Stay in Corporate Finance or Move to Private Equity for 1 Year?
I’m currently working full-time as an Analyst at a professional services firm in Spain, within a small corporate finance team (~20 people). The firm isn’t well known and focuses on M&A deals in the €10M–€60M range. I have an opportunity to switch to a Private Equity Analyst position at one of the top mid-market PE funds in Spain, but the catch is that the role is only for one year.
My main concern is exit opportunities. Would staying in a lesser-known M&A advisory limit my future options, or would the short-term PE experience open better doors, even if I need to look for a new role after a year?
Would appreciate any insights, especially from those who’ve faced a similar decision!
Hey man - similar position I went through myself , had a similar scenario where I was taking a 50% paycut from BB IB to join a LMM PE - worth the risk . Found a new job after a year (mine was perm position but still) , take the risk man while youre young - can always get back into CF.
Thanks for sharing your experience, really helpful! I’m definitely leaning towards taking the risk.
If you don’t mind sharing more, how did the LMM PE experience affect your job search after the year?
Thank you for your help.
It was a real risk me joining the PE as an analyst but luckily enough - the firm was small and we completed 7 deals, so got some unbelievable experience but it was a hectic year. Got contacted by recruiters all the time towards the tail end of the year because that space is so much smaller than CF so they can throw your hat into a recruitment ring for better jobs in IB/ PE at a better firm. Someone with direct PE experience going for a better PE job can often override a CF/IB person from a better shop , especially if deal experience is the right size for what that firm does. Use this in the back of your head , and target some more firms / headhunters towards the tail end of your placement. I got hit up by my former manager who was starting the new PE fund (where comp / carry was much better) so got lucky there but had interviews for other places. Just concentrate on being likable and useful for the year, try and build relationships with everyone there and I guarantee you they can put in a good name for you when moving on to a different shop, which is a version of what worked for me.
Why is it only a 1 year program?
I don’t really know; it’s the nature of the program at the fund, which is why I’m weighing the decision and considering how it might impact my future exit opportunities.
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