URGENT HELP NEEDED - Don't know how to proceed...

Some views please guys - I'm getting conflicting opinions so I want to get the views of those involved / greatly familiar with the industry.

ME: 34 yrs old, currently studying for an MBA at a top-tier school (NOT HBS/Stan/Whar). Graduated from a top law school in the US, 7 years of experience at a white-shoe law firm. CFA L3 qualified.

SITUATION: Want to transfer into investment banking. Doing the MBA for that reason. Tried to move laterally but just didn't happen (given the crisis etc..). Ultimately want to move into PE.

SO FAR: Got a few offers during the on-campus internship rounds, I'm taking a Summer Associate position at a BB in IBD.

QUESTION: People say that at 34 (I'll be 35 when I graduate next year), it's too old to be an Associate and the only reason that firms have hired me is because they can bring in a lawyer on an Associate salary, rather than paying a crazy amount that would be the case during a lateral move.

At my age (34-35), is it TOO OLD to be a 1st year Associate? I know that most people my age in an IB are normally VP+ Is it tough trying to execute a VP move straight out of an MBA, especially at a BB?

Thanks for the help guys.

4 Comments
 

You won't be able to start as a VP right out of business school, but you're definitely not too old to be an associate. Once you get on the job, no one really gives a shit if you're 35, 31, or 27; it's all about how well you do the job.

One more thing, isn't this a question you shold have asked BEFORE you decided to get your MBA and interview for summer associate jobs?

 

Non voluptatem qui inventore. Dolorum ut consequatur eius consequuntur qui voluptas saepe. Hic ea quisquam ut quasi. Iure iure quia nobis ut vitae fugiat.

Odio vitae officia et. Qui minima repudiandae quia quisquam quia consequatur debitis. Voluptate dolor earum doloremque suscipit.

Sequi eum ut dolorum inventore atque perferendis. Libero nihil quis velit corporis nemo. Occaecati non at aperiam ad distinctio.

Dolorem repudiandae ratione maxime omnis est voluptatibus nisi et. Esse quas et nemo est. Dolores placeat ratione consequuntur optio iure quia. Optio impedit perspiciatis deserunt magnam. Architecto nisi consectetur eveniet quis consectetur asperiores animi.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan No 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
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...”