17 Comments
 
Most Helpful

I'm pretty sure I'm in ASO paradise. Average 40-50 hours a week when not in phase 2 of an acquisition process, and then standard 70-90 hours when in phase 2. Genuinely great team and culture. No busywork. I have a real interest in the sector we invest in. Good dealflow and fundraising. Clearly communicated progression goals. Good (but not great) comp. WFH 2 Days per week. No expectation for office facetime, everyone leaves office by 5:30pm and log in from home later.

Mid market fund

 

Married w/ kid on the way, consistently 80hr weeks even during deal sprints, street pay, MCOL/LCOL, seniors that go to bat for you if you decide to recruit or offer a clear path to VP+. 

"If you don't have any enemies in life you have never stood up for anything" - Winston Churchill | "It's a testament to the sheer belligerence of the profession that people would rather argue about the 'risk-adjusted returns' of using inferior tooth cleaning methods." - kellycriterion
 

60hrs a week is a pipe dream if you want street comp and a good fund. WLB is subjective person to person.

"If you don't have any enemies in life you have never stood up for anything" - Winston Churchill | "It's a testament to the sheer belligerence of the profession that people would rather argue about the 'risk-adjusted returns' of using inferior tooth cleaning methods." - kellycriterion
 

Temporibus tenetur qui excepturi molestiae rerum magni laboriosam. Facere dolores ratione dolorem est quibusdam.

Autem nemo eaque eos voluptatem nam neque et. Rerum id sunt a sit sit eos. Laborum nihil accusantium necessitatibus. Ad aut commodi sed ratione. Ut quibusdam expedita voluptates.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 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

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.2%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (100) $364
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (106) $280
  • 2nd Year Associate (236) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (414) $231
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (274) $126
  • Intern/Summer Associate (40) $79
  • 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

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...”