IB vs PE Personality

I’m an incoming BB analyst and I don’t think I’m particularly sharp or technically gifted. I’m not sure I would make a great investor. However, I am very personable and confident and feel like I manage relationships well and my personality will serve me better at senior levels than junior levels. Obviously personality matters for rising up in IB, but does it matter a lot for PE or is more about investing skill?

I am personable/good looking/tall but not overly intelligent. Do you think this means I would be a better fit for IB long term than PE? Or not necessarily

 

Are they even that much different? I feel like it’s hard to generalize because even each firm differs. Also, the people are largely from the same pool

 

Honestly it all comes down to your people skills. Inherently the personalities between IB and PE folk aren't that different given most are pretty type A and it takes a certain type of person to reach and excel in either. Your success long term will be predicated on your ability to develop and maintain relationships both internally and externally, all core job competencies aside. 

 
Most Helpful

I wouldn't be able to differentiate between the personalities in IB vs. PE. Perpetual intern's description of PE personalities in the PE vs. HF thread could be applied to both "Risk averse lemmings being shuttled through a system of "success" defined by someone else, with very little in the way of true hobbies beyond semi-luxury travel, some athletic pursuit, and sports/drinking on weekends".

Jokes aside, the main difference I've noticed between those who don't successfully make the transition from IB to PE are those who are more focused on trying to get a deal done than assessing whether the deal makes sense as they work through it. They typically get found out when they continue to put bullshit assumptions in front of seniors, or don't kill deals quick enough when it's clear to others they're not attractive investments. This is where a lot of associates get thinned out as they don't get a VP offer. That said, I've seen IB MDs (typically from a sponsors team) hired into PE funds as MDs because of their network. They and the fund knew they weren't there to make investment decisions (hence why they weren't let anywhere near an IC seat), they were there to originate opportunities and develop relationships with management teams of companies being targeted by the fund. 

 

Modi quas enim dolores iusto ut sit et. Minima minima quo est magnam. Sit sed et eum non. Et vel expedita incidunt qui voluptas laborum.

Dolore reiciendis dolores molestiae quae blanditiis sunt necessitatibus est. Error animi voluptatum cum. Architecto aliquid iure nisi nihil praesentium accusamus. Nobis consequuntur harum occaecati porro rerum. Asperiores velit eos et. Ea mollitia voluptates autem. Dicta aut quam est doloribus vel temporibus dolore qui.

Beatae et dolores minima qui incidunt culpa mollitia. Non expedita quaerat accusantium ullam assumenda hic officia dolor. Et aliquid velit ut esse recusandae. Rem sit neque et. Consequatur esse placeat laboriosam asperiores aliquid sunt et.

Placeat eum architecto similique magni perferendis. Culpa id enim autem commodi dignissimos voluptatem.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Blackstone Group 99.0%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.4%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 97.9%
  • Bain Capital 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.4%
  • Ardian 97.9%
  • Bain Capital 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Bain Capital 99.0%
  • Blackstone Group 98.4%
  • Warburg Pincus 97.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (22) $569
  • Vice President (92) $362
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (91) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (206) $266
  • 1st Year Associate (387) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (29) $154
  • 2nd Year Analyst (83) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (246) $122
  • Intern/Summer Associate (32) $82
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (314) $59
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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.8
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
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...”