The analyst through associate years are awful. When does it end?

then quit

You don't even say what is awful about it. Hard to respond to something this vague. 

Analyst and associate years are paradise. No deal outcomes fall on your shoulders. There are perks at each level, trust 

Better get used to pushing that boulder up the mountain, one must imagine Sisyphus happy. 

never. build your own thing.

The path to VP/Director has not gotten longer - it’s gone back to normal. People weren’t usually VPs at 27 pre-2020 unless they were a broker and just had the title externally. Promotion cycles sped up massively during the pandemic - more deals, more firms, more seats. Some of those promotions were justified as it was impossible to hold back truly talented individuals during that period. But now that the industry is right sizing, we’re just converging back to “normal”. Which means analysts and associates have to compete to get to the next level. 

In all seriousness - VP level can be worse. You are responsible for all the modeling (if you have a bad analyst or associate you just need to do it yourself if you’re on a live deal) and you need to be able to negotiate all the docs and close. AKA you do everything. The push from associate / senior associate to VP is also challenging because you are trying to prove you can get promoted. Analyst years - sure the hours suck but you have no responsibility. At the VP level - my hours still suck. I just have more flexibility with where I put them in. 

Analyst years are boring as hell after your first 18 months. I’ve learned all I can 2.5 years in and I don’t see myself being promoted to associate until December. Associate does basically the same thing I do as I’ve taken on those responsibilities. I work 60+ and hours a week and sometimes all weekend on excel sheets and PowerPoints. I keep thinking CRE isn’t the answer for me and may want to go to leveraged finance but don’t wanna start at the bottom again.

2.5 years in and want to put my head through a wall most days.