PE recruiting in APAC - advice needed!

Anyone know how PE recruiting works in the APAC region? Who are the headhunters I should be in touch with? I’m a 2nd year BB analyst in NYC, and am looking to recruit for MF PE opportunities in Asia. I am specifically interested in working in either Hong Kong or Singapore, although I must note that I do not speak Mandarin (I’m Korean). Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

3 Comments
 
Most Helpful

You have an uphill battle ahead of you, but it’s by no means insurmountable.

Recruiting for most front office IB/PE roles in HK will usually almost certainly favour native Mandarin speakers (sometimes Canto speakers too). Singapore is the exception and you’ll likely have an easier run at things. Start reaching out and getting virtual chats booked in the same way you would in the US.

One area of strength you have is the ability to transfer internally to a Korean coverage group (lots of these in HK) and then try to move to a PE from there. Don’t buy into the narrative that you can’t move to PE as an Associate, that’s complete rubbish, so you have plenty of time.

Word of caution however. If you think NYC has a grindy banking culture, Hong Kong will make NYC look like a bunch of amateurs in hours worked per week. And even worse there still if you end up at any of the big Chinese IPO factories. Something to consider.

 

Facilis sit pariatur ab unde ullam culpa. Optio voluptate minima sed dolore. Facere voluptatem non quos illo vitae est. Deserunt veritatis aliquam eos minima porro. Dolores magnam sit incidunt beatae.

Vero et numquam expedita corrupti adipisci. Dicta officia ipsa enim rerum et. Cum ut architecto omnis cupiditate. Ab excepturi asperiores dolorum. Quaerat porro eos molestias et et. Et iusto quidem in et pariatur.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.2%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Bain Capital 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Private Equity

  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.2%
  • Ardian 98.9%
  • Blackstone Group 98.5%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.2%
  • 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 (97) $363
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (104) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (234) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (411) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (95) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (271) $124
  • Intern/Summer Associate (37) $80
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (351) $61
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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”