So I'm at an EB currently (MOE/PWP/EVR) that's known for pretty great per-capita placement--those who want to go to PE usually snag at least MM, and there are a couple MF slots as well for each class. Problem is, I'm getting a strange vibe from some of the staffings so far and the attitude of the senior bankers. I didn't summer here (good group, mid-tier BB) so there's a name/face familiarity lacking, and my training performance was good but not earth-shattering. The projects that have come to me so far have not been the juiciest (initial meetings, "monitoring" situations, things that might become something but probably won't, new clients), while even the non-live work has been more fruitful for other analysts in my class (board/committee meetings, "free" work for legacy clients, etc.). Basically I have a lot of free time and hate it.
Now, it's possible that this is all in my head with the somewhat random nature of staffing and availability, along with the summer melt of dealflow, so I'm not freaking out right now. However, with HH meetings coming up and recruiting ever-earlier each year, I'm worried I won't have a high enough profile/good enough experience or reputation internally to have senior people vigorously go to bat for me come recruiting time. Obviously if this happens because I fuck up my work, then so be it, but I fear it might happen because I'm not getting the quantity and quality of at-bats that other analysts are.
Not to be cocky, but I do believe I'm talented enough technicals-wise and have a good enough attitude that even a "good" placement from here (I have good grades from a top target) would be selling me short. Therefore, I'm wondering what my options are to avoid that outcome:
- Bite the bullet, put my head down for the next few months for the staffings I do get and hope impressions/results are good enough for me to get great looks during Jan/Feb/March?
- Skip first-year recruiting, get a year extra to build my reputation intra-firm, and then recruit as a 2Y?
- Look to lateral up in the coming spring and recruit as a 1Y/2Y next winter?
I'd really like things to improve my September/October so that (1) looks more appealing; I really would like to avoid the yearlong lag career-wise that (2) and (3) would mean. On the other hand, I'm definitely willing to burn that year if it means TPG/H&F vs. Ares. Is my anxiety unfounded, are my concerns premature, and how would you guys handle the situation?
Bump
Think your stressing a bit too much buddy; you just started, its bound to be a bit slow right off the bat - especially if you didn't summer there. Take a breath, be happy where you are, and take advantage of having some free time.... it won't last!
This is a ridiculous post and the title of the post is somewhat misleading. You started FT like 2 or so months ago? Maybe stop feeling so self-entitled and put in some work. And what is wrong with Ares? Maybe you could be a bit more proactive to fill up your "free time". Pre-mba PE recruiting is like 50%+ how you look on paper (which you seemingly have) and the rest is just how you perform in the interviews. No one really gives a sht about the pathetic data room you had to populate or whatever model you built that no PE buyer or any buyer would use. They want credibility that you're intelligent and hard-working enough to grind out 2-3 years with them (esp the megafunds) and the most efficient way to convey this credibility is a resume screen based on how one looks on paper (HHs will already do this) and the rest is how you perform in those few rounds with them - ie know your technicals and be able to articulate and put a positive spin on everything you've done in the 6m-12m of work experience. They just want to hear you talk, how you carry yourself, if you're relateable culturally, and if you know your sht. Someone who can do all of that and has had a mediocre deal experience will get hired 10/10 times vs. someone who worked on the largest LBO in 2016 but can't intelligently and coherently speak to it or carry himself like a social pariah.
Take a deep breath. A yearlong difference is not a "lag", Jesus.
Talk to your staffer and tell him you have more capacity.
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