Hi All -
I've come to a crossroads in my career and wanted to vent / get some perspectives. I'm currently an Analyst 3 at a reputable MM investment bank (Blair, Baird, HL). I've been with the firm for a little over a year now. Due to COVID frictions and the fact that my group closes 80% of its deals with strategics, I haven't jumped to PE yet. I'm in a top group and am getting great deal reps / closing transactions, and so I'm not too worried about being laid off.
One option I'm considering is sticking with IB until Associate 1 promotion this year and then applying to a top 20 MBA program in a year or so. The other option is to aggressively go at PE off-cycle recruiting right now and hopefully make the move, with the potential to do an MBA after. I think my end goal with either is to get my MBA at some point, but I'm cognizant of the age demographics for MBA applicants.
My reservations are that I'm an older analyst (just turned 27). I worked at a Big 4 out of undergrad before moving to a boutique IB for a year. I was able to lateral to my current MM bank which was great. My concern is that I've had some PE firms and headhunters say I have a scatterbrained resume because of the number of my jobs at my age. I understand this, but it is somewhat of a symptom of being from a non-target with a desire to work in finance.
While I can try to get into PE now, I will not have a lot of time there before I would want to go get my MBA which could hinder my application / interviewing. If I stay on as an Associate 1, at least I get more experience with the firm, get more deal experience, and can even dedicate more time to volunteering, networking, GMAT prep, and visiting campuses (assuming COVID allows). My other question is if it is even possible to recruit for PE at an MBA for a summer internship or post-MBA FT role if you do not have PE experience prior. I know I would make a strong candidate, but I'm also realistic to recruiting barriers.
Appreciate any thoughts and hopefully that all makes sense!
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LOL @ Shoehorning Booth in there
@warriorsquared Appreciate the comment and that all makes sense to me. In an ideal world, I would join a MM PE fund as a VP out of b school. Assuming I don't get into PE, I know I don't want to stick with IB through the associate years and into the VP years. I think the MBA would be a great way to reset after IB into consulting or strategy / P&L at a corporate.
Your comment on working backwards resented and in order to get that PE VP role, I need to work hard for a pre-MBA PE associate position. I'll know I want to get my MBA eventually, so I can manage to that timeline accordingly.
If it doesn't work out, then the MBA is still a viable option and I can put a story together for recruiters.
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