Credit Analyst Career Path

Hoping you would have received some responses -_- ...... I'm out of undergrad and in a hybrid commercial administrator/credit analyst/BDR assistant position at a local credit union in MA (~500MM). The commercial dept is less than a decade old, so I wear different hats and am learning at a very accelerated pace (Psych major - took one entry level econ course, no bus. mgt, accounting or finance classes). But like I said, I'm learning. I would like advice on salary progression and exit opportunities. Should I focus on credit analysis - advance to underwriting - and hopefully develop a foundation for PE and ibanking opportunities down the road, and patiently await that salary leap? Or should I keep balancing this unique hybrid job, maintain equal focus on sales and strengthening our portfolio - and perhaps gain a little more pay a little more quickly than the analyst route. But kinda be tied into community banking. And whereas the floodgates will someday open to leadership positions both in my credit union and others around the area, I will miss out on those crazy hour weeks and even crazier pay that I dream about awaiting my 9-5

I mean there are many paths depending on how analytically inclined you are. You could try and go for a larger bank within the middle market commercial credit space. You could try for corporate banking which is basically larger company credit analysis mixed with more "higher " level cross sells. You could look for a senior loan fund. Depending on what area you specialize in you could find a focused industry group. Or you could leave banking all together and go to either a small company finance/treasury department or a big company finance department. Smaller company would probably utilize your skills more since they would be seeking the type of finance that you are currently providing.

Tons of other paths, but these are the ones that quickly come to mind.