What Would You Do: Renege MF PC to chase HF dreams?
Hey all,
Posted the below in credit forum but wanted to get your guys thoughts here as well!
Wanted to gather your thoughts on my current scenario
I accepted an offer to MF PC for Assoc 1 (currently An 2 in banking), but realized my ultimate goals are in the HF world. I initially accepted the job under a short timeframe because of (a) the name brand, (b) preconceived perception that I could reasonably pivot into credit HF or some other SS strategy with public investing component (only after, I realized this is unlikely), (c) “the golden age of private credit”, and (d) I thought it was the best I could do. It seems like MF PC is heading towards AUM hoarding (higher grade 1L capital) and less about differentiated investing/generating alpha, which wouldn’t be ideal for my personal development as an investor. With 100+ investments per fund, my view is that private credit is essentially a beta play. Anyway, now I’m feeling some regret taking the offer.
MF PC firm does technically invest “across cap stack”, but firm also has opportunistic arm so I think there’s a ceiling to the hairiness of the deals. I’m thinking I have a couple options
- Go into MF PC. Stay if I like it. If I don’t like it, I could try to pivot to PE (going back to Asoc 1 level) then recruit for HF from there. Some risks are: seems like a waste of time/big opportunity cost if HF is my eventual goal, limited optionally (seems like just DL lateral, CLOs, and downstream in privates are real options). Some merits are: potential career track (not two and out)
- Renege for PE and recruit from HF there. At what caliber of PE firm would this make sense? Some risks are: 2 and out program + HF is not a guaranteed outcome; MF PC firm is highly connected to sponsors so am worried at potential fallback from renege
A bit of a lengthy post so appreciate the read and any feedback. I understand I’m and grateful to be in a great position but I just want to have no regrets. Also recognize HF isn’t the “promised land”, but I think it’s a better fit for me and want to aim higher
You’ve provided no information regarding what type of hedge fund you want to join. Very hard to give advice without this.
I’ll admit I need a more refined and sophisticated view. Just to understand your thinking here, are there certain types of HFs where proceeding with the MF PC role would be the right thing to do? Which ones would those be if so?
Well one might think that a hedge fund that trades across the credit spectrum might find someone with credit experience ideal.
That’s what I originally assumed too. Counterintuitively, it looks like even Credit HFs prefer PE experience (maybe out of tradition, perception, “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” mentality)
Perhaps, depends on fund you’re aiming for. If you want an MMHF you can probably get looks from equity and credit pods from MFPC
That’s good to know! Thank you!
This all sounds kinda silly to me. If you want to be at a HF and were deciding between that and MF PC, then obviously go with the HF. But your equation is: I want to do HF, have a job offer at MF PC that I can use as a springboard, but I'm considering reneging / burning bridges to re-recruit for PE because that could possibly maybe be a better springboard to a HF (your source for which is "it looks like" HF prefer PE experience, which might be true but is likely more so that the base rate of people who do PE wanting to do HF is higher than PC)? Sounds convoluted. Either renege and recruit straight to HF or take the PC role, sharpen your investing pencil by doing your own research / writeups that you can share with funds, then recruit from there.
Always be networking (interviewing?). Don’t renege unless you already have another offer yet. And agree with above. You don’t owe these firms anything and vice versa. Don’t bind yourself to a potential career path you don’t terribly seem to want. You’re figuring out what you like. That’s called personal growth. That’s an unqualified positive. Follow that path bc you will most likely be better at your job if you do something you find stimulating. Of course, not everyone can get dream job so take all this with large pinch of salt since OP is very vague. Second caveat, brand matters (to an extent). Obvious but make sure you aren’t trading something recognizable for a fly by night situation
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