Career / Recruiting Advice Need - Strategic Development to PE?

Hi all,

Background - 2 years of tech investment banking (1 yr boutique, 1 year EB) before making a decision to join the strategic development and M&A team of a leading insurance company in order to stay in NYC with NYC.

While I have enjoyed the better WLB (albeit at lower comp), I mainly joined due to the promise of a balanced mix of M&A and investment work. However, due to a recent reorg, the team has been split into investments and M&A, and I am currently stuck on the M&A-only team. 

I have tried to recruit for outside investments / PE opportunities but have had no luck. I understand that the market is slow and I am competing with laid off bankers as well. I have reached out to old HH contacts but have largely been ghosted as well.

My question is have I missed the boat on recruiting for PE roles? Should I consider jumping back into IB in order to have a better chance to recruit for PE or wait out until the market improve?

Mod alert: We have announced a PE Interview boot camp for July 21, 2023. Check it out here: https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/courses/live-training/private-equity-interview-bootcamp. Happy recruiting!

Mod alert 2: The Bootcamp is sold out. If you couldn't get a seat, please check out our PE interview Course. Good luck with the interviews!

4 Comments
 

Saepe dolorem delectus quis asperiores. Itaque minus laboriosam non quam. Voluptate atque blanditiis iusto iusto nisi qui.

Facilis quis autem architecto dolores alias architecto ut. Eum minima eaque velit inventore modi. Et ut amet sequi aspernatur voluptatem commodi. Eum quo molestias accusamus sint sed dolores illum. Libero harum earum quisquam neque recusandae.

Reiciendis repellat aut autem culpa dicta provident sed. Molestias aut assumenda omnis. Recusandae aliquid praesentium consequatur est. In voluptate ratione ea odit. Et ut veritatis eveniet excepturi impedit qui natus.

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
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”