Hello all,
New to WSO, but would really appreciate your thoughts/ advice on my case:
Background:
- Did 4.5 years MBB consulting post-undergrad (3 yr analyst + 1.5 yr associate) in Eastern European country
- Has been top performer in my performance reviews
- While haven't done PE/DD work in my consulting, I have extensive financial modelling experience during my strategy, investment feasibility (DCF), growth studies at industries such as O&G, renewables, transport infra, banking, FMCG
- Currently leaving for HSW MBA with return offer to MBB
Context:
- While I know it's very rare/ challenging to transition from consulting to PE, would like to try my chances to land a PE summer internship at MM/ UMF in 2025 with potential job offer post-MBA
Questions:
- What is the realistic chance of me transitioning? Any specific funds I should target? Any specific tips on prepping?
- Should I only target on-site recruiting PE firms at school with more structured internships ? Or reaching out to specific funds through Linkedin/ E-mails can also lead to an offer?
Bottom line is do you have a green card or are you a US citizen? If not, will be an uphill battle to get a US PE role.
Yes, that's a big elephant in the room. I may stay for 2-3 years of out MBA, hoping that I can convince Firm to apply for H1B1 which I know PE firms aren't known to support visa process. But too many if's.
do the PE funds that like consultants(advent/bain) not hire after analyst lvl?
In London/Europe, this is very feasible. At my MF, there are multiple people with MBB + MBA, who started as associates. Should be the same at most funds that hire consultants (basically all Europeans & some US operational ones).
Visa could be an issue if you are Russian.
Thank you for the perspective! Can you elaborate a bit on visa issues for Russians please? Is it about PE firms not willing to sponsor visa for Russians?
It’s possible if you’re a woman or (American) Vet. I saw it done firsthand at a number of PE firms last year and year before for summer MBA recruiting. I won’t name which firms (can LinkedIn search) but there were a few amongst MM / UMM / MF / GE firms.
Outside of those demographic groups I personally haven’t seen it done with no prior PE experience for US firms.
Was this for summer or full time? A number of PE firms offer summer intern roles to people without pre MBA experience but there is no path to a return offer
Summer
At my transatlantic UMM fund, we have multiple people with your background (some made it to partner!) in the European offices. For that geography, we also sponsor / take care of any visa issues - we have people from EU, UK and countries not part of any specific treaty (incl. Russia, Ukraine, Albania, etc.).
Your bigger issue is going to be the fact that you have no PE DD experience. The people we've hired with MBB + MBA all had extensive CDD projects under their belts, because the thinking is regardless of your background, at least you get hired while knowing one dimension of the job and only need to learn the other very big one (consultants - CDD; bankers - model/FDD).
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