2-3 year "stint" as associate?

How many people go into banking post-mba with the plan to make a few bucks, build a resume, and get out? They always say you are a "banker for life" post-mba, but there must be some percentage of people that leave and/or plan to leave after a few years?

Which brings me to my second, related question. How are most people filtered out of banks? Obviously not all associates end up as MDs... Do they quit? Fired? What % actually makes it to the top?

Thanks.

3 Comments
 

nothing is "for life" in this industry, so don't worry about it man. a sizeable number of associates leave to do better things.

 

are available.

1) Private equity, other buyside stuff 2) M&A business development for big companies 3) Other functional work in Industry (remember an MBA is a "general" business degree) 4) Start your own business

and that's just off the top of my head.

Not everybody gets to be a VP, somebody has to leave.

 

Occaecati occaecati iusto nostrum. Quia veritatis et eos perferendis molestiae deleniti adipisci. Voluptatem nihil aut deleniti libero dolorem et dolor. Autem delectus quibusdam at atque non debitis cumque aut.

Accusantium tempore ab libero assumenda voluptatibus atque rerum. Sed deleniti iusto minus voluptatem itaque. Sint similique ab in ut maxime.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (50) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”