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Best Jobs For Former Associates [2026]

By Chris Kolmar
Jul. 13, 2022
Last Modified and Fact Checked on: Feb. 8, 2026

Best Jobs for Former Associates [2026]

As we move through 2026, the landscape for associates continues to evolve. Many individuals in these roles are reassessing their career paths and exploring new opportunities in response to shifting job market dynamics.

While the enrollment in programs training future associates remains steady, there has been a notable decline in new applications for associate positions. This trend reflects broader labor market changes, prompting many associates to seek alternative career paths.

With a significant number of associates transitioning out of their roles, an important question arises:

What are they pursuing instead?

To find out, we analyzed the resumes of former associates, identifying the most common roles they pursued after leaving their positions. After reviewing thousands of resumes, we compiled a list of the top 100 jobs that former associates have moved into.

Some of the transitions may be unexpected and intriguing, so we’ve highlighted several notable career shifts below.

Best Jobs for Former Associates

  1. Attorney Jobs

  2. Partner Jobs

  3. Contract Attorney Jobs

  4. Principal Jobs

  5. General Counsel Jobs

  6. Senior Counselor Jobs

  7. Corporate Counsel Jobs

  8. Assistant General Counsel Jobs

  9. Assistant Vice President Jobs

  10. Staff Attorney Jobs

While some of these positions may be more appealing than others, they certainly stand out as viable options for former associates.

The complete list of these roles can be found below.

Detailed Ranking of the Most Common Jobs of Former Associates

Rank Job Title %
1 Sales Associate 2.05%
2 Customer Service Representative 1.7%
3 Attorney 1.14%
4 Cashier 1.06%
5 Internship 1.05%
6 Senior Associate 0.99%
7 Manager 0.84%
8 Assistant Manager 0.83%
9 Vice President 0.83%
10 Administrative Assistant 0.8%
11 Consultant 0.79%
12 Partner 0.72%
13 Server 0.6%
14 Owner 0.6%
15 Warehouse Associate 0.59%
16 Contract Attorney 0.58%
17 Volunteer 0.5%
18 Principal 0.48%
19 General Counsel 0.46%
20 Project Manager 0.44%
21 Security Officer 0.38%
22 Team Leader 0.38%
23 Supervisor 0.37%
24 Office Manager 0.36%
25 Director 0.35%
26 Office Assistant 0.34%
27 Substitute Teacher 0.34%
28 Analyst 0.33%
29 Teacher 0.32%
30 Sales Representative 0.32%
31 Senior Counselor 0.31%
32 Operations Manager 0.3%
33 Machine Operator 0.3%
34 Technician 0.29%
35 Specialist 0.29%
36 Account Manager 0.28%
37 Teller 0.27%
38 Crew Member 0.26%
39 Store Manager 0.26%
40 Customer Service Associate 0.26%
41 Research Assistant 0.26%
42 Pharmacist Technician 0.24%
43 Customer Service Trainer 0.24%
44 Corporate Counsel 0.22%
45 Receptionist 0.22%
46 Assistant 0.22%
47 Assistant General Counsel 0.22%
48 Material Handler 0.22%
49 Registered Nurse 0.21%
50 Business Analyst 0.21%
51 Program Manager 0.21%
52 Assistant Vice President 0.21%
53 Coordinator 0.2%
54 Certified Nursing Assistant 0.2%
55 Associate Attorney 0.2%
56 Driver 0.2%
57 Senior Consultant 0.2%
58 Warehouse Worker 0.19%
59 Assistant Store Manager 0.19%
60 Forklift Operator 0.18%
61 Finance Analyst 0.18%
62 Staff Attorney 0.18%
63 Associate General Counsel 0.18%
64 Human Resources Coordinator 0.18%
65 Medical Assistant 0.17%
66 Teacher Assistant 0.17%
67 Senior Analyst 0.17%
68 Senior Vice President 0.17%
69 Solo Practitioner 0.16%
70 Manufacturing Team Member 0.16%
71 Security Guard 0.16%
72 Graphic Designer 0.16%
73 Account Executive 0.16%
74 Technical Support Specialist 0.15%
75 Business Developer 0.15%
76 President 0.15%
77 Shift Supervisor 0.15%
78 Legal Counsel 0.15%
79 Home Health Aid 0.15%
80 Senior Manager 0.15%
81 Adjunct Professor 0.15%
82 Founder 0.15%
83 Managing Director 0.15%
84 Marketing Internship 0.15%
85 Agent 0.14%
86 Associate Director 0.14%
87 Owner/operator 0.14%
88 Clerk 0.14%
89 Case Manager 0.14%
90 Chiropractor, Sole Practitioner 0.14%
91 General Manager 0.13%
92 Merchandiser 0.13%
93 Executive Assistant 0.13%
94 Managing Partner 0.13%
95 Research Associate 0.12%
96 Hostess 0.12%
97 Billing Specialist 0.12%
98 Ship Worker 0.12%
99 Data Analyst 0.12%
100 Teaching Assistant 0.12%

Most Common Jobs for Former Associates

  1. Sales Associate

  2. Customer Service Representative

  3. Attorney

  4. Cashier

  5. Internship

  6. Senior Associate

  7. Manager

  8. Assistant Manager

  9. Vice President

  10. Administrative Assistant

These roles are not only substantial career options but also leverage the skills and experiences that former associates possess, providing a pathway to new opportunities.

How We Determined the Best Jobs for Former Associates

Utilizing data from our extensive database of over 7 million resumes, we focused on those that listed ‘associate’ in their work history. We then tracked the subsequent roles that these individuals transitioned into, organizing them by frequency.

The initial ranked list was formed from this analysis.

To highlight the most intriguing career paths, we sifted through the ranked list for positions that:

  • Appeared in less than 1% of all new jobs
  • Were not included in the top 100 most common jobs within our database

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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