PE VP: Thoughts on Quitting with Nothing Lined Up?

I'm coming here looking for advice, wisdom, and perhaps courage on whether quitting with nothing lined up makes sense in the context of the where I am in my career (2 years as VP at UMM firm). I just feel stuck. Lots more that I want to say, but TLDR the things that I'm weighing are:

  1. I am genuinely miserable and extremely burned out, and have been for a long time. I've given it chances to say that I'm "just in a rough stretch" or "things will lighten up" to know that it is not going to happen at least at this firm. That won't change at principal level either. I've only worked at this one firm except for 2 year IB analyst stint.
  2. I DO think PE is a really cool job (and I think I could be good at it). I have a ton of other interests and could see myself going down many other paths, but if I'm being honest I think I'd have a really hard time leaving investing behind entirely
  3. What I want more than anything is rest and to take some real time off. Right now I just want to feel healthy and the idea of diving right into something else feels very daunting, even if it proves to be better. I am averse to running a real recruiting effort.
  4. I'm highly anxious about quitting in this environment: fundraising is tough, potential for AI to eat into jobs and leave me with limited prospects. Just feeling very pessimistic on that front. 
  5. Comp/carry is not my top priority, but is a factor for sure. I live well within my means though and have plenty saved up.

Appreciate any thoughts

1 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Doloribus tenetur explicabo perferendis aut hic voluptates. Vel nemo perferendis natus aut. Tempora ut laudantium rerum atque quo laudantium. Quo dolorem sed ut. Sint vel laborum quos. Dignissimos ut fugit quo omnis qui.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Private Equity

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

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.2%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (100) $364
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (106) $280
  • 2nd Year Associate (236) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (414) $231
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (274) $126
  • Intern/Summer Associate (40) $79
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (357) $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

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...”