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

 

Rem in incidunt et accusantium eligendi ea quia. Deserunt assumenda sint dolores alias eos.

Aut eos repudiandae est ullam qui earum ducimus. Voluptate ut esse et alias dolorum quos illum. Quis praesentium velit natus accusamus aut sequi itaque.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Private Equity

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

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (98) $365
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (104) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (235) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (411) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (272) $124
  • Intern/Summer Associate (38) $81
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (355) $62
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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
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...”