PE Recruiting 2025

Hi All,

The title says it all. I'm a senior at uni who is set to start their full time IB role in NYC this July (industry group at an EB for reference). As I prepare for the job, I can't help but also take into account prep for buy side opportunities. I apologize for the elementary nature of some of my questions, but I have little to no knowledge on the recruiting process and would appreciate any feedback.

• How did you evaluate buyside roles? Did you use tools like Pitchbook to assess fund performance, industry expertise, etc.? What were the most important factors in your decision?

• What’s the typical recruiting timeline? I’ve heard about the intense cycles for your Harvard-Goldman Sachs type of kids in May/June — is this becoming standard across all shops?

• Is there value in engaging with recruiters and filling out their forms, or is the process mostly driven by internal team referrals?

• Did networking help, and how does it compare to investment banking recruiting in terms of importance? Obviously for investment banking it was a necessity.

• Are there any must-have prep materials, similar to the M&I400, but for PE?

I know answers can vary by shop size, location, and other factors, but any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance