Struggling to get PE interview

Man I feel ya. I was also not getting interviews despite being at a BB. I was eventually able to get a couple and fortunate to really click with one firm ($3-6bn latest fund) during my second process (only the second in 12months+ of recruiting) and got the offer.

Although I still don’t fully grasp how this whole recruiting thing works, in hindsight, I feel like my background is a combination of factors that put off PE funds, so either the HHs don’t think I can succeed in interviews or the PE funds didn’t pick out my resume.

Without knowing which niche industry you’re in and your other background, I agree with the poster above that you should try to lateral. Group/bank is perhaps the single most important thing HHs/firms look for. I also wanted to lateral had I not gotten the offer.

Another thing is just to be fully prepared. Because of the lack of interviews, you don’t want to miss out on any single opportunity. I read all too often on this forum that many candidates go to interviews without knowing why they want to do investing or how to do an LBO. I always lament how I would definitely not “embarrass” the HH that sent me there, but it is what it is. Definitely try your best to be as ready as possible whenever the opportunity arises.