Missing out by not doing On-Cycle for PE

Pretty confident that I want to move to the buyside after my analyst program. Preference is a traditional LBO shop with a flexible mandate and would consider GE/VC. Currently at a MM bank that doesn't really place into MFs. Original plan was to get some deal experience and do off-cycle for LMM/MM funds later in the year

Am I missing out on something by not even trying to do on-cycle and having calls with HHs right now, do I even have a chance at getting these interviews (non-target school)?

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If LMM/MM is your goal I'd argue you are better off waiting tbh... while some will fill up on-cycle, with off-cycle you'll have the opportunity to 1. look at a bunch of different opportunities on an ad-hoc basis (i.e. you're not telling the HH one specific strategy like you do in on-cycle) and 2. spend a little more time with firms to determine cultural fit, instead of accepting a job under extreme pressures of oncycle

Also entering oncycle saying you want either traditional buyout, GE, or VC is not going to inspire confidence in HHs, that's a pretty wide universe. Take some time to figure out which of those is your path.

Fill out any intro surveys that come through and note you want to do off-cycle, but would not be getting on the phone with HHs yet

 

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