Too old for analyst 1?
I signed a full time offer for September 2024 with a mega fund based in London in the PE team. For a moment, I couldn’t get any happier and more excited. Then slowly the excitement mellowed away as I started to think deeply about where I am in life. I hate that I’m 26 years old this September. I started to connect with my future mates and so many are just 22-24. I have 4 years until 30, and I haven’t really “lived life” before. I know that comparison is the thief of joy but I can’t stop feeling conscious about my age. I’m always conscious about my age and FOMO so this is just another addition.
Not to sound ungrateful or anything. I am EXHILARATED to be in this job. But something about my age is stealing away the energy and joy.
In your experience, would you say 26 is old to be analyst 1?
No bruh
can i pm
Wait until you see in the mirror receding hairlines
I’m bald
Damn you did not need to uni reverse that hard my brother
I just turned 29 and accepted my analyst 1 position for this July. Life is long, careers are long, careers aren't linear, and focus on learning so you can buy your own business some day thanks to the finance skills you've learned
How'd you get an MFPE AN 1 offer? That's really impressive in this environment
Had around 6 months of experience in FP&A 1 year of experience in portfolio valuation after graduating from a non target. I did a master programme a target London school and grinded my way through the job market. It was brutal but doable. I had offers from banking & consulting too but this one is obviously the best in nearly every single aspect
Congrats, that's really impressive! Mind if I PM you?
Congrats! Was this for Apax Digital?
When we had our analyst program there was about 20 of us nationally for my first firm. About 15 were new grads, 21-22 years of age. However, the other 4 were like 25+. One was 37 with two kids. We never looked down on anyone or even paid attention to age. Its never too late to start later in your career and I will never judge anyone for that.
Better question is what do you do depending on the answer? You can't exactly do anything but start as an analyst whether it's too old or not so the question becomes irrelevant...
You're fine.
I got my start as an IB associate the year I was turning 30, got my start in capital markets two years before that at 27. Majority of my colleagues were 23-25 at the time. I played to the prior experience (both professional and life experience), and played a pseudo 'big brother' role in guiding and developing them, both personally and professionally. I organized after-work social events and created a junior office culture that both seniors and juniors still talk about two years later.
Play to your strengths, you can immediately step into a leadership role through your additional life experience.
Yeah we’ve had older analysts at my firm and they have a pretty big leg up in the professionalism department given they didn’t spend the last year as a senior in college drinking and partying most the time.
Anyone who buys into the “too old” narrative is beyond lame. Your career is long. Congrats on the role.
If you really, really need closure on the age issue, consider MBA applicants. Many are applying at 26 and won’t finish until 28. If they weren’t already in PE, you’ll both likely be associates at same time. They’ll have a fancy degree, but you’ll have no debt/payments and extra experience while working the same job.
Comparison is the thief of joy. Again, congrats.
Don't worry about it. I also did a masters before getting a summer internship and when I was at networking events with other interns they would be worried I was older/more experienced so I would do better.
There is always something to worry about, you can think you are too old and your peers might be thinking you are more experienced/ahead of them.
This is to say you can worry about one thing and the other person might be worried about the exact opposite, at the end of the day it's irrelevant, if anything you might be able to draw on your experience and perform better.
You're not old at all. In Europe, people start a bit later, they do two degrees, Masters, etc. Use your maturity to your advantage.
Possessing a mature outlook with older age is an invaluable treasure in my view, particularly at desirable places like MF PE. I read a great biography book (in Mandarin) of the current CEO of Two Sigma Asia Pacific, who started as an analyst at McKinsey at 27, made Partner exceedingly fast in 6 years.
I'm 30 and I just started my career officially in equities, spent many years in education at target. I think age doesn't matter, you have to start somewhere and don't let your age stand in your way, especially since you signed with a mega fund. Enjoy the hustle and the process.
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