Private Equity vs. Mutual Fund

I'm currently a Junior who recently landed internships to either work at a private equity company ($5B AUM) or a mutual fund ($25B AUM) as an equity research intern. I enjoy evaluating companies and following the markets, but I do not know enough about Private Equity and the actual day to day work to decided whether or not this an industry I'm interested in. I initially wanted to land an investment banking internship for the flexibility, but now I'm not sure which will set me better for full time recruiting. Btw, the private equity company only hires analysts from IB programs. Need help with the choice. Thanks.

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financejet

I'm currently a Junior who recently landed internships to either work at a private equity company ($5B AUM) or a mutual fund ($25B AUM) as an equity research intern. I enjoy evaluating companies and following the markets, but I do not know enough about Private Equity and the actual day to day work to decided whether or not this an industry I'm interested in. I initially wanted to land an investment banking internship for the flexibility, but now I'm not sure which will set me better for full time recruiting. Btw, the private equity company only hires analysts from IB programs. Need help with the choice. Thanks.

Is it still your goal to go into IB? If so, then the private equity option is the obvious choice.

"For all the tribulations in our lives, for all the troubles that remain in the world, the decline of violence is an accomplishment we can savor, and an impetus to cherish the forces of civilization and enlightenment that made it possible."
 

Honestly, the only reason I wanted to do IB was to gain the skill set. Never really saw myself as a long-term i-bankers. Whe ever I interacted with high level bankers, I never saw myself becoming one of them.

 
financejet

Honestly, the only reason I wanted to do IB was to gain the skill set. Never really saw myself as a long-term i-bankers. Whe ever I interacted with high level bankers, I never saw myself becoming one of them.

Doesn't answer my question. Given this is an internship and you mention that the PE shop only hires IB analysts, the question is: what do you want to do after the internship? That will answer which internship to take.

"For all the tribulations in our lives, for all the troubles that remain in the world, the decline of violence is an accomplishment we can savor, and an impetus to cherish the forces of civilization and enlightenment that made it possible."
 

I don't know what I want to do after the internship, I think that largely will be based on my experience. How hard is it to move from equity research at a mutual fund to investment banking full time? Or to a hedge fund? Will a private equity internship give a significant advantage for full time recruiting in positions in finance outside of equity research? I'm just trying to close as little doors as possible

 

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