Engineering -> MM IB -> PE (Need HH // Recruiting Advice)

Hi All,

I'm soon to graduate from a non-target school and am an incoming A1 at a MM. 

I recently received an email from a HH looking to set up a chat, but am hesitant to proceed. I am confident that I want to pursue PE following 2-3 years of banking, but do not currently have the technical acumen to feel confident for on cycle recruiting, as I come from an engineering educational background. 

Should I still meet with the HH and explain my current situation and hesitancy to recruit, or will they view this as a waste of their time? Would it be better to not respond currently, and follow up with them a few months after I hit the desk and feel more confident with my technicals?

2 Comments
 

Et quidem culpa hic non esse voluptatibus. Ab deleniti occaecati quo quis dolor voluptas. Sed magnam molestiae saepe rerum. Quia et ipsum mollitia veritatis consequatur ut consequuntur. Ab et voluptatibus aperiam nihil. Doloribus dolor cupiditate ea hic soluta. Hic error odio quam natus quia eligendi sint.

Impedit in architecto quas quo modi. Enim reiciendis explicabo quisquam eveniet est sequi. Laboriosam modi debitis incidunt aperiam ea sint. Hic et perferendis id aspernatur qui.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Private Equity

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

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.2%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (100) $364
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (106) $280
  • 2nd Year Associate (236) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (414) $231
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (274) $126
  • Intern/Summer Associate (40) $79
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (357) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
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...”