AlphaSights -> Buy-Side?
My long-term career aspirations are equity buy-side in some sort of portfolio management or fundamental research role. As these are tough to get straightaway I was thinking of applying to a graduate role at an expert network like AlphaSights in London. I was thinking that this might be a good way to gain sector knowledge, network with Analysts and work on real deals and get exposure to the investment decision making process. Would appreciate others thoughts on it. I also feel that soft skills are very underworked in careers and this is an opportunity to cement foundational ones, technicals can be learned and mastered. I can model and understand valuation and forming a thesis. I have seen people on Linkedin who have worked at AS for 2/3 years then landed research roles at HF and PE firms. Thank you in advance for responses!
brother just do ER or IB
It makes sense but finance bros won't get it.
I had a buddy who worked at alphasights/glg and he said it was glorified cold calling/sales. he said they sold him on working with big name firms, providing insight to execs, and doing research work, but that the majority of the day-to-day was email slop. Maybe the role you're referring to is different though
Can vouch that I have heard similar stories about working there, would avoid
I unironically think that's one of the best places for any non-elite to start their career. It's fucking brutal but will put hair on your chest. Some of the smartest CEOs I've ever met did that.
the comp was also like 60k in nyc. i think sales is great but maybe go tech sales or something so you can at least pay rent. lmao
also the guy who posted wanted to know about buy-side exits. would say unlikely, especially in current job market.
I did AlphaSights to sellside ER in nyc. It’s a really tough transition and I was lucky to get a shot. If buy-side is your end all be all ER / IB is definitely the more routine path. From AS it’ll all come down to networking and doing the work outside of work (following the market, writing up your own research that you can send out to the SS, etc. You really aren’t going to learn a lot from the market at AS. AlphaSights is great for soft skills, project management, and networking but don’t expect to learn anything technical, or in depth, organically through the job.
congrats, that's impressive
Know a guy that went from one of those firms to a HF seat (small shop but still) definitely possible
People who use the expert networks tend to view the people who work there as kind of annoying and not very bright. This is all anecdotal of course but these people are really just sales and customer service.
I have literally had my boss tell me to rewrite expert my expert requests because the people reading them are not intelligent. Then he had ChatGPT rewrite my request with the prompt (pretend youre speaking to a simple minded person). Like obviously I don’t think they are that stupid but it seems that’s the sentiment of people at the higher levels on the buy side. For context he has been in HF and PE for many many years.
I forget which expert network has the “sector experts” (third bridge maybe) but they are glorified interviewers.
TLDR it will be a tough path.
I work at a Hedgefund and I will tell you that if I ever met or found out someone worked at AlphaSights at any point in their career I would mentally deem them a retard and they would never be able to escape that
Anyone I’ve ever met who has worked there is a retard and to think you will develop near the intellectual aptitude or hard skills you need to be in the NFL equivalent of the corporate world, you’re out of your damn mind
Agreed with the AlphaSights retard sentiment but referring to HFs as the NFL of the corporate world is almost as retarded. It’s not that deep bro
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