PE Summer Internship: Operations or Investment Side?

Hey fellow monkeys!

I just received an offer from an alumnus that I could either help him in operations for the acquired firm or that he could refer me to similar firms that would want investment valuation (deal sourcing, valuation) help.

I assume an investment valuation role would be more applicable for someone wanting to do IB, but I am not sure how receptive the other firms would be towards letting me intern (or whether I would even get the internship as those other firms probably don't have alumni who would push for me). It would be weird to contact him after a few weeks asking to intern with him if he referred me to other firms and it didn't work out with them.

What do you all think? Is an operations role ok or would I be better off asking him to refer me to the other firms doing investment valuation?

Thanks!

5 Comments
 

What exactly would you be doing in operations of the acquired firm? That could potentially be helpful as well - especially if you want to make the jump directly to PE after undergrad as an analyst. I don't think you can go terribly wrong either way - but I would probably err on the side of the operations. If this alum is giving you an offer that means he trusts and wants to work with you. Someone else might not think so highly of you , regardless of the recommendation. And if no one else has anything it might look bad to come back to him later.

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there" - Will Rogers
 

Est et asperiores est aut dolores quia perspiciatis nulla. Aliquam et velit voluptas suscipit. Laborum iste sit et et quas nisi dolor.

Tenetur et nostrum fugit. Vel voluptas delectus omnis. Eum itaque soluta consequatur omnis sint.

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%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.2%
  • 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%
  • Vista Equity Partners 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

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...”