There have been several threads covering the value of an MBA in general in the past few months. Looking at input from experienced users on this site, it seems like the degree is most beneficial for people looking to either switch industries (Banking/Consulting), take a break, or re-brand themselves if they can get into a reputable program.

One facet that hasn't been discussed in depth as of late has been the MBA's value in the Private Equity world. This topic has been glossed over in much older threads. But these days I often read that the landscape has changed somewhat, so its hard to know what information still applies.

Wondering how long the whole process takes for people on average? I.e. how many firms did you interview with before you closed on an acceptable offer? how many weeks/months? Anyone feeling frustrated with the process? Feel like i've gotten to a bunch of late stage or final rounds but no offer yet :/

i'm looking for mm and growth equity positions, but any insight on experiences would be helpful. just want to get a sense of how long it takes to get "primed" for perfecting interviews and getting closer to offer (obviously most candidates are gonna fail a few times before they get better at this process and can seal a deal for offers) .

thx and good luck.

I've come across people talking of 100 hour-weeks umpteen times, but in that, how much time does one actually WORK?

I'm curious to know, 'cause I did my first 90 hour week last week and being in a boutique PE, that translates to actually working at least 80 hours (no face time, no idle time, 10 hours off for lunch and short breaks, which is stretching it).

So, what are your effective working hours?

Right now I'm a junior in college about to do a summer in New York with smaller BB and I'm trying to look down the road into what I want to do long term and how I can get there. A thorough discussion of the importance of getting a return offer and about deciding my future career path too early aside, what is the best path? I've heard different things about getting into GE. On the one hand heading to a MM bank would give me greater exposure to deals that happen at that size and perhaps would allow me to build up a network. I've heard that analysts at Piper end up having a fair amount of face time with CEO's etc. On the other hand there's definitely a lot that goes with the brand associated with being at a BB and maybe it would end up being a better learning experience anyway. Thoughts?

So I'm just trying to dive into learning a lot more about growth equity. I feel like I've gone to quite a few of the top GE firms websites, read news articles and talked to a few professionals, but one question that I've been afraid to ask is which shops follow the associate sourcing model and are predominantly cold-calling centers and which GE shops have associates taking a more technical role? Or really what other models are there?

Thanks a ton,
wallmonkey511

Hi guys need help with something. Where could I find a list of PE's interested in companies with a size of roughly 7-10MM and a negative EBITDA? It can become a very profitable shop with scalability and the last PE that looked at it was very interested if it wasn't such a small investment, with that said most of the PE's I have dealt with will not look at this transaction. Any guidance or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Anyone have any contacts they'd recommend from CPI? I've been having a tough time getting in touch with them. I'm looking more at top growth equity shops/later stage venture firms in the northeast. That said, anyone at the firm that you've had a good experience with would be appreciated. Feel free to PM me so as not to out their emails on the public forum.

Thanks.

Does anyone have PE firms around D.C. Metro Area? I am looking forward to relocate to D.C. and would like to explore opportunities there.

Anybody know the culture of the nyc office or any specific groups within the nyc office? Interested in bschool placement, lifestyle, compensation and any other helpful information. Thanks all!

Any info. on these guys (specifically the interview process) would be really helpful. Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone. I have a phone interview with a PE firm that mainly hires consultants and was told to be prepared to walk through a case.

I'm assuming that this will be a consulting-style case - am I wrong? What should I expect regarding finance/valuation?

Past cases from similar consultant-friendly shops would be appreciated. Happy to send you the name of the firm if you PM me.

Thanks guys.

Would it be wise to take an entry level position at a small PE shop or start out at a boutique I-bank if goal is to eventually end up in PE/VC?

Hi all,

Considering interviewing for this company. Nearly $10 billion AUM. They do 1/3 equity co-invest, 1/3 mezz investments and 1/3 fund of funds - no control investments. Ultimately I was hoping to break into middle market PE, which I likely can still do, but probably with a smaller fund (think $200MM to $1B latest fund size). Was hoping to get some of your thoughts. Is it better to get a larger name on my resume (I come from middle market i-banking) even though I won't be doing control investments, or is it better to get the direct PE experience even though it might be a less well known fund? I'm definitely interested in the operational side of things, which unfortunately I won't get much of with the opportunity mentioned above.

Thanks in advance!

I have been doing some research about the differences in the specialized masters programs, such as Financial Engineering, Finance, and a few others related in comparison to the MBA. I am applying to graduate school this upcoming fall and would like some advice as to what grad program will help me get into IB, HF, and PE.

I would like to one day start as an analyst and move up respectively, but I am thinking more on getting a MSF degree and work towards achieving a CFA charter and other certifications (Series 79, 7, FMA, etc.).

If anyone could help me distinguish which masters program (MBA or MSF) is best for PE/IB that would be of much help. Thanks.

Guys,

Quick question. What search firms typically represent the top growth equity/later stage VC firms out there? I'm thinking guys like Accel, TCV, JMI, Battery, Bessemer, Highland, Polaris, Bain Capital, etc. I know Glocap typically does a nice job but I don't know many of the others. Would appreciate any insight here, and to the extent you've had successful interactions with a specific recruiter in the past, maybe introductions/recommendations.

Thanks!

I recently got an offer with a lower-MM PE fund that had some issues raising its most recent fund and am hesitant to accept. I am also not crazy about the firm in general. Alternatively, I can accept a third year offer to stay with my group (top industry group at a non-MS/GS BB) and recruit over the next several months for opportunities with other funds. What do you recommend? Do you view a third year as a positive or negative for PE recruiting?

Anybody have a sense of what guys at top firms like Mount Kellett, Cerberus, Madison Dearborn, etc. pay to top execs. We all know of the hedge fund lists of top paid managers, guys who make 3,4,$900 million+. Considering many of these private equity firms are the same in terms of AUM and fee structure, is it safe to say that the top guys at Bain Capital or Hellman & Friedman are clearing similar numbers, $200M+ in a good year?

If we talk about acquisition of telecommunication companies,So we are one of the leading investment banking firms in acquisition of telecom companies in Springfield.

Hi Everyone,

Has anybody recruited for Mithril Capital? I'm done with summer recruiting, but I'm curious to learn more about them. I do know their basic investment focus and have read all the relevant news articles on them, but I'm wondering if anybody has had any kind of interaction with them?

Or do you guys just do the deals and then once you buy it out, it's passed to a different group? I am assuming this varies by firm. The reason I ask is because it could be really time consuming to monitor the portfolio if you are in the middle of a large deal.

I am wondering what stuff do you think I can do in college that can be most beneficial to breaking into or learning about Buy side?

portfolio management competitions? Equity Analysis etc

So I'm very happy with my current job as a VC analyst, however I'm currently building my personal network out for future opportunities. I go to conferences in the major PE cities often and regularly e-mail MD's from other PE/VC shops if they have time to meet and talk.

Just found myself getting some meetings with MD's at a couple marquee Mega-Funds (Think KKR/NEA/GA/TPG type groups) and the context of the introduction was 'I'm interested in joining a shop like yours in the next couple years'. First time I've set this tone for these types of informational meetings.

Let's say I work as an MM IBD analyst for a 2 years in a major southeastern city. If I don't get an MBA, how doable is getting an MM PE role? What types of firms would I be looking at? How hard would I have to network?

Which PE/growth/venture firms haven't recruited yet this cycle for summer 2014? I know most of the big guys have gone already, but there are some reputable MMs that are still left. Off the top of my head, I know Sageview and Vista haven't recruited for 2014 yet. anyone else? Any venture firms? It also feels like some geographies are moving slower than others.

Would appreciate the insight from some of the more experienced people on here who know these things or anyone who has good visibility into this.

Many thanks

I will probably get an offer (hopefully within the next few days) for an opportunity to join a good fund with great pay in newport beach area. Sounds like a dream job, if I had a wife and kids...but I don't. I will likely be working pretty long hours during the week, but probably have weekends free. The question is whether I will be able to enjoy myself and have fun and meet people given that I don't know anybody in close proximity, and the investment team I will be working on is all much older than me, with wives & kids, etc. I'm in my mid/late twenties & single. Unlike big cities like NYC & SF, I feel like So-Cal it is harder to meet people without a few "base" friends to branch out from.

So there's one thread that says PE recruitment might be heating up soon but no one has posted on it in a week, and everything else is relatively silent... Does anyone have an idea as to whether the process is really starting or is that mostly rumors...?

If it is true that it's starting, is this for most funds, or just a subset? If it's not generally true, when should we likely be looking for the process to start?

Haven't been able to find much helpful advice on the topic above. I have an interview for a "sales" position within a well known prviate equity shop. I am assuming this is more of a raising capital, IR type of role.

My goal of all goals was to be at a PE shop, so this would accomplish that 100%, however, I am worried that this is going to be a dead-end type of role with no movement within the company becoming an option.

Can any of you PE monkeys divulge some information on what this role entails and if you've seen any movement from this role, either internally or externally, to a more front office position. Also any comp insight would be greatly appreciated.

This is PEI's last year's top 300 PE firms in the word, by 5-yr. fundraising total. Should be about the same list this year.