Advice for Breaking into Private Credit — Undergrad w/ Public + Private Markets Exposure

Hi WSO — I’m looking for some guidance from anyone who’s broken into Private or works in the space.

I’m a rising senior at Babson, studying finance. I just wrapped up a 17 month (full time & part time) asset management internship at a boutique in Boston that invests in entrepreneurial companies. During my time there, I worked on the launch of an innovative ETF combining public equities with privately held companies, helping coordinate efforts across legal, fund admin, and exchange relationships for a successful institutional launch. I also supported fairness opinion work for SPACs, conducting valuation using DCF, precedent transactions, and comps, while participating in diligence through data room reviews and discussions with management teams.

Earlier this year after I came across private credit and after doing more research in my own time, I realized that lending money with a strong conviction of your investment thesis demonstrated by holding that loan to maturity matched the belief and philosophy of investing that I want to have in my work. After 17 months at the asset manager, I did not believe that an additional summer was going to get me closer achieving this goal, so I decided to take an unorthodox path.

Current Situation: • Targeting Private Credit and direct lending roles • Building my outreach list and prepping behavioral + technicals with WSP • Currently pursuing the SIE and Series 63 exams to deepen my understanding of markets and demonstrate commitment to the finance track. • Enrolled in an AI in Finance course through Columbia University’s Executive Education School to explore how emerging technology is shaping investing and credit strategies.

Questions:

1. If you were in my shoes and had the rare gift of time to bet it all into this dream to work in PC, what would you do?

2. I understand that many people go to LevFin before PC, what IB are high touch that do consider candidates that don’t come from their intern pipeline?

3. Which firms (besides the well-known megafunds) are worth targeting for an analyst position fresh out of college.

4. Are there any other licenses or certificates on credit analysis or lending that are strongly respected in the industry ?

5. Anything I’m missing or underestimating?

Thanks in advance — happy to DM if anyone is willing to share their path or give direct feedback.