Nontraditional Background to PE

I'm headed to one of HSW this fall and coming from a nontraditional background (military, sports, arts, etc.). I studied math at one of HYPSM in undergrad, for whatever that's worth in this process.

I managed to pick up a pre-MBA internship this summer at a LMM fund. I know how PE recruiting, even from HSW, is an uphill battle--but especially so without traditional PE experience.

Will my summer internship give me enough to have a fighting chance in recruiting? I'd be targeting MM funds, as it's pretty clear to me that MFs are out of the question.

Any advice on how to go about this would be much appreciated!

8 Comments
 
 

I was similar to you. Is it possible to go from nontrad>MBA>PE? Yes, maybe. Is it likely? No, because you're a higher-risk for the hiring firm than other candidates. Is it a good idea for you? No because winning the job is the easier part. Doing the job is more difficult. Without the proper IBD training, you're going to throw yourself into full time work where you're expected to deliver, and you will not have the tools to do so. THat's where I f'ed up. Don't do that to yourself or your employer.

 

how would one be able to gain the skillset needed to succeed in a PE role from the path outlined above then? surely just IB isn’t the only way, right?

 
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Kind of is actually. No PE shop will have patience as you learn the basics, and few have resources to help you learn. I feel like I'm talking to myself, 10 years ago. No, you can't just pick it all up in Wall St. Prep or TTS or BIWS. You have to go thru the program, get transaction experience, fuck up a bunch, learn some stuff, then go to PE.

 

would you say working @ MBB, or say Bain to be specific, within their PE ringfence would provide the firsthand experience needed? also, given you were a nontraditional candidate, what background did you have & how were you able to earn a role & progress in it?

 

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