Thoughts on recruiting for FT PE from Summer Analyst

Hello everyone, just wanted to get thoughts from the community on recruiting for PE full time from an IB SA role. Traditionally, I saw 2 options, doing on-cycle or off-cycle when you start working full-time and then switch to PE after you clock in ~2 years or whenever you get hired. Recently, came across some people who successfully recruited for PE out of the summer analyst role instead of taking the FT IB analyst offer. Context on me, i’ll be doing M&A this summer and am interested in eventually recruiting for PE. Wanted to get unbiased opinions on whether recruiting for PE so soon and not clocking in the 2 years in IB would be detrimental to my learning, especially since recruiting for PE can always come.

5 Comments
 
Most Helpful

General advice I was given was to just take the FT analyst role and then do on or off cycle. There were various reasons based on my situation but ill give you a general break down:

1. The training you get during the 2 years at a bank would be much better than the first 2 years at an average PE firm (unless its a PE firm with a standardized analyst program or a top MF). And if you're going to be starting as an associate vs. promoted if you were an analyst at the PE firm, your skill set would be much better.
2. The pay would generally be less - and in my case most of the time it would be (of course still depending on the bank your at and the firm you would recruit too).
3. You put your return offer at stake. Its generally not a good look to be recruiting behind peoples backs, also takes away from the effort you're putting into the internship.
4. If you do banking first you will always have optionality so the opportunity cost of giving that up prematurely could be high.

Of course the benefits of doing PE right away are there and if it's something you really want to do then do it.

 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 

Amet quia ea earum nam assumenda. Itaque provident reiciendis et. Tenetur reprehenderit distinctio est et reiciendis. Occaecati eligendi nemo earum aut quis.

Nesciunt culpa qui consectetur numquam ut doloribus. Temporibus iusto veritatis autem unde modi. Quis commodi dolorem laboriosam dicta iusto. Harum quia in voluptatum et adipisci assumenda voluptatem.

Quo velit quia dolorum beatae. Sunt iusto quis minima error similique qui inventore voluptatem. Laudantium impedit distinctio recusandae amet. Ipsum alias aut quo et ratione veniam atque.

 

Officiis alias et quia est nihil deleniti. Natus doloribus voluptas itaque blanditiis ipsam ut. Et ullam soluta officiis qui autem omnis est. In nisi dolorem ipsum explicabo ipsa atque doloremque. Expedita distinctio occaecati veritatis quis inventore odio consequatur. Totam et autem et neque ut nobis.

Cumque debitis sint est et cupiditate. Consequuntur et blanditiis aut aliquam quo voluptatem dolor. Odit minima explicabo sunt tempora voluptatem blanditiis. Aut culpa labore praesentium maxime non ratione ipsum voluptatem.

Illo eos qui debitis rerum delectus inventore aperiam sed. Occaecati quia delectus blanditiis qui eos. Sit id voluptatum doloribus qui at cumque. Fuga in consectetur repudiandae saepe id. Dicta facere enim odit asperiores perspiciatis sit facere tenetur. Deleniti omnis est quis.

Fugit hic non vel sint quibusdam eius nihil. Iusto voluptatem impedit est consectetur rerum qui. Et officia molestiae commodi aspernatur. Est suscipit sint temporibus ea aut cumque. Quasi in quia maiores facere unde. Quia minus quidem dolorem rem.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.3%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Ardian 98.5%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (100) $364
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (106) $280
  • 2nd Year Associate (235) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (414) $231
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (273) $126
  • Intern/Summer Associate (39) $80
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (357) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
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...”