MBA to break into PE / HF?

London IB Analyst at a BB.

How can I join a PE/HF in the US (NYC/Miami)? Rate these options:

Should I do an MBA in a Tier 1 school? Move to the US as a banker and lateral? Move to a fund in Europe and move to the US office? Thx

7 Comments
 

Do you want PE or HF? They are very different jobs

For PE...can't go MBA -> PE without prior PE experience. Generally think getting PE experience in Europe would be your best move - probably won't be at the US MFs, but start by getting into PE and then lateral to a US-based fund's European team, even if it's a bit smaller. Work for a few years and then ask to move over to the home office. 

 
Most Helpful

If you attend a top 5 school, the HFs should recruit there - definitely not a guaranteed path like MBA -> IB is though, definitely a risk you end up at a small shop with limited optionality out of there. You need to be really sharp and attuned to the public markets. HFs also care a lot about prestige... if you are an analyst at a top group at GS and land HBS, that is a lot different than coming from a mid group at DB and going to CBS. 

Alternative is to lateral internally into equity research, which is an excellent HF training ground and they tend to pluck juniors out of those seats. Can skip the MBA there. Might even be able to move over to the US immediately on the L-1

 

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