1st Year PE Lateral Process?
Current AS1 at a well-regarded regional LMM / MM shop. Been here just over 6 months, got great year-end reviews, and really like the firm, but ideally want to move to a UMM shop in a T1 city (looking mostly at NYC).
Could anyone share what the lateral process is like (timeline / number of rounds, kinds of questions asked)? Would I need an MBA for this to be realistic? I haven't closed any deals in PE so not sure what the deal overview questions would be like, but assume that technicals should be similar to your typical PE questions. I'm open to restarting as AS1 but would much rather start as AS2.
Any advice is appreciated!
Bump - but wondering process from NYC to a t2 city. Want to move home.
I'd say same as my response below, except you have a bit more bargaining power if you're moving from a bigger/better/more competitive firm/city to something less competitive. You have a small chance of that 1/2 step bump, but I think more likely that you'd just place into your same cohort when you lateral. If you're moving to a lower COL city and/or smaller firm, I'd expect a pay cut.
Following
Bump, following
Generally, you can only change one major variable at a time. If you're upgrading firms (sounds like potential significantly) and in a more competitive city, you're definitely not also going to pick up a 6 month title bump. Here's a few permutations:
Said differently, you're definitely not getting to move into an A2 role at a better first with 6 months of experience (assume you started in July/August).
Additionally, MBA is completely not relevant yet. You need to complete at least 2 years of associate experience before MBA would ever make sense (any earlier and you're actually disadvantaged for PE recruiting/lateraling).
You better be prepared with a very tight talk track on (i) why you already want to leave your firm (suggests flight risk to next firm given such a short stint), (ii) why you didn't recruit for what you really wanted the first time (i.e., better firm / better city) and/or why you accepted the shop you did.
I'll let someone else elaborate on interview process as every firm is different, but technicals/training and deal experience (even if nothing signed/closed; i.e., your understanding of typical deal process, # of IOIs diligenced/modeled, # of post-IOI processes worked on, # of post-LOI processed worked on and workstreams exposed to, etc.), would be very relevant areas that I'd be pressing.
How hard is it to lateral less than a full year in?
Not easy. A firm can easily get a bargain on an A1.5-2 versus an A0.5 with no experience. I think OP will struggle unless there’s a really compelling story around needing to move to a specific geography (sick relative, etc.).
I was working at a LMM in the Southeast for a year and landed a few offers from similar or larger funds in the Northeast. Ultimately ended up at an UMM firm back in New York.
Some of my interviews were through networking directly with the firm while all the rest were through HHs. It was many rounds of interviewing and took anywhere from a few weeks to over a month. A lot of it was focused on my experience during the year with what I did on the deals I worked on, how I thought about these businesses, and how involved I was with my portfolio companies.
One thing to keep in mind is that you might not get credit for the year you did previously. I didn’t get credit for my year, but I know it’s much more of a case by case basis. Just something to be aware of once you get to that stage
was this in 2021 when the lateral market was booming? not trying to discount your effort since it's an incredible achievement either way but helpful for context. also, what do you think made them go with you over a fresh banking analyst?
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