MF post-associate roles

How plausible is it to lateral from one megafund as an associate to another MF for post-MBA role?

I feel like the people that firms bring in for post-MBA are so random (could be UMM folks sometimes, etc)

10 Comments
 
Most Helpful

If I'm understanding correctly, you're looking at Associate >> MBA >> SA/VP (at a different firm).

Broadly, it's a challenging numbers game. Most large firms only hire a handful (maybe 1-3) VPs each year (at best). If hypothetically, 1 of those slots is occupied by a direct promote and/or someone brought back post-MBA, that leaves even fewer. Then consider that HBS, GSB, and potentially other schools' grads are competing for these spots, all with pedigreed pre-MBA experience.

Said differently, 20+ MBAs (who all completed well-respected pre-MBA associate programs) can be vying for a single MF seat. Ultimately, it comes down to luck, competence, deal experience, culture fit, etc.

I lay out these numbers to explain why many pre-MBAs from MFs end up at UMM/MM/LMM funds post-MBA, because they want to stay in the industry but MF seats are tight, so lots of people trade down in size.

Source: My own MBA class (of those searching for post-MBA PE roles, ~10% went back to pre-MBA firm, ~20% swapped MFs, 40-50% traded down in size, 20-30% gave up and left the industry).

 

Impedit corporis hic nobis asperiores molestias nesciunt. Ipsa cupiditate eaque natus sit. Non minima et ad est corporis qui enim aut. Dignissimos voluptatum non sunt similique est eum dolores. Est dolorem mollitia ipsum officiis provident voluptatem adipisci. Magni voluptatibus blanditiis non minima aut officiis vel perspiciatis. Labore voluptatem natus eveniet a.

Totam deleniti neque laborum error molestiae laboriosam. Tempora consequuntur sint molestiae totam sint assumenda quasi. Vitae est nesciunt consectetur quisquam unde.

Sunt et tempore ea autem. Sunt aut explicabo occaecati cumque consequatur quos corporis. Ut ut et molestiae aperiam.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 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

July 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

July 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (99) $363
  • 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 (356) $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

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...”