What Now? The Existential Question of a PE Associate

Did my 2 years in MMIB. Coming up on 2 years in MMPE. Was average / below average over both jobs, didn't get a promo in IB and being pushed out from PE. What have folks in similar shoes done? Product management, biz dev, investor relations? Portco ops work? Startups? The universe of potential opportunities seems huge, but uninteresting. So - what now?

10 Comments
 

Go to b-school or go to industry. Those are really your only choices. It is up to you to determine what you find interesting when looking for industry roles. Sounds like you just didn't care about IB or PE and that was probably a contributing factor to your performance. Nothing wrong with that. The deal grind is not for everyone and that is okay.

 
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I'm sure there are openings / places that will take a 2 and 2 UMM PE associate, particularly newer LMM funds. That being said, is that really what you want to do? Why do you think an extra year of PE is beneficial? 

Wherever you go, you can't really coast. Your reputation at that point will be shot and sure there are dynamics out of your control at your current shop but 2 extra independent sources (banking and potentially new PE firm) confirming that you are a below average performer is not great. It is a small world and the PE world is even smaller. 

I think you just need to figure out where your interests are and then come up with a plan. If that means you need to stay in PE an extra year while you get bschool applications together, then so be it. Just an example. 

Its clear that you don't really have an idea on what you want to do / where to go, and that is the first step. 

 

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