Making VP in 4 years?
Is it possible to make VP in 4 years in investment banking? This would be 2 years analyst + 2 years associate, promoted to VP at beginning of 5th year. Many if not most banks now offer analysts early promotion to associate after 2 years, to lure them away from the buy-side. But I haven't seen any data points as to whether this extends down the line for VP promotions.
Has anyone seen A2A2VP in 4 years and how common is it across the street?
No unfortunately some even tack it on to the 4 years as an associate, making it 2+5.
No shortcuts to having your face to the grindstone for the better half of a decade before becoming an officer
sorry. would also recommend getting at least 6 months into your first year as a full time before planning out the path to senior banker. stuff changes even for the most resolute of us
There are always shortcuts. I'm looking at a LinkedIn of an MD right now who spent 3 years as an associate, 3 years as a VP and 2 years as a Director before promotion to MD. He was presumably ~31-32 when made MD. My question is whether this is one in a million, one in a thousand, one in a hundred, etc... that makes a big difference.
And I'm just thinking about my options. I don't really see VP as senior banker since at most places they're not driving business they're just managing the grunts. I see the VP's in my group and I think I would almost certainly be able to do their job in 4 years.
That guy is an absolute rockstar. One in several thousand if I had to bet. I have never heard of doing only 2 years at associate level before making VP. I was ~6 months into my 3rd year when I left. Even though I was the top rated associate in my group globally 2 years in a row, no early promote. VP was promised though so I knew what I was giving up before I left.
The BB I work at does early promotions to VP (stub + 2 full years as an associate). However, I've heard the juice ain't really worth the squeeze since you're having to grind that much harder than everyone else and micromanage your analysts so that the final product you send up the chain is as pristine as possible.
On top of that, you're going to be the best associate in your peer group so you're going to get crushed with more high-stress, live deal work (which may be a good thing in some people's eyes - you're just probably never going to get an opportunity to exhale and catch your breath).
This may be appealing in the short run, but seeing as how it looks like you want to make a long term career out of banking, it may not be an ideal option in the long run. Odds are you'll get burnt out quickly and adopt the "fuck it - I'm going to industry and live a normal life" attitude much quicker.
That is definitely the exception. In order to make the jump from director to MD, you have to be able to generate deal flow. People underestimate how difficult it can be to "sell" as a 30 year old to predominantly older management teams and ownership.
That being said, occasionally you come across someone who is brilliant, thinks differently than most (gives them unique angles or advantages in thinking about situations) and is personable. It is rare, but happens. A person that makes MD at a legitimate shop (EB/BB/MM) in their low 30s needs all three.
Watch OP get fired year 1.