Preparing for on-cycle PE Recruiting as a Sophomore

just signed my junior summer internship in tech IB and am very interested in recruiting for tech focused PE firms like Thoma Bravo and Vista in on cycle recruiting. What steps can I take as a spring semester sophomore to prepare myself to have the best chances for this recruitment? Thanks!

10 Comments
 

haha, hilarious but I promise i'm not trolling or being a hardo. Realized I made the IB process harder by starting off later, so just wanted to space out my prep so that I didn't make that mistake again for PE. Feel like I'm at a good place technically for IB so wanted to pivot to developing the "investor mindset" for PE esp wit the extra time I have on my hands. Thanks!

 

You should email every single headhunter by tonight explaining your exact situation and asking for advice. They really like to see demonstrated interest and this will separate you from the back. cc orlando bravo and robert smith onto those emails and you’re a lock. feel free to pm for any additional help!!

 
Most Helpful

In my opinion, it wouldn't be the best use of time to start grinding LBOs, technicals, etc. because you will either burn out or forget by the time on-cycle kicks off for you (1.5 - 2 years away, right?).

Because you have a lot of time, I would focus on doing something that would differentiate you from other applicants. School year internship at PE-backed tech portco, work on a startup, or do something that separates you from all the hundreds of target school + top bank applicants.

 

The PE massas are gonna love a good ol' slave analyst like ye. make sure to prepare you on-cycle LBO from sophomore year. hallelujah. 

 

Sequi et eum illo eum distinctio eos. Sint voluptatibus deserunt illum animi assumenda impedit est. Praesentium vel et eaque aut possimus.

You can catch flies with honey, but you can catch more honeys looking fly

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.2%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Bain Capital 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 99.2%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
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...”