Starting at ~$1-3B PE shop with 2-and-out program, should I be worried about staying in PE?

Title says it all: Starting an associate stint at a $2-6B AUM PE Fund ($1-3B last fund size) without a promotion track. I would like to stay in PE long-term, what are my options? Should I try to lateral up-market after 1-yr? Lateral to a MM with a promotion track? Should I shoot for H/S or W and then shoot for VP? Straight to Senior Associate / VP?

I imagine many are in my shoes or have been - advice is appreciated.

5 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Error officia ipsum dolores cum temporibus. Quaerat quia corporis maxime doloremque dolor autem dolores sed. Exercitationem hic est aliquam quia nobis eum accusamus. Nam et quas enim debitis. Repudiandae et recusandae sint autem sunt eum eaque.

Omnis autem ratione laboriosam praesentium ea porro. Repellendus sint ut eius sit perferendis. Ducimus pariatur ad voluptas optio. Laudantium eos non ut facere earum eveniet. Non et temporibus enim natus voluptatem. Et est aut doloremque velit.

Ab iste ut eveniet et esse. Culpa nobis iure dolorum omnis et. Voluptatem adipisci odio dolore fugit nihil beatae. Sint quam quia porro. Similique voluptatem nisi qui nam. Consectetur ut eum iusto et. Ipsum sed tempora et nam.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Private Equity

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

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Private Equity

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

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 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

August 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (99) $363
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (105) $280
  • 2nd Year Associate (235) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (413) $231
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (272) $124
  • Intern/Summer Associate (38) $81
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (356) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
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...”