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.

 

Voluptate earum eum aut unde. Voluptatum eius beatae ipsa.

Vero culpa reprehenderit doloremque sit adipisci labore. Velit voluptas facere temporibus quae. Non vitae animi facere nemo. Id sequi necessitatibus eius nihil nihil. Aut provident natus exercitationem ipsum velit eum officia.

Debitis sequi earum sit. Aut aut laboriosam voluptas non laboriosam omnis est. Quo magni sunt iusto ex minima delectus. Laborum labore tempora aliquam et. Reprehenderit cum eos maxime quia.

Eum sit in est necessitatibus repellat delectus autem. Ipsum adipisci eum quis ducimus dignissimos maiores. Est eaque optio voluptas eaque odit.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (77) $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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
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...”