FoF vs small PE

Hi,

I am in my senior year in a top 3 European city (London, Frankfurt, Paris). I have two offers to intern at a fund for the Spring semester: one is for a pretty young FoF (think $800-1,200m AUM), consistently raising funds each year, around 30% for co-investments, and the second one is at a small PE fund (400-500m AUM), that will raise funds soon and has one bullet left to fully invest its second fund; they will invest in 4-5 months (apparently they determined the most likely acquisition target recently but I would see the majority of the process since I would join in just a few weeks).

The FoF also has a debt fund for LBO financing and I would be part of that team and more focused on co-investments given my prior internship experience but obviously I would spend a lot of time doing primaries too since that is their main investment strategy. 

Both firms are relatively small so there's no much data available with regard to exit opps, but generally people that have worked in these funds have either stayed or went to other PE funds (for more senior people) or IB roles (for recent grads as I will be soon).

My goal, at the moment, is PE, Restructuring, or Special Situations, but I want to keep as many doors open as possible. Btw, the PE firm does not extend FT offers and the FoF almost guarantees one. I also have the possibility to intern at a M&A boutique (no offer on the table but it would be relatively easy to get one).

I am wondering if anyone can provide some advice. What do you think I should do? What would set me better for a FT job search in the upcoming months?

Thanks a lot in advance!

2 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Placeat cum adipisci vero quibusdam distinctio rerum. Ducimus sunt adipisci ut rerum voluptas totam. Saepe reprehenderit voluptas necessitatibus eaque velit deserunt ipsa.

Illo est laborum tempore error amet. Accusamus facilis optio atque saepe voluptatem. Illum est aperiam ipsa officiis ut quia dolor. Et quibusdam qui in officia.

Molestiae eaque est rerum tempore quaerat. Delectus sapiente dignissimos voluptatem omnis quas suscipit eaque. Aut perspiciatis ratione id est odit eos possimus. Rerum saepe eum quis recusandae voluptatem.

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 98.1%

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) 98.1%

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 (273) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”