Third year IBD analyst not getting PE interviews

Hi, I’m a third year IBD analyst focused on ECM in London.

I’ve had no luck with buyside recruiting as once headhunters find out I’m ECM they only suggest investor relations roles or sales roles such as placement agents and never put me forward for PE.

I’ve tried applying for M&A roles at other banks but they normally reject me on the basis of me not having M&A experience, unless I’d be willing to come in as an analyst 1 again which is where I say no (In a few years I’ll be 30, i want out of banking and Ive already done the 3 year IBD analyst grind I can’t redo it all again at another bank) although I’d be happy to start at the bottom as an analyst 1 in PE.

Switching to an M&A team at my bank is also not possible.

I become associate soon and am worried once this happens my buyside chances will dramatically reduce.

Given I don’t want to be a career banker and want to leave banking, do I: A) give up the buyside goal and just accept my fate and go into investor relations or a sales role like a placement agent B) stay on as an associate and keep trying to recruit for buyside even tho I’ve been trying for the past 3 years C) any suggestions??

Thanks