PE Recruiting at Elite Boutiques

I have often heard of MDs calling up PE shops on behalf of worthy analysts. But how does that process even begin? And did you guys ever initiate conversations about PE with your MDs? (Seems like a risky move) Do share your thoughts and experiences.

10 Comments
 
mrb87

Depends on the boutique -- some (Perella Weinberg) are actually pretty difficult to recruit from because the MDs there don't generally go to bat for analysts. They like to cultivate career bankers..

I hear the higher ups at Harris Williams are the best at going to bat for analysts.

 
Best Response

MDs at Moelis apparently not only go to bat for you but recommend you to go to the buy-side after your analyst stint (altho im sure the A-A track is an option too).

i think it comes down to the culture of the firm. there are those that are really against buyside such as Centerview and PWP from my understanding.

but firms like Moelis endorse buyside recruiting and Evercore + Greenhill are open to it. When i mean open I mean you can walk into your MDs room and talk about this without being afraid of getting your butt kicked..

i think thats the general consensus.. i guess other monkeys can pitch in their opinion

 

Feel free to correct me if this sounds way off. But from what I gathered, banks understand the concept of a 2 year analyst stint. That being said, they would rather maintain good relationships with the bankers who do decide to move to PE. Boutiques in particular want to have their contacts diversified throughout PE shops so as to increase the odds of successfully pitching deals in the future. Guess you could view it as an investment for the boutiques...

 
Dizney

Feel free to correct me if this sounds way off. But from what I gathered, banks understand the concept of a 2 year analyst stint. That being said, they would rather maintain good relationships with the bankers who do decide to move to PE. Boutiques in particular want to have their contacts diversified throughout PE shops so as to increase the odds of successfully pitching deals in the future. Guess you could view it as an investment for the boutiques...

I could see that. I think the only caveat is some MDs get fucking pissed when their analysts are interviewing & thinking about jumping ship a few months in the job. This tends to be an issue at BBs though.

 

regardless of whether or not they do this...how do you bring up your interests on PE to your MD/VP/Associates without them getting annoyed/thinking you are just using them for leverage to help?

I don't throw darts at a board. I bet on sure things. Read Sun-tzu, The Art of War. Every battle is won before it is ever fought- GG
 

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