Is the switch from consulting to private equity possible?
I am currently an analyst at Deloitte and will eventually become a consultant for them. My end goal is to be in private equity and not coming from MBB is giving me some doubts on being able to transition. I've read it is possible but would appreciate some more feedback and knowledge on this. Maybe on how I should transition into PE as well.
Also would be open to thoughts on different exits out of consulting besides just PE.
Thanks!
Comments (25)
Nope, sorry, if you didn't go to a target school, get into a BB in IB M&A (only GS and JPM will do), then your destiny is to work at a Pizza Hut for life.
(edit: Sarcasm wasn't apparent...)
You'll be fine. It'll be harder - if I'm reviewing resumes, the one w/ the BCG logo will catch my eye before the Deloitte one. But it's not an end-all by any means. If you're able to highlight relevant deal work and operational checkpoints that you've completed in your Deloitte tenure, while also having good interpersonal and interviewing skills, then you have a shot just like everyone else. As soon as you get into the interview room, all of your past goes out the window and it's just the interview that matters.
Piece of cake, baby. You got it.
That is great to hear. I really appreciate the feedback and encouragement!
I too think the BCG logo is more eye catching--the deloitte one is just too bland and the black font doesn't scream ingenuity
but have you seen that EY logo--the yellow accent makes it even more eyecatching than bain's logo
Always good to have a sense of humor lol
more of an uphill battle and concerted effort on your part, sure, but not impossible. expect relevant casework to be relatively more important at that strata to compensate for the lack of "prestige." load up on DDs/deal-adjacent cases and master the verbiage/technicals and you should be a compelling candidate beyond screening stage.
Thanks for the response. Helpful to hear where to excel at.
It's not impossible but it's a much more difficult battle.
I'd recommend lateralling to MBB before trying to make the switch--it'll be easier to go from Deloitte to MBB than it is to go from MBB to PE. Once you're in MBB, then it's relatively straightforward to get an offer at a PE fund. Harder for a MF, of course, but if you're smart enough to go to MM/LMM, you'll have a spot no doubt.
Thanks for sharing the feedback. Helpful to know about possible routes as well.
Any thoughts on ER and moving to IB and then to ER?
Despite being a LMM PE Associate, I'm kind of an idiot and I don't know what those acronyms mean. IB is banking, idk what ER is, but I'd avoid both of those because I don't think the skillset learned is better than the MBB one--for IB because that's just obvious to anyone who knows both consultants and bankers, and ER? IDK what that is so I don't know if it gets into PE if that's your goal
Again, I'm a bit of an idiot on this
Nothing is IMPOSSIBLE, per se. I got into a MF REPE shop with a non real estate background or IB or finance background (data scientist). But I still had a HSW engineering undergrad and background in construction/civil, so I wasn't a complete nobody. And even then I consider myself crazy lucky to have broken in.
Realistically, unless you have some kind of catch or pitch, it's going to be a massive uphill battle to get into corporate PE. Putting aside LMM, getting a MM/UMM/MF PE gig (non ops) will be all but impossible from B4 without some sort of in.
It will be FAR easier to lateral to MBB and then recruit for MFPE than it would be to even get a LMM PE gig. And if you can't make it to MBB (or even T2) then you aren't cut out for PE anyway
I've considered the lateral to MBB the best option and then finding an in. Thanks for giving your insight.
Are we talking like palantir type data scientist?
How did you get yourself on headhunter radars?
I was first a data scientist at a bank and then a strategy & analytics manager at a different place. As for how I made the switch: sheer fucking dumb luck
Deloitte is not good, lateral
How quickly after starting as a consultant there should I be looking to lateral? Would building up some knowledge and cases overtime be more beneficial?
no. as quickly as possible that you can make the move.
Went from non-mbb to large PE myself, would recommend you lateral to MBB, for the reason of, just trust me, I've explained this on the forum literally so many times over the last 4 years, you can search and find it
If you don't mind what was the non-mbb? Also what did you do to get your applications looked at for PE coming from non-mbb, I'm sure there must've been something that made you stand out without having to lateral. Appreciate the response!
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