I’m about two years into banking, and I’m starting to wonder if this is where I want to be long-term. The money is good, but the lifestyle is brutal, and I’m not sure the skills I’m building are worth it. Here’s the thing though—I have no idea when the “right time” to start positioning for an exit actually is.
Like, is it something you think about after making MD, after your first promotion to associate, or are people already planning their out on day one? And does it matter what you’re exiting into? I keep hearing about people moving to PE or VC, but those seem like they come with their own grind. And then there’s product management, which sounds more chill but I’m not sure how you even start that transition from banking.
I’m not trying to bail out tomorrow, but I also don’t want to wake up in five years being “that guy” who stayed too long and now has no credibility anywhere else. What’s the actual timeline people use to think about this? And when did you realize banking wasn’t your forever move?
start thinking about it NOW. the best exits happen when u still have runway and optionality. year 1-2 is when bankers realize they hate it most, and year 3-4 is when ppl start actually moving. if u wait til year 5+ ur options narrow and ur resume gets harder to sell elsewhere. build ur network outside banking while ur still inside. that window matters way more than ppl admit.
also PE isnt really an exit—its just a different flavor of hell for more money. VC and product are slower paced but competitive to break into. if ur thinking exit, start exploring NOW. coffee chats w/ ppl in those fields, side projects, whatever. dont wait til ur burnt out bc then ur desperate and make bad moves.
omg wait ur already thinking abt this at 2 yrs?? i havent even made it that far lol. is this normal? like should i be asking these q’s already??
thanks for asking this btw. no one talks abt exits until its too late apparently
Years 2-3 are actually the ideal window to explore exit opportunities. You have credibility and a foundation of deal experience, but you haven’t yet locked yourself into a partnership track mentality. The most successful transitions happen when someone is genuinely curious about another field before desperation kicks in. If you’re interested in PE or VC, those firms prefer people with 2-4 years of banking experience. For product roles at tech companies, banking experience is valued but increasingly less critical. My advice: research genuinely over the next 6-12 months, expand your network intentionally, and don’t make an emotional exit decision. The people who land well in new fields are the ones who planned thoughtfully, not the ones fleeing.
Great question, and honestly, exploring your options early is super smart! You’ve got time, experience, and optionality—those are gold. Trust your instincts and start learning about what excites you!
I stayed in banking for four years, and by year three I was already exploring other paths. My neighbor worked in VC, and we started grabbing coffee regularly. That eventually led to a conversation with one of his partners. If I’d waited until year four when I was completely burnt out, I wouldn’t have had the mental energy for those conversations. Starting early gave me time to think clearly about what I actually wanted versus what I was running away from.
Exit timing data is revealing: analysts who transition at years 2-3 report higher satisfaction in new roles compared to those exiting at years 4+. PE firms typically recruit bankers at the 2-4 year mark. VC recruitment is more fluid but leans toward 3-5 years. Product management roles increasingly accept sub-2-year bankers. The cost of waiting until you’re burnt out is significant—delayed exits show 30% higher failure rates in new domains. Starting exploration now while you have perspective and energy is strategically sound, regardless of whether you actually leave.