Lateral within a year?
Has anyone lateraled to another pe firm within a year or after a year? Started at my fund 2 months ago and I am just not a cultural fit (bank was “fratty” and loved it, fund is very buttoned up). Talked to some friends and their funds are closer to what I want. Any input / thoughts?
If you can explain it away... sure? I feel like the standard answer is "wait a year" but honestly it's 2022 and kids are showing up to work posting about their days on TikTok so - if you can get a firm you want to be at to hire you, sure why not?
Would probably give it the full year - you're more likely to get credit for the experience (vs. being treated like a fresh associate) and it's a smaller red flag when interviewing. I changed funds before the year mark and it definitely raises questions, but I had some really solid references to back me up.
This is assuming the culture fit is not unbearable. I would also reset your expectations around camaraderie in PE. Idk what funds your friends work at, but "buttoned up" is definitely the norm. It's rare to find colleagues in PE that will also be your drinking buddies. Most guys just wanna finish their work and go home at a reasonable hour. Personalities range from polite to sociopathic, but not so much on the fratty side.
Do you think lateraling could hurt my chances at staying on at new fund? Worry is I leave then it really fucks me later
Would only come back to bite you if you're job hopping again after another year - need to be able to show upward trajectory at some point (either Sr. Assoc/VP nod or MBA) vs. being labeled as a guy that couldn't make it to the mid-level if you want to stay in PE.
2 months is definitely too soon, but I think you're fine to start putting feelers out around 6 months and leave around 8-10 months. A year is ideal if you can make it, but 10 vs 12 months is not a big deal.
That said, a lot of what makes banks fratty and fun is a huge percentage/number of juniors. Any group will be fratty when 50%+ of their staff is either fresh out of college or late-20s associates. It's hard to replicate that in PE when you're likely one of a few associates, and group overall has a a much older average age. Totally get some funds are straight-up stuffy, but don't expect a fratty culture at most PE jobs.
Expect a pretty sterile environment across the board
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