Recruiting from Chicago IB to NYC PE - how difficult?

Has anybody made the above transition? Seems like it would be tough, what with the inability to interview during lunch, or right before/after work. Also, is it difficult getting the attention of NYC PE firms if one is from another city?

25 Comments
 

It's definitely doable. Takes a little bit more work, and logistically more of a hassle (generally have to fly in early am, fly back that afternoon/night so you only miss one day of work), but if you network with alums and hook up with headhunter who places where you wanna go, I know analysts who have done it.

Plus, now with Skype/Zoom, might be able to do all but last round remotely. Yeah, tough to do that from work, but just go home for lunch/rent hotel room nearby and do Zoom from there.

 

Where are you doing IB now? And aside from Chicago being your home town, any other reason you didn't like IB in city where you're currently at?

 

I am in NY. I really enjoy living here and am glad I get to spend time here as a 23 year old with no real obligations. But in addition to growing up around Chicago, I also went to school there so almost my entire friend group is there (both my HS and college friends)

I am as motivated by money as the next guy, but even though I know there are a higher number of well paid next steps in NY, I know there are still enough great spots in Chicago. When I do the calculus in my head of next job plus proximity to close friends, Chicago seems to win. Maybe that will change though if I can convince other friends to move here.

 

It'll make life a lot easier if your firm has an NYC office. I recruited for NYC PE on-cycle way back during my analyst days (I was in a BB regional office) and I basically got myself a spare cube at our HQ where I worked at night while doing interviews during the day. The tough part is dropping everything the instant you get a whiff of interviews kicking off and flying to New York either that night or first thing the next morning.

 

That's a good point. My firm was very open about recruiting (I literally just sent an email to my associates saying I was interviewing for PE jobs in NYC and would be out of pocket for a couple days), but that's obviously not the case everywhere. Having office space really helps though because these processes can stretch a couple of days. I remember when I interviewed (this was several years ago so who knows how it works now) Apollo and Carlyle interviewed on day 1, TPG and Warburg on day 2, and a bunch of MM/UMM funds day 3. Daytrips make it really difficult to make it through multiple processes like that.

 
Most Helpful

I recruited from a Chicago consulting firm to an UMM/MF NY PE firm. To be honest, it's quite tough. I was on a case in Florida when on-cycle kicked off so had to fly to New york ASAP, but still wasn't able to quite get there before the rush of interviews started. For off cycle, I was constantly flying to NYC for coffee chats and interviews. Honestly,it's doable. You just have to be very upfront with the recruiters that you only want NYC. Most PE firms won't actually care that you're in Chicago as long as you have solid credentials. I would just recommend making trips out to NYC to talk face to face to folks as that's an easy way to show how interested you are in the firm.

 

I told them that I was recruiting. It's hard to disappear for a day without telling folks where you are. I tried to keep it between me and my consultant (associate equivalent). But word spread and everyone knew I was recruiting. I had a funny moment where a VP-equivalent that I had worked with asked me how ibankign recruiting was going cause she heard I was trying to do something finance related.

 

Thanks for the response- very helpful. Currently an analyst at a BB in Chicago (industrials) interested in recruiting to NY UMM/MF. Couple of quick questions for you :

1) For networkng, how important was it to go to the "breakfast"/coffee chat type events the MFs/UMM hold to secure an interview?

2) For on-cycle this year I heard a lot of the interviews were done over the weekend? Was this true? Just trying to get myself prepared for scheduling etc. when it kicks of this year.

Thanks again

 

Vel aut numquam velit temporibus blanditiis asperiores distinctio. Perspiciatis aut et ipsa quo minima odit rem. Quis a est cumque exercitationem voluptatum quia sint. Et sed eum perspiciatis sed ipsam et id. Laborum id facere placeat. Et sed eveniet voluptatem et animi voluptate.

Enim ut mollitia rerum nihil consequuntur voluptatem natus. Doloribus vel quo maiores. Delectus qui mollitia et voluptas natus aliquam nostrum earum.

Nihil fugit est ut est hic illo ut consectetur. Quia omnis consequatur sit blanditiis harum unde. Qui sed dolore dolorem omnis. Commodi illo totam exercitationem sed voluptas. Fugiat impedit natus explicabo optio rem ea.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • 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) 99.3%
  • 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 99.3%
  • 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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”