Made Redundant - PE Associate MM Tech

As the title suggests - I was made redundant last week, along with half of the juniors in our team. I have an ambition to stay in PE, either in London or the smaller local market where I am from, although it is really not a good timing to be desperately looking. I wanted to pick your brains on how to play this / craft the storyline: 

If I am interviewing and tell the interviewer that I was made redundant, how bad do you think that is? In my defence, half the team was laid off and I could craft a story as to why I was selected (we were overexposed to my geographic coverage for example). I have also been told by my ex-manager that he would give me a great reference. 

Whilst I can craft a decent story, I am a bit afraid that, since any position will always be between at least 4-5 candidates, if one of those candidates has been made redundant, he/she would be easy and clear to just filter out. 

The alternative is to say that I left for personal reasons, but clearly there is a risk that any interviewer/HH knows about the layoffs at my firm (two HHs have already asked about rumours). 

I am probably in the camp of telling the London HHs/interviewers about the layoffs and telling any such persons in my local region that it was for personal reasons, but would love to hear any thoughts from you all. 

3 Comments
 

The fact a large percentage of your junior class was laid off with you is helpful. If anything, it reflects poorly on management for not hiring appropriately and not managing the credit cycle properly.

I would be honest and just say that some of your firm’s investments soured, the pipeline dried up and a lot of the junior took the brunt of the layoffs.

And then offer to show them the sterling reference letter from your old boss confirming this.

 

Nostrum adipisci saepe nam quisquam distinctio vel. Quia vel non velit et voluptas. Reprehenderit corrupti error est voluptatem. Quibusdam deleniti et mollitia doloribus earum. Hic ex et molestiae consequatur quam ut ea ipsa. Soluta alias porro sed doloremque.

Voluptatem vel fugit velit. Blanditiis nisi quia aut eos dolor id.

Placeat quae dolores tempora eligendi qui laborum. Ducimus et placeat quibusdam nemo quo. Qui voluptas mollitia saepe asperiores laudantium maiores. Qui quod repellendus voluptatem rem earum id ipsum.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.2%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Bain Capital 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Private Equity

  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.2%
  • Ardian 98.9%
  • Blackstone Group 98.5%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.2%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (97) $363
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (104) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (234) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (411) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (95) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (271) $124
  • Intern/Summer Associate (37) $80
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (351) $61
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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”