Currently working for a MF's REPE/Opportunistic fund based in London, on asset management / portfolio management side. Limited deal experience except for some modelling / data works. End goal is to move to decision-making roles, e.g. acquisitions/deals, or even corporate PE, but getting little tractions in recruitment processes especially in last 12m. Appreciate this is already extremely challenging itself, and current market makes it worse.
Any has done or seen such switch can suggest the best game plan? I'm thinking:
-
Would maybe a top MBA (if i could get into HSW) work and provide a career reset opportunity?
-
Or focus effort in getting deal exposures in a small shop then move up?
Based on the most helpful WSO content, a top MBA, especially from HSW (Harvard, Stanford, Wharton), can indeed serve as a great career reset opportunity. Here's why:
Brand Name and Network: An MBA from a prestigious institution like HSW can significantly enhance your personal brand. It opens doors to a vast alumni network, which is crucial for career transitions, especially into roles that are highly competitive and network-driven like acquisitions or corporate PE.
Recruitment Opportunities: Top MBA programs are targeted by recruiters looking for talent in acquisitions and deal-making roles. The structured recruitment process at these schools can provide you with the platform to pivot into these positions.
Learning and Skill Development: An MBA curriculum can fill gaps in your knowledge, particularly in areas like advanced financial modeling, negotiations, and strategic decision-making, which are key to roles in acquisitions.
Career Services and Support: Top programs offer career services that can help tailor your job search strategy, refine your interview skills, and connect you with potential employers.
However, gaining deal exposure in a smaller shop could also be a strategic move, as it would allow you to:
Build Relevant Experience: Directly working on deals, even in a smaller capacity, can give you the hands-on experience that is highly valued in acquisition roles.
Demonstrate Capability: Successfully contributing to deals can showcase your ability to perform in decision-making roles, making you a more attractive candidate when moving up.
Develop a Track Record: A history of tangible results in deal-making can be a powerful tool in your career progression, potentially even more so than an MBA, depending on the employer.
Both paths have their merits, and the best choice may depend on your personal circumstances, including your financial situation, willingness to take a break from work for an MBA, and the current job market dynamics. It's also worth considering reaching out to mentors or industry contacts who have made similar transitions for personalized advice.
Sources: What I've learned so far after 1 yr at a top MBA program (If I could do it over):, Am I Thinking About an MBA Wrong?, Applied 19x to Elite MBA programs.....this is what I learned, Turning down HBS/GSB/Wharton for the Promote-Through, PE Associate Rejected at HSW... Now What?
In acquisitions rn, job and deal market are super slow so a graduate degree might not be a terrible move to wait out this stagnant market.
Just keep plugging away and keep applying. Coming from a MF will add weight to your CV, so long as you're actually at the MF and not part of some off-shoot portfolio company / AM arm. You just need to work on selling your story/journey of why AM to Acq.
Also consider applying to smaller, well-capitalised, shops to get your break in acquisitions. You don't need to be at a MF to be "successful".
I'd also suggest targeting the value add/opp fund shops as they are / will be the most active players in the market over the next year or too, and more likely to require more headcount. My team is certainly very busy right now.
Thanks - unfortunately at the AM arm of the MF, that's why don't want to stuck here for too long. That's making the story selling a lot more difficult?
Indeed, it's difficult to get rid of the AM arm stigma. The only people I know that managed is because they surfed they wave of a booming market.
And whatever you do, please don't burden yourself with more education / debt. It's useless in this industry / London where experience is key.
What's a masters degree going to teach you that you don't already know?
Not to hijack your thread, but at your fund, what would you say is comp for AM as a % of what the acq guys get (especially interested in carry allocations at Principal level and above), and how does your WLB compare to theirs?
“Not to hijack the thread, but I’m going to hijack the thread”
Seriously, read what you just said dude
😅
OP how is the job market shaping up out of interest now?
pretty bad for me personally atm (not sure if it's me or general market) and difficult to get any good traction...
Veniam id voluptatem ab aspernatur corrupti. Voluptatem eum nulla inventore eum. Non reprehenderit optio eveniet nesciunt est vel. Atque qui dignissimos libero sequi.
Consectetur ipsam quia molestiae tenetur dicta earum. Illum placeat veritatis laborum id. Blanditiis voluptatum nobis possimus ut.
Officia ut sed quos voluptate neque. Eos totam debitis veritatis vel omnis laboriosam. Blanditiis maxime voluptatum harum iusto itaque. Dolor repellat debitis dolorum officiis quis eum aut. Distinctio autem minima magni architecto mollitia earum. Nulla ut explicabo velit sed ut.
Reiciendis perspiciatis magnam voluptatem officia sapiente. Aperiam aut nam placeat natus est nemo. Nulla consequatur blanditiis autem explicabo natus dolorum aperiam. Perferendis dolore quas vel sed odio.
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...