Lacking motivation for PE recruiting

So I recently finished up my first year at a lower tier BB and have been contemplating my next moves. A few months ago I was thinking I should begin recruiting for a PE position for summer '23, but lately I've been lacking the motivation to dive into it. The past 5-6 months I've been working ~40 hour weeks with people I kinda enjoy working with, and it calls into question how much the grass is really greener on the buyside. The interviews seem quite intense, I don't want to settle for a "lean-team" LMM just for the sake of going buyside. I've always had in mind doing 2+2 then MBA, so would appreciate some guidance from those who have been in a similar position.

 
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Be real w/ yourself on what you value most in life.

If you value culture and 40 hour work weeks most then stay, just make sure that's actually how your group works and it's not just a lucky 5-6 months.

If you value more having PE on your resume and learning how to be an investor, then do PE. PE is a super hardo industry so if you don't have the motivation to prep for interviews after a 9-5 work week then you will likely struggle to adapt to the longer and more intense hours in PE (I say intense b/c even when the hours aren't "bad", you're still working intensely during those hours w/ zero down time unlike IB when you have a lot of downtime sometimes waiting for comments). Lack of motivation will not serve you well in PE, it's not a sleepy industry at all. 

Don't feel the need to do PE just b/c it's a common exit. It's not easy and not for everyone. 

"I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse."
 

Piggybacking off this and cannot stress the importance of having a lucky break.I joined my group as it was getting ramped up and it felt like a start up where everyone was willing to grind and be part of the family. Really could have seen myself staying here.

Now two years later, I'm a third year analyst woefully regretting not recruiting earlier or even exploring it bc recruiters are giving me the stink eye (understandably so given I'd be 3-4 years older than an associate who did on cycle; ageism is real in this industry).

You should recruit and give it an earnest try. Perhaps you find a firm you really like and if you don't, you have a fallback plan at your bank. I just personally regret not exploring all my options earlier on because I was short sighted by a new groups enthusiasm that very quickly waned.

 

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