325MM L/S HF vs. 1.9b PE

Have an opportunity to go to either platforms. Obviously the 325mm is less AUM / prestigious but the comp is the same and I feel like HF research is more interesting and you have a better opportunity to personally generate alpha / branch off.

However, I like structuring private transactions and this PE fund is clearly more “prestigious” and legitimate.

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Much easier to go PE --> HF than the other way around. HFs are a tough sell to get out of once you get in (depends on asset class you're focusing on). IMO, any reputable MM/UMM/MF PE will give you such an opportunity to get in the weeds on Portcos and potential buyout opportunities that it provides you with an intense investing skillset. This skillset you develop in PE is transferrable to HF, GE, VC, etc. However, the skillset you develop in HF is way different and IMO not as strong as what you would get in PE. PE on average is also less risky in terms of job stability, so i would recommend starting out in PE. Grind through it for atleast a year, and then make the decision on whether you want to move to public markets. 

 

As someone in HF land for the past several years, I second this. Do the PE first. I wouldn’t say I completely regret skipping doing a private markets investing role, but I clearly see the optionality one way and not the other. I could maybe get a PE job. Maybe doing distressed PE, but it’s much more of a struggle than going from PE to my fund I would think.

 

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