Pigeonholing?
I'm currently an Associate in a generalist, mid-large sized Infrastructure fund and have been performing well. However, some frustrations surrounding internal processes and work-life balance have got me searching for new opportunities / a pivot in my career.
After a couple of months of job-hunting, I have now got an offer to join a fund that focuses specifically on Data Centres, including established assets (more RE-type deals) but mostly platform-type (Infra/PE-style deals) with bolt-on M&A, significant growth from expansion etc.
My question is, 2-5+ years down the line, will I have pigeonholed myself into being some sort of "Data Centre guy", hence closing doors to a return to generalist infrastructure or mid-market PE? I think this is a good opportunity to accelerate my career in a team I like, however want to make a fully informed decision.
Based in London btw. Appreciate any help/input.
From the little I can tell, I think if you find a way to work in a more generalist capacity (like data centers can be a broad term and can tangentially touch a variety of sectors / end users) and/or focus on more of the PE-type deals that your firm gets to work on, that may be helpful in a pivot to a more generalist infrastructure or a PE role. Every job has some room for you to make of it what you want, so hopefully you can try to focus on the work/deals among the ones available that are closest to what you want to do after that role. Either way, best wishes and good luck
Really appreciate the perspective. Thank you.
I think it’s easier said then done to pivot back to generalist PE. Would think you still would be able to pivot within infra and REPE fairly easily though.
Don’t know why you see specializing as a bad thing, the further you go in your career it’s better to be specialized and data centers aren’t that niche anymore. You have actual expertise in the sector, more meaningful network, are harder to replace and have a better understanding of the operating side. Especially when you consider data centers which are imo one of the most interesting and rapidly growing parts of the value-add infra.
Animi eaque ullam et sint non laudantium. Cupiditate ea minus architecto placeat sint. Est commodi tempore eum et ipsam sint illo.
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