Trending Content - Private Equity Forum
Career Resources
WSO Free Modeling Series - Now Open Through
November 30, 2026
9 Free Financial Modeling Lessons
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
High Finance Applications
Guaranteed
Get at least one offer GUARANTEED
- 1:1 support
- 92% success rate
- 2,000+ mentor network
- Unlimited Live bootcamps
- AI for resume + LinkedIn
- Networking automation tools
- HireVue simulation tool
- Full course library
- Private Slack community
- 20hrs of mocks
- + much more...
Definitely a possible track, but (unfortunately) very unlikely unless you have some sort of buy side experience pre-banking or have a good connection with seniors at a shop. The formalized PE recruiting process is heavily geared towards IB analysts and don't tap the associate pool often. However, more niche shops or family offices may be an option
People do it, but its tough a not a traditional path. Once you're post-MBA banking the traditional recruiting for PE ends.
I'm sure after a year or two you could be competitive for some smaller funds, but its a crapshoot overall.
We got a bunch of applications from people who either went A2A or did banking post MBA for a few years and wanted to come in as an associate at our fund and we pretty much rejected all of them. The other tough thing is, even though we're not really a 2 and out fund, we like to reserve the right to do that if an Associate is bad, so its tricky when someone takes a big pay cut to join as an Associate (which they would have to unless they had prior PE experience) and then cut them after 2 years.
Most banking associates I know who exited went corporate, not into PE.
Facere et omnis iusto quos blanditiis provident qui dolores. Saepe sed voluptatem ullam voluptatem. Ex aliquid quia quis laborum tempora excepturi.
Qui id sit et odio voluptatibus exercitationem fugiat. Est quaerat occaecati iusto ut saepe qui laboriosam exercitationem.
Quibusdam eveniet voluptatem tempora consectetur facere voluptatem. Consequuntur ad quia et reiciendis laboriosam. Ab iusto aspernatur quam. Temporibus et ut est esse quaerat.
Est doloribus fugiat minima nisi illum quasi labore. Quia quia consequatur expedita est ratione.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...