I am mid-senior career, currently in corp dev for a PE-backed platform, target school, looking to transition to tech/startup. Would love a Director title but understand I will likely need to take a comp decline or downlevel. Why is it impossible to even get an interview? I am applying on company job boards or Linkedin. In my previous life in investing I would get reachouts from recruiters all the time and always at least got a first round interview. Are recruiting pipeline just broken now and I need to find somebody on the team and reach out?
Trending Content - Corporate Finance, Development and Strategy Forum
Career Resources
Based on the most helpful WSO content, transitioning into corporate development roles, especially in tech/startups, can be uniquely challenging for several reasons:
Lean Teams and Limited Openings: Corporate development teams are typically small and rarely hire. When positions do open, they are often filled through internal networks or headhunters rather than public job postings. This makes it difficult to break in through traditional application methods like LinkedIn or job boards.
Networking is Key: Unlike investment banking or private equity, where structured recruiting pipelines exist, corporate development relies heavily on networking. Cold applications are far less effective. Instead, you need to identify and connect with team members directly, especially if you see a job posting. Building relationships with the team can significantly increase your chances of landing an interview.
Recruiter Dynamics: In your previous investing role, recruiters likely reached out because of the structured nature of PE/IB recruiting. In corporate development, recruiters are less active unless the company explicitly engages them. This means you may need to proactively reach out to headhunters who specialize in corporate development roles.
Perception of Fit: Tech/startups often prioritize candidates with specific industry experience or operational expertise. If your background is heavily PE-focused, they may perceive you as more transactional and less aligned with their strategic or operational needs. Tailoring your resume and narrative to highlight relevant skills (e.g., strategic finance, integration experience) can help bridge this gap.
Director-Level Challenges: Aiming for a Director title in a new industry can be tough unless you have directly transferable experience. Companies may prefer to hire internally or promote from within for such roles. Being open to a downlevel position could increase your chances of breaking into the space.
Recommendations:
In short, the recruiting pipeline isn’t necessarily broken—it’s just that corporate development hiring operates differently, and success often hinges on proactive networking and positioning yourself as the ideal candidate for the role.
Sources: Corporate Development Manager - Q&A, Corporate Strategy vs Corporate Development, Basic Questions About PE Recruiting Answered, Q&A - Corporate Development VP in Tech, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/venture-capital/qa-corporate-development-analyst-at-a-tech-startup?customgpt=1
I would suggest concentrating your attention to working with good corp dev recruiters (Charles Aris, etc.), some local boutiques in your city / target city (in my Tier 2 city there's too many to count) and even touch base with a few from Robert Half and similar as they get fp&a roles and some corp dev / corp finc. Next, I'd start networking, touch base with old friends / coworkers that are somewhat related to tech and let them know you're on the search and they may have someone to reach out to. Last, I would continue to apply on linkedin / boards.
In my own job search, between working with multiple recruiters, networking, and applying on linkedin, I was yielding multiple interviews (converted to offers) and introduction lunches / golf (converted to expanded network, more lunches / golf, and interviews). Hope this helps, good luck!
Appreciate this! What are other corp dev recruiters in addition to Charles Aris? I have a bunch of contacts in tech but not necessarily in the finance org, would those still be relevant and would they be able to pass me along to the right people?
Those are the only guys I've worked with, along with RH, Korn Ferry, and boutiques. Green Key is one I've seen, there's other posts in PE/IB forums on corp dev recruiters (where I found out about Charles Aris). Yes, I would still catch up with them, they probably work with guys in the finance org or at least know who in the finance org or HR will take a look at a resume.
Officiis sint itaque aut sunt harum placeat sunt. Occaecati quisquam iure et non ratione eveniet deserunt. Deleniti quae sint nemo et. Qui tempore rem qui. Aut dolor qui eum commodi.
Rerum ad non sed quas. Velit sapiente illo aut. Alias rerum atque dignissimos et vero ipsa. Sunt dolor vero et nisi sint doloremque amet. Velit minus et sit dolor sint.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...