Hey friends, curious if anyone has insights in recent mega fund’s 2-Year/3-year associate program (not pre-MBA). Spoke with a recruiter (think about Brookfield/Blackstone/KKR/Carlyle), was told that I will be expected to network a lot and then find an internal position, or move to portfolio company’s role to be on their operations, or find another gig outside.
Question: How does it actually work? What’s the general exit of Associates in such programs after two or three years?
Thank you!
Based on previous WSO threads, here's what you need to know about the general exit opportunities for Associates in mega fund (MF) 2-year/3-year programs:
Networking and Internal Positions:
Portfolio Company Roles:
External Opportunities:
MBA Considerations:
Learning and Growth:
For more detailed insights, you can refer to the following WSO threads: - https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/private-equity/qa-3rd-year-pe-ass…</a">Q&A: 3rd Year PE Associate - https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/private-equity/2-year-pe-mf-progr…</a">2 year PE MF program with MBA requirement - potential exits
These threads provide firsthand experiences and advice from professionals who have navigated similar paths.
Sources: https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/private-equity/going-from-mm-investment-bank-to-mega-fund?customgpt=1, What is your long term career plan? / What do you do after the 2-2-2?, Q&A: 3rd Year PE Associate ($10bn+ AUM, MBO/LBO, equity, mezz, distressed debt), The PE career path, Pre-MBA Private Equity Associate
This must be Brookfield right? Those firms just aren’t generally archetyped together.
Carlyle I know has a rotational program but for UGs I think.
Either way, I think your experience will align to what the recruiter told you. However, I do know some people who got into PE in a non traditional way like this and fair warning that it makes you somewhat beholden to the firm. I.e. you can’t lateral because you run into that wall that you may be avoiding by doing something like this. Also, internally, there may be preference for the people who have more traditional backgrounds, which can be difficult to overcome unless you are much more of a rockstar and fast learner than your peers, which is rare since everyone who gets to any of these firms is generally quite smart and hardworking, and the format of work we do doesn’t really lend itself to differentiating yourself other than by consistent hoop jumping over a long period of time.
Thank you. This is super helpful.
Brookfield is very much an internal promotion platform
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