Equity Research ---> Industry

No, there are "older" analysts in their 30s and 40s on the sell side.

You can go SS or BS to industry but it's not common. I talk to a lot of small caps where the management talent is not as strong and where few Wall St. analysts express interest, and I frequently receive offers to move to industry for anything from CFO track type positions to strategic advisor. For many companies, the Street and the stock market broadly speaking are pretty big mysteries and they want to have an "insider" on their team.

I think it's somewhat common, but there may sometimes be an extra step like b-school in between ER and industry because on campus recruiting is a big source of corp dev hires. I'm currently in my mid-20's, in ER and plan on applying to b-school this coming fall - I'd love to get into my industry post-MBA with a long-term eye on VC in said industry. Right now that's my career path of choice over fighting my way over to the buyside.

I know successful sell-side analysts that are older though. If you're good at it then it's a pretty nice life because a solid reputation and following can make an analyst's job a hell of a lot easier.

I think it's pretty common. Did an ER internship, my old analyst is now working in one of the biggest companies he covered. He said the company hired him because some ERs know the competition better than the companies' managements.

^^^^ very true and this is why I was curious - but what type of position is he in? I am working at a Big 4 accy firm right now ( sucks I know) and my client is a mid size E&P company and I just don't see where an ER guy would fit in??? I can def. see the value that they could add, but that would be more on a high level basis like upper mgmt. I mean the financial reporting group maybe or treasury??