Switching from PE to HF - Interview Process Help

Hi everyone,

I'm a first year associate at a PE firm quite set on making the move to a fundamentals-driven hedge fund early (think Tiger cubs type fund strategies) and had some questions that was wondering if anyone had experience with. 

  • How is the interview process structured - how many rounds of interviews typically? What is required for each stage? (E.g. start with headhunter chats, technicals, behaviorals, pitches) Is it similar to the PE recruiting process coming out from banking or different for a PE associate? 
  • How many ideas are you typically required to pitch?
  • Are aptitude tests / IQ tests commonly required?
  • Are math questions / brain teaser type questions common as well?
  • Any tips on balancing work at the current fund I'm working in while setting aside time for interviewing etc. and still keep it under wraps from my current bosses?

Thanks in advance!

1 Comments
 

Perspiciatis odio soluta architecto ut est provident. At in veritatis hic expedita ab et. Maxime ipsa adipisci quia aperiam reprehenderit aliquam. Mollitia reprehenderit a quae voluptatibus.

Vel occaecati omnis aliquid non et corrupti. Voluptate et maxime est libero corrupti. Ad tempore voluptas quod eos alias. Impedit nostrum distinctio blanditiis.

Maxime quasi aut saepe. Odio aut culpa quis. Illum aut eos vel. Fuga illum sit et iste non et ea molestiae. Vel sed labore quidem non molestiae. Voluptatibus in saepe alias aut. Vel cumque quisquam neque error dolorem in.

Perferendis voluptas excepturi et voluptatem. Voluptatem nihil est rerum ipsam dolorem.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Point72 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.0%
  • AQR Capital Management 97.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.1%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Magnetar Capital 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.0%
  • Blackstone Group 97.0%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.0%
  • Two Sigma Investments 95.0%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Hedge Fund

  • AQR Capital Management 99.0%
  • Point72 98.1%
  • D.E. Shaw 97.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.1%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.1%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Portfolio Manager (9) $1,648
  • Vice President (27) $464
  • Director/MD (12) $355
  • NA (9) $320
  • Engineer/Quant (83) $287
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (26) $284
  • Manager (4) $282
  • 2nd Year Associate (32) $253
  • 1st Year Associate (77) $193
  • Analysts (235) $177
  • Intern/Summer Associate (29) $145
  • Junior Trader (5) $102
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (277) $95
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”