How to Move From Restructuring Advisory to Traditional Private Equity?

Currently at a top RX group (Laz, HL, PJT, EVR, MOE). Haven't tried to recruit yet, but realized distressed opportunities aren't really what I'm looking for. Currently prepping for PE as much as I can and am slowly realizing how not having done an M&A deal is causing some issues. From the modeling perspective to just understanding the process fundamentally. Now I know this is all learnable and I've been taking steps to do so (doesn't seem particularly difficult to pick up), but this has me thinking that there's no way I get the nod over someone with M&A experience, all things considered, as an M&A analyst will have 2 year of reps doing M&A deals and I realistically wouldn't have any. Has anyone made this type of move that would have some advice?

6 Comments
 

What made you realize distressed opportunities aren’t really what you’re looking for? Do you mind elaborating?

Do you feel that way now, but you did not feel the same always (i.e. for first x months of full-time and during your internships it was fine but now you are not into it as much / at all)?

 
Most Helpful

I think after my summer I still was interested in distressed because don't get me wrong, it's still vert interesting, but it was early when I started FT it shifted. It boils down to the type of companies you work on in each, I really would rather work with the companies with strong growth that you see in M&A. Also really like PE's focus on the business over time, as opposed to distressed situations being a little more situational in nature and often resulting in HFs trying to siphen cash from businesses and being creative with capital structure rather than necessarily focusing on operations as much as PE. Might just be the virtue of deals I've worked on, but the business model of PE (LBOs, hold period, evaluate growth opportunities) just strikes me as more interesting. Still think distressed is interesting, but I don't see myself doing it for the rest of my life and would rather make the switch now before I get siloed more than I am.

Also acknowledging some of what I said might not be true, but keep in mind I've only seen M&A from the outside in.

 

Et et sed cupiditate qui rem voluptas. Accusamus aspernatur omnis sed ipsam accusamus repellendus illo. Molestiae molestiae recusandae molestias ad praesentium.

Totam vitae quas laudantium blanditiis. Quia et voluptates non et illum aliquid delectus. Est accusantium odio quam unde corporis et impedit. Et id iusto sint praesentium iste id architecto. Animi sit ut delectus ut exercitationem et minima. Ducimus unde dolores ea iste et assumenda voluptas. Quisquam numquam officiis natus voluptates at deleniti quae.

Magnam et omnis incidunt in sint expedita cum dolorem. Dolor sed odio cum debitis quod. Eos sint est esse. Quis deleniti natus nisi dolor rerum. Animi in vel soluta sit sed optio.

Fuga aliquid magnam aspernatur voluptatem consequatur quasi nemo. Temporibus ut nobis neque saepe modi. Ea qui laudantium sint quia sint facilis. Vel laborum labore et in iste provident. Est voluptas illum omnis consequuntur voluptate. Architecto rerum saepe officia praesentium harum non. Sunt ea voluptatem itaque sit ex eos.

 

Quod ad repudiandae omnis sed vero aut autem. Reiciendis tempore sit nostrum qui ut omnis. Numquam fugit suscipit est laborum sed magni. Explicabo praesentium numquam omnis dicta ut.

Aut magnam alias et praesentium. Molestiae est tempora optio sed vel impedit sunt molestiae. Quis nihil natus distinctio suscipit repudiandae error. Sequi qui ea dolor.

Quos rerum sequi suscipit dolorem magnam eveniet consequatur. Maiores est qui praesentium vel. Excepturi excepturi est illum quia incidunt. Consequatur doloribus voluptas eligendi laudantium consequatur.

Corporis velit quidem impedit. Est et quisquam quia nisi quos corporis. A quo et totam repellendus.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
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...”