I worked as an associate (i.e. I worked supporting the investing activity of 4 full time partners) for two years prior to graduate school.

• It's really fun - For the most part you spend your time thinking about new technologies/companies and interacting with people who are convinced they are onto the next big thing - this is a highly charged and energizing job. I'd argue it's one of the most intellectually stimulating jobs that exists in the world. For evidence of this , look at what jobs people self select into after they've already made life changing amounts of wealth. Mostly they become VC's or investors, because even aside from compensation, it's a blast to do day to day

• It's still finance - Originally I thought early stage investing would be mainly about themes and visions for the future. This is partially true, but in the end VC's are still money managers, whom compete solely on the basis of who can make the most money against other money managers. Comfort and familiarity with financial valuation, deal terms, etc is a necessary part of the job for execution purposes

• You feel important - VC is a subset of private equity, which is on the "buy side" of finance - meaning that you manage pools of capital rather than sell services/products to buyers. (this is what investment banks do). At the core as an allocator of early stage capital, you are creating jobs in a very direct fashion. (every ~100K of capital translate to a job) Because you are on the buy side, sell side firms (lawyers, banks, etc) invest a lot in wining/dining you to when it comes time to select service providers you consider them

• It's a lonely job - While you are always meeting people (other investors, entrepreneurs, execs, etc), it's like going on a non stop series of first dates. You have many meetings to suss out if there could be a mutually beneficial relationship to invest time into. But you don't have the repeated interactions over time (at least at my junior level) that build long term friendships like I experienced when working in the corporate world. (having friends in each department, having lunch with friends/coworkers everday, etc) You are often shuttling from place to place, and may go for days or week or two at at time without spending a lot of time with your fellow investors.

• You are a professional networker - VC's who just provide capital are fast becoming dinosaurs. A large part of the value you provide is in being able to help the startups you invest in with not only business issues, but also people issues. Hiring, firing, candidates, useful contacts, etc. If you don't enjoy being a connector of people and ideas, you won't enjoy working in VC. Additionally, If you aren't good at leveraging/tapping into your organically cultivated network, you will not do so well.

• You are never THE man - Even if you invest in a company that goes on to become FB, you aren't Mark Zuckerberg. You could be rich, powerful, influential - but in the end of the day it's the people you invest in that own their success. To work in VC you have to really enjoy the role of being a teacher/mentor/helper behind the scenes, as you will not be on the frontline taking the credit for anything, if you get envy or desire this kind of overt power - VC probably is not for you.

• It will teach you the value of time - Most VC's are flooded with thousands and thousands of deals a year that they want to consider for investment, yet will only end up doing a handful as an entire firm. (like 10 or less, depending on the size of the fund) Also partners sit on boards, which have recurring meetings on a regular basis and in principal also require time invested directly in helping the company. VC's are always having to make sometimes very sensitive tradeoffs (like not meeting company X or person Y or doing favor Z) between things that require a time investment. Thus when a VC tells you sorry I don't have time, I have other priorities - they aren't blowing you off, they really just see something else they are doing as more valuable at the moment

• You wil learn to love turbulence - Early stage investing is not for the faint of heart. As one friend in VC told me, our fund typically sees a single investment return the entire fund, so we are getting like 50x our money in. In the span of only a year or two, you will see your investments fly, fail, stall and deal with all kinds of crazy things. If you get too emotionally caught up in the fate of any individual thing and get hangups, this is probably not the business for you to be in.

• The line between devastating failure or eternal glory is very thin - It was really hard to tell when something was going to explode - sometimes businesses with tons of great investors and traction would go bad quickly - and on the flipside some companies that seemed to be flailing or confused suddenly rise up and are off to the races.

Hope this is helpful. I'll add more if I think of other interesting additions.