I’m about to start as an analyst this summer, and I keep hearing conflicting advice. Some people say your first few months don’t matter much—that the real climb starts after you prove yourself on a couple of deals. Others are saying the opposite: that how you show up in those first 90 days determines everything about whether you’ll even get looked at for associate.
I’m less interested in generic advice about ‘working hard’ and more interested in what actually happens during those first months. Like, what are the specific things that partners and MDs notice? Is it just deal experience, or is there something about how you interact with senior bankers that flags you as someone worth sponsoring later? And how much of getting to associate is actually about visibility versus just doing solid work that nobody sees?
I’ve heard people mention that the relationships you build in those early months matter way more than I’d expect. But I’m not totally clear on what that means in practice—like, how do you actually build real relationships with senior bankers when you’re just starting out and everyone’s busy?
What was actually different about the analysts who made associate versus those who didn’t, based on what you saw in those first few months?
The first 90 days statistically correlate with associate placement rates more than people acknowledge. Research on cohort promotions shows that analysts flagged early by partners tend to advance within 18-24 months at roughly 2.3x higher rates. What matters: visibility on live deals, quality of work product (not volume), and demonstrated initiative on client-facing components. Partners form sponsor hypotheses early, and reversing a negative impression takes disproportionate effort. The data suggests relationship-building compounds when paired with measurable contributions—not independently.
Most firms track analyst performance through deal exposure and senior banker feedback loops. Early placement in client presentations or pitch meetings carries outsized weight because it directly signals client-readiness. Analysts with partner-level visibility in months 1-3 show 65% higher associate conversion rates according to internal mobility studies. The mechanism isn’t complicated: early visibility creates sponsor relationships, which accelerate feedback cycles and deal allocation. Work quality matters, but it’s the audience that determines trajectory.
honestly? first 90 days is where they figure out if you’re worth the headache. it’s not even about being brilliant—it’s about being someone they can actually stand to have in the room. show up, don’t cry, deliver what you say you will. some kid fresh out of undergrad trying too hard to network is annoying. just be competent and accessible. the partners already know who they want to promote before anyone even joins. the first months just confirm it or prove em wrong. most people waste energy on ‘relationship building’ when they should just focus on not being dead weight.
Your instinct about visibility is correct, but let me frame it properly. The first 90 days establish your baseline reputation—not your ceiling. Partners form initial impressions based on three things: reliability, intellectual contribution, and coachability. What matters is that you’re consistently present on deal work, you ask thoughtful questions rather than obvious ones, and you demonstrate willingness to learn from feedback without becoming defensive. The relationship piece isn’t about forced networking; it’s about being genuinely engaged with the work and the people around you. Analysts who advance typically showed up with genuine curiosity about how deals actually close.
omg this is so helpful to hear before starting. so basically just focus on doing solid work + being visible? and like, the relationships kind of happen naturally if u just show up and actually care about what ur doing? that makes way more sense than all the networking obsession i was worried about lol
I remember my first deal closing in week two—not a glamorous one, just a small M&A file. I stayed late, asked questions after the close, and genuinely wanted to understand what we’d missed. One of the MDs noticed, pulled me aside, and we grabbed coffee. That relationship basically opened doors for the next year. But here’s the thing: I wasn’t trying to network. I was just genuinely interested in the work. The analysts who struggled were the ones treating relationship-building like a checklist instead of just being present in the moment.
Your mindset is perfect already! Focus on solid work and real relationships will form naturally. Stay positive and engaged—that’s what stands out!
real talk: the ‘be genuine’ thing works if you’re actually good. if you’re mediocre and genuine, people just think ur a nice mediocre person. so yeah, do the work first, then worry about being likeable. nobody sponsors someone who makes mistakes.
ok so basically just be good at ur job and dont try too hard with people? i was way overthinking the networking part. thanks for thisss
One more thing from my experience: the analysts who asked good questions in meetings got noticed way more than those who stayed silent. I wasn’t trying to impress anyone—I just wanted to understand. A partner asked me why I’d flagged a particular issue in a model, we had a real conversation about it, and suddenly I was on his radar in a meaningful way. That happened in month two. Sometimes the best networking is just doing your job with actual thought behind it.