24 Comments
 
Best Response

Honestly not much to it - head hunters will email you opportunities as they come up. Typically the ones that come across earlier in the process will be for the same start time as the on-cycle processes (e.g. summer 2018 this year) but it gets more random / immediate as time goes on. Some times it'll be funds that hire a class of associates every year, sometimes it'll be on an as-needed basis.

Processes are typically longer than on cycle too, usually including a couple of phone screens, case study or model exam and superday all over the course of a few weeks.

There isn't much of a pattern but I've noticed that there's a bit of a pickup immediately after Memorial Day, Labor Day and New Year's Day. Obviously it's usually MM and regional funds, but every mega fund will need a few people during the offcycle so those opportunities haven't completely passed.

 

these are extremely rare for summer as most PE funds don't have structured internship programs. So assuming off-cycle means non-summer internship, not only are they incredible rare, I'd imagine they'd just ask for help at the local universities instead.

Since you can't technically recruit yet, my guess is you'll just have to network. I managed to land one of these off-cycle internships but had to network far in advance for the associate to even trust giving me a shot... keep in mind an off-cycle internship is a really strange request in general...

 

Networking with a goal is kind of shady in my opinion - as if you want to just use people to move up the ladder...

Just try to be a genuine friend, mentee, etc. Trust is what matters and networking goes beyond just job opps

 

Agree with @"couchy" in general

Meet as many people as you can, be nice and just kind of mention your interest (since people will ask you what you want to do in your gap year). Worse comes to worse, find smaller shops and just email the head guys and the follow up with a phone call to just ask if they do it. Offer to work and "help out" for little or no money and that you want to learn about PE, the industry, investing etc...

Good Luck

I used to do Asia-Pacific PE (kind of like FoF). Now I do something else but happy to try and answer questions on that stuff.
 

Pariatur recusandae minus eligendi rerum voluptatibus et velit excepturi. Iusto quia voluptatem autem soluta labore. Veritatis totam voluptatem voluptatibus. Dolorum rem magni et excepturi aut sed.

Ut laboriosam perspiciatis saepe voluptas soluta. Quis ex excepturi odit dolorem ducimus saepe quis libero.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

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

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Private Equity

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

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 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

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (98) $365
  • 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 (355) $62
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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
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...”