27 year old 1st Year Analyst at Elite Boutique - Shot at PE?
Hi all,
I have a unique opportunity / dilemma after a roller coaster of a career.
Summary - I have an offer at an Elite Boutique (Evercore, Moelis, PJT) for a lateral analyst role but will be coming in as a first year analyst. It's an amazing opportunity. However, for reasons I'll explain below, I am much older than the typical first year and it is my 3rd job out of undergrad in 4 years. Am I automatically disqualified from PE recruiting given my atypical profile? If I do end up at a MM PE shop, should I count out B-school (H/S/W), as I will be 31 at the end of 2 years of banking+ 2 years of PE?
Background - At the end of last year, I was at a venture capital fund that ended up shutting down. Within 2 months I was able to find a sub-Associate sourcing role at a well known Growth Equity shop (TA/GA/TCV). This role has been a miserable experience as it is 100% sourcing and admin work with modeling exposure and no opportunity for promotion (but I am grateful as it helped my pay my bills). However, I really enjoy the work that Associates do and would love to find myself at a TMT buyout shop that does no sourcing. I know that these shops are super selective and tend to have profiles of their most sought after associate candidates that I will not fit. I would be around the age of most VPs (29) coming in as a 1st year Associate. Further, I will be recruiting from my third job in as many years which would likely be off putting to both PE firms and business schools should my PE aspirations not pan out.
Is it a fools errand to take yet another step back in my career for a PE pipe dream that I may already be disqualified for?
Thanks for the help.
Bump
No you are fine. I know a guy that started as an analyst at 26 and went on to PE and is now a VP at that shop.
Good to know on age. I guess the job hopper feel to the resume can be over come with a good story?
Curious about B-School. Would him applying at 31 after the 2+2 be an issue?
Could you elaborate a bit more on the recruiting process? Currently just beginning my lateral efforts - have a less than white shoe'd path such as yourself. Currently at a boutique investment bank in a Tier 2 City (San Diego, Phoenix, Miami). I will DM you as well. I hope you took the role, man!
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