How to not get stuck at VP

How do you avoid getting stuck at VP in an investment banking career? It's the most common level to get stuck at, and getting stuck is a problem due to the up-or-out environment of IB. What tips do you have for progressing into the upper levels of investment banking?

 
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The sooner you recognize that its a sales/relationship job, the better positioned you are for a long term career. I've seen a lot of stuck VPs and its often because they want to think their job is all about analysis and process management. Those skills cap out at associate, the bank doesn't need to pay a VP 500k to check models and check boxes. Need to be good at interacting with clients and helping the MDs win pitches.

 

From what I've seen, good VPs recognize that at some point they need to start transitioning from a pure execution role into a relationship / sales role - they start sourcing more and thinking more big picture in terms of new verticals the group can transition into, developing their own network more (and having something to show for it), etc.

 

Certainly not analysts and I think it would be hard for an associate to demonstrate that potential in a way that is given heavy weight in evaluations. Sure, on the margins it can help a bit. But associates looking to get ahead should focus more on execution and less on looking like future MD material.

 

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