Non-traditional background; Post-MBA Ex-consultant/corporate strategy to PE?

Would PE firms consider someone with 5 years post-MBA (combination of strategy consulting from non-MBB + corporate strategy in Fortune 50 Technology company) for any position? I am new to this and would appreciate any insights. Spoke with a PE recruiter (well-known, used by a lot of folks on here) and they suggested at this stage it is a bit too late for PE, and that I should consider VC as a next step in my career. Is that typical? Or would PE firms with Growth Equity funds consider someone with deep vertical knowledge and consulting skill sets? Trying to understand the best path forward and would appreciate any info.

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"Or would PE firms with Growth Equity funds consider someone with deep vertical knowledge and consulting skill sets?"

So to clarify a few things, "private equity" technically covers buyout, VC, and growth funds (all of these are pools of private capital for equity investing), but usually when people say PE, they mean buyout specifically. Growth equity resembles VC in many ways, except the obvious difference of later stage investing.

The recruiter you spoke with is right in that PE/buyout is (probably) a closed door. Unfortunately you are most likely missing too much live deal management / investing experience.

 

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