Hello--what is the timeline for PE recruiting for MF PE firms straight out of undergrad?
Does it begin Junior year spring and then interviews Fall of Senior year?
Any insights are appreciated. Thank you.
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Interviews are in the summer. Some during your internship and others right after (think BX is usually at the very end/after, KKR towards end, WP earlier on). Keep tabs on the club listservs in the spring for website logins/timeline information, and go to the info sessions to talk to alum. Follow up with your connections in the summer. Some also have NYC networking sessions during the summer, so if you can take a few hours off work you should go to those. This may be W specific, but prob the same for H and other MF targets.
Though, a lot of these firms have internship programs now, so I suspect the timelines may be pushed back to once they have a better idea of their own intern to FT conversion. If youre really interested in PE I would try to get into the internship programs
.
Incoming PE analyst from a semi-target. I took a break from networking fall of junior year then did research on what types of PE I would like/what firms interested in me over winter break. In the spring, I started networking with associates and senior people at a bunch of firms in the spring. In the summer, had the occasional call but was difficult to network due to hours and I was not in NY. Had a few interviews during the summer but then in the two weeks following my internship, I heard back from all of the firms I didn’t already interview with. Processes aren’t that hard. Review technicals and do some practice LBOs when the internship slows down your last week and be prepared for a ton of interviews before you get back to school. Happy to answer any other questions you have.
How hard to land MF from top group for SA?
It’s hard. Everyone else who summered with you is probably applying to the same roles and then you need to factor in all the people who did MBB or buyside stuff over the summer who also want those roles. With that being said, it’s not impossible. Same formula for banking recruitment success applies to MFPE, there are just a lot fewer MFPE roles. Need to have great behaviorals and be a good conversationalist who could properly engage with portco management teams. Need to have a solid grasp on all technicals, especially LBOs and accounting. Need to have good Excel skills which should be gained over the summer. Don’t really need to prepare Excel skills before then. And need to have a clearly defined interest. Even if you’ve summered in GS TMT, you’re going up against PJT RSSG, EVR M&A, UMM PE SAs and everyone else you can think of. Also, as someone who interned in a very solid group but not a top one, summer analyst group didn’t really matter that much, it’s more of a self selection by candidates.
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