Pivoting to PE after INSEAD?

I am considering moving to Paris long term. Does anyone have a sense for pivoting to PE from another job after INSEAD?

I understand the difficulty in pivoting to PE post-MBA with no prior PE experience in the US, but I am wondering if it's any different in Europe coming out of INSEAD as an American.

Thank you.

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Best Response

Most European PE funds don't require MBA for promotion, but they tend to hire more senior people as associate (sweet spot is Analyst 3 / Associate 1) so it's possible to do MBA > IBD Associate > PE Associate. Note that that is quite a different path than going MBA > PE Senior Associate / VP and set you back in time considerably. I have come across / known quite a few European PE associates in their early / mid 30s and it's not a place I would want to be.

Also, unless your french is at native level (ie. you can function in French just as ell as a native speaker), it will be practically impossible to get a job in PE in Paris.

 

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