After you have become an experienced Analyst, there are going to be a multitude of different exit opportunities available to you. Some will be a continuation at the same company, typical for someone as an Analyst, and some might be incredibly unique and uncommon available only to you. All are awesome, it just depends on […]
After you have become an experienced Analyst, there are going to be a multitude of different exit opportunities available to you.
Some will be a continuation at the same company, typical for someone as an Analyst, and some might be incredibly unique and uncommon available only to you.
All are awesome, it just depends on what interests you, what your passionate about, and the path you want to take.
1In a lot of businesses these days, entry-level employees start out as an Analyst. The next step is the first time you get to choose your path and opportunity.
There are lots of people who choose to become an Analyst simply for the wide array of options and exit opportunities it provides you.
Pro Tip: Try to think and visualize yourself in 5, 10, 15 years, what are you doing, wearing and working?
2This is both incredibly important and incredibly difficult early on in your career.
Your first position after being an Analyst should be something that interests you and aligns with your long-term goals and aspirations.
There could be an angle or a side to a certain business where you see a large open opportunity, and you feel is worth pursuing.
3The position you take should teach you something unique or help give you a blueprint on how to exploit one the open opportunities available to you.
As an Associate, the training wheels start to come off and you get a taste of what the next level is all about.
4Another incredibly important aspect of the exit opportunity you choose is how the company and its market is going to perform over the next 3-5 years.
Even if you go to a top company, brand name in a declining niche, it's going to be difficult for you to grow your earnings and your career.
At the end of the day, you are trying to find a place where you can grow, learn, and make good money.
5Most often those come from industries and companies where they are experiencing lots of growth and opportunity.
The position and the company you work for are also investments in and of itself.
Your future earnings are going to be predicated on that industry, and from that company.
So, any company, and any position, you are investing yourself, your earning potential, and your career into.
Tip: Scope out the company’s market and future outlook before taking a position.
6Work is going to consume a lot of your life, and time. And it's definitely for the best if you hitch your wagon to good people.
From our experience, we enjoyed working for good people, and did much better, than when we worked for bad people.
Your wagon will go the farthest if it's with good people, and at a good company (doesn't have to be the best company).
7It’s incredibly important for both your learning and development as a professional to surround yourself with other people you like and admire and enjoy being around.
It will make those tough times a lot easier, and you'll have a lot more motivation to go above and beyond for them, which is a recipe for success.
8Your life is a big part of your career and even though you might be offered a better salary or a better position, trust your gut if you feel one of these types of opportunities will do you more harm than good.
They say you are a collection of the 10 people you choose to surround yourself with the most. So the best way to become the best version of yourself is to surround yourself with the best people you can find.
9With every new position, comes change.
It's smart to think about what your life will look like working at the new company and post-acceptance of the exit opportunity.
Questions to consider or ask yourself are...
10As important as your career and advancement is, it’s also incredibly important to consider your life in the selection of an exit opportunity.
As many are aware, your work-life balance is very difficult at the beginning of your career.
That is why an attractive element of an exit opportunity is the hours you will work and hopefully the less of a time commitment.
12You will have to make some sacrifices and tradeoffs, but its ultimately up to you to choose which you’re going to make, and which position you will make them for.
You’ll be the most motivated to make constant sacrifices if you truly believe in what you're doing and if you feel the opportunity is worthwhile to pursue.
13The most important part of any opportunity is the relationship you have with your boss. Period. We have heard the saying “people don’t leave companies they leave bosses.”
14That’s why in any opportunity the most important part of your position is to have a boss whose understanding and recognizes you are a person too.
If you feel your potential boss is only going to use you and it’s going to be a one-way relationship, no matter the company or boss it’s not worth it.
15It’s important to have a mutual respect with your boss and have a good understanding of each other’s role, and what’s going to be expected.
When you have your interview or meeting with your future company, try to get a feel for the type of relationship you would have and what the chemistry would be like.
Fit is incredibly important in any position. It's tough to tell early on from the limited interaction you might have with a potential boss at a new company, in a new position, but trust your gut if you feel something is off.
16Having a boss who is there to help you and guide you can be one of the best things you can find, and the most valuable thing you receive from a position.
Our Tip: Choose your bosses wisely, your development and progression will have a lot to do with them.
17Things change, life changes. Any opportunity you're in, you're not married to, and you can always change it up. It might not make sense to you, or anyone else, but it doesn't have to.
One of our favorite quotes from Steve Jobs is, "You can't connect the dots looking forward, only looking backward."
Just because something was for you 3 or 5 years ago, doesn't mean it will be the thing for you forever.
18Everyone likes to plan long term and think they have everything figured out, but it's difficult to do since things change all the time, especially your work, and your career.
Our Tip: Be flexible and open to any and all paths available to you.
19When selecting an exit opportunity, it’s a good idea to keep in mind the skills or techniques a certain position will offer you or teach you.
Certain industries or companies have a very interesting way of analyzing deals, understanding the marketplace, and implementing their strategy to make decisions.
If you feel a certain position will offer you a unique mindset or technique that will be valuable to you or your future career, then take advantage of it.
The skills, techniques, and experience you gain in a position are incredibly valuable.
20Another important factor when selecting an exit opportunity is if you can foresee a certain industry or area being profitable in the future.
This way you can position yourself early and well.
It's also great if you're able to see an angle or an area of opportunity within a business or start a profitable business out of it.
21If you believe in a certain asset class, product type, or industry, take it into consideration when you're choosing an exit opportunity.
You'll be more inclined, motivated, and determined to go above and beyond for the position if you have a sense of belief in the overlying industry.
22No position or exit opportunity is going to have everything you want, the perfect boss, the perfect company, and the perfect environment.
There's always going to be trade-offs and sacrifices that you’re going to make, and it’s up to you to decide which ones.
Some jobs will be good in one area but lacking in another area. It comes down to your priorities, and what you value.
23Every exit opportunity is going to have plusses and minuses.
Ultimately its up to you to choose which you feel will be best.
There are a lot of elements to consider when making your decision, but here a few to keep in mind…
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