Does it get better as a PE VP?
Hi everyone. I left MFPE after my associate stint a while back due to WLB concerns, but have been contemplating going back as a VP.
How much better does it get as a VP? I've heard the argument here - more autonomy = better control of your schedule, ability to leverage ASO resources, better alignment of financial incentives with work done, more "interesting" work. Obviously the trade-off is that the job is more high-stakes where you can't just be totally executional with little to no risk as an ASO, but it seems like that skill-building exercise is also more rewarding.
I am at the point in my life where I am keen to invest in "life" outside of work, especially given the complete lack of investment in my early / mid 20s. I don't think I need a 9-5 job to do that, but I do need time + flexibility outside of work to some degree.
Curious to hear people's perspectives - ideally comparing the VP job to ASO (given my prior experience).
VP for me was less hours but exponentially more stress and inability to unplug outside of "working hours".
Could you elaborate on the stress part? I don't feel the same in my seat but also not a MF. Don't want to make a bad decision and try to go up-market just to find out I hate it
I'd also love to hear about your experience as well - if you don't mind sharing.
Same as the above poster, I was dramatically more stressed out when I started as a VP than when I was an associate. Hours were better for the most part (I didn’t feel weird about leaving before 7) but it really depended on the associate I was working with. A shitty junior team can ruin your life as a midlevel.
Got it - did it get better? What was your experience like over time?
I was directly promoted from associate to VP at my MM firm ~6 months ago and it has been good so far. From an execution standpoint, having good people under me has allowed me to step back somewhat from models/decks, and when I do have to get deep, I feel I am generally pretty efficient from my years as an associate. I personally have not experienced the elevated stress that people talk about. I think it’s a function of good relationships with my team, feeling well ingrained in our firm, and having “proved myself” as an associate such that one little mistake wouldn’t be the end of the world at this point. Hours can be bad when we are running hard at a deal, but that’s the business. On average I’d say WLB has been pretty good. Definitely lucky in this regard.
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