Unlike Analysts, who typically stay at a bank for two or three years, Associates are considered candidates for long-term banking careers. However, that doesn’t mean that many Associates don’t move on to do other things after a few years of banking. Hedge funds and other buy-side jobs tend to attract ex-Associates. Corporate Development jobs are appealing to those bankers that want to stay in finance but are looking for a better lifestyle. It is not unusual for Associates to join a company for which they had helped advised as a banker. Some Associates start their own businesses or join startups. The one area where Associate opportunities are far more limited than those for Analysts is in the world of Private Equity. Private Equity firms rarely hire Associates who were not Analysts previously or have not had private equity experience.