Starting in Portfolio Valuation (NY) this summer and thinking ahead a bit…

Long-term goal is to lateral into IB within ~12–18 months. I know PV can be a solid stepping stone, but I’m trying to be intentional about the type of reps I build early on.

For those who’ve been in PV or made the jump:
Is it better to focus on equity or debt valuations if my goal is IB?

My initial thoughts:

Equity (growth/VC-type investments): feels more “IB adjacent” in terms of thinking about upside, operating drivers, and valuation narratives

Debt (credit/private credit): might build stronger technicals around capital structure, downside protection, covenants, and how deals are actually structured

I’m trying to figure out which path builds the most relevant skillset for IB recruiting

Is viewed more favorably by bankers during lateral processes

Gives me better talking points for interviews (deal/process exposure, not just mark-to-model work)

Would also love to hear from anyone who successfully lateraled from PV → IB:
What type of work did you focus on?
What actually came up in interviews?

Anything you wish you had done differently in your first year?

Appreciate any insight — trying to play this as strategically as possible from day one.