FT PE Analyst from Undergrad
Hey everyone. I've seen a couple of posts like this, but nothing specific to my situation.
TLDR: I want to begin the process of networking/preparing to be recruited as a FT PE Analyst when I graduate, May 2020. Any tips to a college junior in this position will be appreciated! More detail below.
I've accepted an offer for a BB (GS/JPM/MS) Investment Management SA position. This role will be working in their Alternative Investments unit. I've been told I will have exposure to mainly PE investments but also HF and RE. This role is more S&T based and from what I understand, as I will not be structuring deals or creating investment strategies themselves. I wish I had more information to give, but the online description was brief and most of my understanding of this role has come from my interviews. My sophomore internship at a semi-known MM IM had me completing operational tasks for Alternative Investment Managers, so that experience may also be helpful.
I really want to work in PE straight from UG. I was really shooting for an IBD SA this summer, but given the prestige of the firm and exposure to PE, I am still very satisfied and excited for this IM role. Coming from a non-target, I dreamed of working for this firm in even an Operational position. I understand that PE usually recruits from IB, but because this IM role will (hopefully) have lots of PE deal exposure this Summer I hope that I can leverage this experience when it comes to PE recruiting.
If you could answer even one question, that would be very helpful. Here are a few things I'd like to know:
- For anyone working FT PE directly out of UG: How are you in this position? Even more helpful if you came from a non PE internship, or even better a non IB internship
- What should I be doing now, as a junior going in to this IM role, to set myself up for FT PE? I plan to seek out the groups involved in deal-making as a start, but are there any other relevant teams I could be connecting with?
- This may be too early, but I am wondering if I should begin networking with PE associates from target firms (interested in MF but MM is not off the table) or HH?
- Do HH even do UG sourcing for PE, or are do they only recruit from IBD, and leave the PE firm's HR to hiring people straight from UG?
- Would you recommend an internal transfer this firm's PE-dedicated unit (Capital Partners) or is PE at a MF or MM the way to go? Off of this, if I can't go to their Capital Partners unit, I'm thinking pursuing an internal transfer to their IBD following my SA may be the move for a lateral hire when I begin FT a year later.
Sorry if this seems long winded/confusing/presumptuous etc. The advice of the users and team at WSO have definitely been very influential in helping me achieve this SA position to begin with - any additional advice would be even better.
Pretty confident I know the exact bank, group, and team you're going to be working in next summer from the details of your post. Feel free to PM me and I can maybe ask 2 friends of mine who will be starting FT in your group if you have q's.
( I don't work in PE, decided to go the HF route instead, but ) a few of my buddies where able to land roles out of UG. They were all from HYPW schools, and did either BB IBD sophomore summer -> MM/MF PE Junior summer. Or BB IBD Junior summer and did a FT switch to PE (not that common though).
You could try networking with MM PE firms or PE firms you know have SA roles and try and squeeze into a FT spot, but not many PE firms take SA's and the few that do take very few with the intention of converting them so FT PE spots out of UG are very few and far in-between. Usually if you spent a summer at a top BB IBD group you could maybe spin that to a FT PE gig, but If you can work on maybe a co-investments team next summer you could maybe spin that.
See above
Almost certain HH's do not do UG sourcing for PE. Its really not that common to go straight to PE out of UG so HR barely even concerns themselves with that, unless they're one of the few firms that take SA's.
You could try to move to the banks MBD group, but would be very tough. You'd have a better shot at trying to switch into IBD then recruit for PE. But feel free to PM me.
I'll PM - I'm interested in getting connected! I'll PM you for more details but I'll reply to a few here in case this can help another user.
Thanks for all the help. PM'd to discuss specifics.
Hey man, I'm also a 2020 student, and got a few PE offers for SA and am in contact with FT PE people, feel free to PM if you want help and details
Definitely a great opportunity, you will definitely have to be proactive in contacting private equity firms, there’s lists on WSO of PE firms that hire out of undergrad, the brand name will definitely help
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