Exit options post MBA PE
I start a post MBA investment role at a private equity fund in the next couple weeks. The fund is a respected mm/umm sector agnostic direct fund (last flagship was ~ $5B) but has poor name recognition outside of finance. I'm honestly very excited about the role and feel very lucky to have landed it. I fully intend to put my head down and grind.
However my background before this role is extremely non-business related (think poker/athlete/TFA/paralegal) and frankly I'm worried about both (a) if things don't work out or (b) I hate the role.
What do exit options look like after a couple years of private equity experience? I am worried I have potentially pigeon holed myself if I find that I hate dealwork.
I'm specifically interested in:
Strategy/product roles at f500s
Startups
Consulting
Hedge funds
Asset management
Thanks in advance!
Moving to PE as no traction.
Hi PESofty, yes, I'm a bot, but I'm also good looking. Hopefully, these threads help you:
Fingers crossed that one of those helps you.
Bump.
How did you get the role in the first place without any business experience? The answer most likely depends on how long you stay? If you flame out within a year, it could be very challenging to get anything.
If you have 3-5 years of experience, any sort of strategy, corporate finance, management or corporate development role in the applicable industry should be feasible. Hedge funds or asset management roles don't seem realistic as there isn't much in the way of overlap in skillset.
I don't know anything about AM but can you explain why you nix HF as a potential exit in a little further depth?
The investment strategy is fundamentally different from most hedge funds. You'll be expensive, older and untrained - would obviously be different if it was a pre-MBA role
Thanks - I’m exactly worried about around the 1 year mark as not sure what I can land after that. I guess the goal is to hold on for dear life.
Made it into the interview rounds from a recommendation from my previous career and did well, though it was acknowledged that I’m not the typical targeted hire.
Someone posted about this a while ago in a separate thread.
The short answer is that, there's isn't a specific exit option post MBA PE. You're getting to a point in your career where not everything is on a set path. You kind of need to figure out what you like, what you're good at and go from there.
Depending on your specific experience at the fund, you'll have a variety of options. Some people go into industry, usually in finance related roles, some leverage their experience into either earlier/later stage investing if they want to stay in the investing world, some go onto be fund investors for pensions, endowments, etc so more on the asset management side of the house, others go the entrepreneurial route. There is no set path or great answer to "PE sets one up perfectly for xxx career"
The good news is that if you're smart and resourceful, have a good name PE fund and B school on your resume, you could probably take that experience and turn it into a variety of things.
Thanks all, makes a lot of sense. Just was worried as I’m in a great place if I make it and I fully intend to try to make a career out of this, but if it doesn’t work out, I’m in a very weird spot without a 2 year banking/consulting stint.
You can always go to consulting. It's uncommon but your skillset will translate alright (it's not so hard to get up to speed) and your pedigree will get your foot in the door. The money is also good if you work at M/B/B or are a real rainmaker.
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