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

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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. 

 
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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. 

 

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