Don’t know how to model
I’m a third year analyst. I was in a group for a year and a half that didn’t have too many deals so I didn’t get a ton of modeling experience. I lateraled to a product group that doesn’t model much either. I’m at a loss for where to begin learning because I’m trying to recruit for PE but these case studies/model tests keep tripping me up. Am I doomed or is there still a way to learn?? Should I just forget about PE? I can’t stay in IB for much longer but I want to stay in finance
You're not doomed—far from it! Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's a roadmap to get you back on track and ready for Private Equity recruiting:
1. Leverage Financial Modeling Resources
2. Focus on LBO Modeling
3. Bootcamps and Structured Learning
4. Practice, Practice, Practice
5. Mock Interviews and Case Studies
6. Don’t Give Up on PE
7. Alternative Paths in Finance
With the right resources and consistent effort, you can absolutely catch up and succeed in PE recruiting. Start with the WSO lessons and bootcamps—they’re designed for exactly this kind of situation. Keep pushing forward!
Sources: What would it take to pull you out of PE and into ops?, PE funds and private jets?, How to Spend the Next Year in IB to Prepare for PE, Struggling PE Analyst, Useful certifications to get for IB/PE
I can’t model either. Left for a Corp Dev role that only does M&A. No modeling at all
Every place is different. I’m in a credit type group and model for every deal. Our LevFin team does barely any modeling, yet I’m trying to lateral to that team. Lack of modeling can be taught
Which parts about modeling are tripping you up?
It’s not rocket science. I learned how to do it from watching rareliquid videos lmao
Just buy Peak Frameworks and practice through it. You really only need up to level 3, maybe level 4, for most MM interviews. It might take some time, but it is completely doable. Think harder thing is developing the business sense of evaluating the quality of business/doing write-ups for interviews, than the actual modelling aspect.
PF up to level 3 and maybe 4 is pretty much all you need for most MM interviews (can probably get away with 3; didn't get anything as hard as level 4 or 5 in anything outside of ~10Bn+ fund size funds). The harder thing is really developing the business sense/what to write up for case studies imo, and I think a lot of that comes from getting reps in deals and/or making things like M&A ideas pitches.
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