Switch from Microsoft's Finance Rotation Program to Private Equity?
I'm currently in Microsoft's Finance Rotation Program which lasts 2 years and teaches various corporate finance functions like FP&A, Treasury, DCF, etc.
Is there anyway to break into a private equity fund at the end of those 2 years?
It's a tough sell but I think it is possible if you are not looking to exit into a large private equity fund. The larger PE funds will have a more formalized process for hiring Associates and that is usually done through headhunters. These headhunters mainly talk to Analysts in IB or PE.
You will likely have to break into smaller funds and you can find these postings on the typical job boards where they are looking for people with 1-3 years experience and are ok with considering corporate finance people. They typically prefer candidates with investment banking and private equity experience but some do consider FP&A. You will have to get lucky and find these firms that consider FP&A candidates and it would be very helpful if you could network with them as well.
I would say if you can't break into PE through these job postings then your best bet is to try and do corporate development and then try again with these job board postings. If you could do corporate development at Microsoft then that would be fantastic. Otherwise, you will just have to take your chances and find another company to do corporate development and then try to break into PE.
Most importantly, you should use all of the time you have to craft your story on why PE. You need to be able to convince these funds that you can handle PE work and are passionate about doing it. You won't have many opportunities to break in, so be patient and make the most of your chances. All in all, you should just network as much as possible, craft your story, and be on the lookout on the job boards.
I agree in that maybe, just maybe, a small focused fund could work but I do think OP should focus on breaking into banking and getting his foot in the door with recruiters that way. Although I haven't been in the industry super long, a direct transfer from an FLDP program to PE is unheard of to me. I could be wrong but anecdotally this has been that case
It's definitely doable to break into a LMM PE firm. Try and research tech focussed LMM PE and start networking. If you're not looking at an investment role and just at ops then larger funds are doable.
Deserunt atque tenetur doloremque ducimus aliquid possimus. Ut inventore distinctio odit atque ea consequatur. Ut necessitatibus quia debitis non consequuntur.
Odio nemo autem expedita cumque voluptas facilis nisi. Qui ipsam ut ea minima libero dolorum.
Quos eveniet et ea id perspiciatis ipsam occaecati ullam. Mollitia dolore vel consequuntur mollitia. Et eligendi eum nihil esse aut.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...