foundation will serve you well!