Reneging from On-Cycle

Understand this might lead to some strong opinions. I rushed during on-cycle this year and signed with a firm without knowing what type of investing I really wanted to do (want to do buyout / late stage growth but signed with a VC firm). I basically interviewed with whoever gave me an interview and took the first offer

The only thing is that the VC firm is one of the most reputable ones and I'm not sure if I want to renege on them without any other offer in hand. Should I work with the other headhunters (not the one that placed me) secretly, receive another offer, and then renege? Or should I be honest up front and risk not getting a buy-side offer even though summer 2022 opportunities are almost all gone? Would another firm or headhunters care if I secretly recruited?

4 Comments
 

Dude I’d love that vc gig if it’s for NYC haha.

You could definitely keep looking but since the firm was in on-cycle they must be pretty big/MF. If it’s like an Insight, they do everything from early stage to buyout, so maybe won’t be the worst thing in the world.

Also, roles for 2022 definitely not over, plenty of smaller firms haven’t interviewed yet and will need people. Might not get a MF interview, but still many roles out there.

 

Cumque aliquam amet dolor porro reiciendis dicta occaecati. Dolorem harum velit ut ab necessitatibus debitis alias. Molestiae eos ad ut aperiam explicabo soluta pariatur sit.

Fugit quibusdam ut consectetur nostrum. Vel blanditiis voluptates esse rem at ipsum. Exercitationem natus ea non ut laudantium dicta eaque sit. Odio fuga consequatur id doloremque. Ut architecto ut aut suscipit vel voluptas.

Aliquid repudiandae facere voluptatem est sit. Cumque ut occaecati et non. Soluta velit recusandae dolorem fugiat ipsum voluptate.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.2%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Bain Capital 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Private Equity

  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.2%
  • Ardian 98.9%
  • Blackstone Group 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 (97) $363
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (104) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (234) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (411) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (95) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (271) $124
  • Intern/Summer Associate (37) $80
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (351) $61
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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
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...”