PE Recruiting from Houston O&G IB in Current Environment

Current first year analyst at a Houston IB. My class has had a handful of analysts sign with MM O&G PE back in Fall/Winter, but obviously there has been no recruiting since COVID. The whole environment is very negative and the first/second years who have signed with O&G PE are unsure if their funds will survive or just be zombie funds once they come on.

The majority of my first year class has not signed and we are stuck in the dilemma where (a) the normal O&G/Energy funds are not hiring and have the risk they are/the industry is a dead end, (b) none of the first years have closed a deal due to COVID, and (c) we are at a disadvantage relative to other coverage groups trying to recruit outside of energy/O&G.

Would anyone currently in PE have any guidance about how to best handle the situation? Assuming that exiting O&G would provide the best long-term opportunities, is it worth trying to do the uphill battle of on-cycle without deals, or would trying to lateral/mobility to NY be a better (but longer) alternative?