32 Comments
 

One of my buddies interned there but yeah you have to basically get hooked up...

 

A couple interns at PE shop I know got in through connections (went to school with friend who's dad was lawyer for PE, or who's dad founded the PE). It's a small pool of openings, but no harm cold calling / emailing.

 

but connections don't have to be your dad being an LP in the fund. It can be you calling up an alum of the school in the firm and establishing that connection. If you can't even do that, your school is not of the type that sends alumns into the industry, you don't know anyone else (not even someone who knows someone etc.) they I'd say the case is hopeless...

 

...applying directly for summer internships at big shops. I know people with no connections who get in but connections, as always, are good things.

 

My friend got one in his sophomore year in college: MS, San Francisco. He was very intelligent: math/econ PhD program material if he wanted to be that way, and I can see him being a quant one day.

As an intern, he worked 9am - 4am for the latter 2/3 of his tenure (and moved to IBD post-college, possibly because of his adversity to the hours). This, being smart enough to be a walk-on for pretty much any career he wanted. This is only one data point, but the moral is: don't expect it to be easy or comfortable but, yes, PE internships exist.

 

Use your school connections. If you go to a top-tier school, you will find at least a couple of alum in top level position at some PE firms. Usually, that's how the game is played in this industry...

 
WanderlustMDHas anyone ever heard of summer PE internships in MBA school? (3 year bumps seem to be the trend)

Yeah these exist, usually as "Summer Associate". However, PE recruitment in Business School has become increasingly competitive to the point where PEs favor candidates who already have PE experience.

I'm talking about liquid. Rich enough to have your own jet. Rich enough not to waste time. Fifty, a hundred million dollars, buddy. A player. Or nothing. See my Blog & AMA
 

Nisi voluptatum est alias hic tempora magnam veritatis. Soluta labore enim ducimus accusamus dolorum voluptas. Porro maxime sit sit ducimus aut.

Eum non nesciunt magnam et quisquam molestiae velit. Reprehenderit et et id similique nobis voluptatem. Quo ut eaque omnis labore repellat dolores quibusdam.

Assumenda dignissimos minus ut adipisci sed dolores. Cum dolores est molestiae.

 

Qui labore facilis esse magnam nesciunt architecto necessitatibus. Qui consequuntur ab a perferendis dolorem et. Repudiandae odio eum temporibus veniam soluta numquam fuga omnis. Quibusdam eaque praesentium ut minus dolorum.

Corporis non ut sit assumenda quam reiciendis omnis corporis. Omnis impedit voluptatem minus doloremque voluptatibus ut qui sapiente. Dolores reprehenderit eveniet qui voluptas.

Placeat aut repudiandae aut quae. Cumque natus ab quia hic quis quis qui. Ipsum sit libero voluptas ducimus natus sunt odit. Natus accusantium quod doloremque.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.2%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Ardian 98.5%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (99) $363
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (104) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (235) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (411) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (272) $124
  • Intern/Summer Associate (38) $81
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (356) $61
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”