Hey guys,
I thought we should have a dedicated thread to HH, where we could share our experiences, advices, best practices, etc. I feel like HHs play a vital role in getting a PE job, but are often overlooked by applicants as an important strategic step.
For example I never knew that HHs write a characteristic on you that they share with company and therefore every conversation you have with them is important as they shape their opinion about you - that's something I wish I have known when i started as I believe I was oversharing a bit.
Also, I've came to realisation that the post-interview catch-ups with HHs is incredibaly important, too as HHs seem to report to the company your post-interview feedback (just my opinion) - another thing I wish I've known before.
Would be cool to hear your stories, questions or advice - anything at all you'd like to share about your HH expereince!
Hi. Which HHs have you used and any thoughts on them?
I’ve spoken to PER several times and they have tend to have good mandates with MM firms.
Worked with KEA (mostly cover MFs, some UMM). Very professional, surprisingly responsive.
How did you get in touch? American thinking of going across the pond
Just reached out to them - they have pretty detailed info on the website re. who's covering what, and were pretty responsive. My profile is a bit weird (PE xp in CEE, some gov work, now US MBA), so no chance for them reaching out to me, although I understand they reach out to more typical candidates as well.
Haven’t worked directly with them but heard bad things about Dartmouth Partners. They tend to employee grads who are so unprofessional compared to older people at other firms.
I'll just share my experience. HH's are great if you have the right resume - Ivy/public ivy, BB or EB experience, and you're a normal person who others enjoy being around. You will get looks. If you have one of those two criteria you'll still have some success, but less. If you don't have either don't waste your time. Just cold call and build your own network. Those HH's will not give you the time of day and if they do you will be at the bottom of the pile. You're better off finding the one nice person at the fund you want to work at building a relationship with him/her. Stay in front of them (e.g., email them every 3-6 months) and hopefully they remember you when there is an opening. There's hundreds of kids with Ivy league degrees who work at Bulge Brackets and UMM/MFs tell the HH's to prioritize these kids. The UMM/MFs also get to market to their LPs that everyone of their Associate's holds an ivy league degree and worked at GS/MS/JPM. However, if you have a relationship with someone at the fund that you built you have instant credibility and more credibility than the HH recruits when your contact tells the head of recruiting at the fund that you are legit. All my opinion of course, but that's how I got in.
This is a London thread mate
Greenwich partners (James Heath) worst headhunter to exist.
Those who know, know.
To be honest, I exchanged emails with him. He mentioned I wasn't a good fit for his roles (MBB US) and that with visa issues it would be difficult to place me and so he would not be looking to work together. From only those few back and forth emails, he was very professional and sympathetic. I'd be curious to hear why you say those who know, know.
Has 0 mandates and will just blast your CV across the City.
His roles are fake, he makes up mandates for 'megafunds' etc..just to get copies of your CVs so he can send them off to top funds to say how many candidates he has relationships with in hope they will hire him as their recruiter.
He's also extremely elitist, very blunt and rude unless you come from a top BB / EB. He also doesn't understand there is more to banking than brand name, i.e. he thinks Moelis (who to be very bluntly are terrible in London anyone who works in the industry knows Moelis London is poor quality, they have no deal flow and do small deals) would be better than a top team at a Jefferies / RBC / HSBC. I.e. he would be nice to someone who's completed no deals at a BB/EB vs rude to someone who's completed multiple deals at a non BB / EB.
There is no top team in HSBC... so yes, Moelis would be better.
I had exactly same experience - getting tons of emails for roles that are not even remotely what I want to do, no prep call before interview, no feedback call after a rejection (chased him multiple times and he just doesn't come back). Also very unresponsive
Can you please elaborate at all?
Do any of these folks test your language fluency and if so, how?
I studied French for ~15 years but am a little rusty.
Not really but the funds can and may once you interview with them. No point about lying about it.
Thanks this is helpful, just wondering how and when I'd need to brush up
Does anyone have a rough overview on the different mandates held by HH in London?
They are less set in stone than in the US as funds do not necessarily have a define recuiting schedule.
What are some legitimate reasons to want to move to the UK?
I have no reasons that a headhunter would find interesting other than one deal I have closed that is European. I just want to live in London and so does my Partner. Her best friend lives there and we have always been drawn to it.
My experience with KEA has been terrible so far. I'm at an EB (CVP / EVR / PJT) and these guys are just not responsive. I'd like to think I have some pretty good deal experience so I'm not sure what's going on.
I had the 1-hour intro call with KEA and then they put me forward for a role and told me they would get back to me by the end of a week. It took them an entire month to get back to me.
If they take longer to respond, you are probably out of the running. KEA strongly prefers BB people for their top PE clients. This might also explain some of the lack of responsiveness.
With a very strong preference for GS/MS/JPM candidates as well.
Thanks for the color!
Not really sure why there's this preference when I think I have pretty good deal experience (one mega deal, couple of other interesting deals) but let's see.
How long does it usually take to get called to a first round after your CV has been sent? Trying to figure out if client is being slow or have been dinged on CV screen
1-2 weeks in my experience - max 3ish
Thanks, that’s helpful. Thought it would be shorter as that was my experience making lateral moves in banking but I guess the process is a bit different.
Do HH usually let you know if you’re out or just ghost you?
I have quite good experience with Oliver Goodman and Emma Bournaby. Been ghosted by Molly McPherson from Arkesden after a (failed) 1st round. But from my impression she has an excellent network and good mandates.
Arkesden is a total joke and waste of time
why, what is your experience with them?
Seconded - my mileage with them from both banking side and PE side was terrible.
Told me I should be getting a bigger bank name on my CV before joining PE. After I got into PE with my smaller bank on resume, they started approaching me with opportunistic PE roles without having a mandate.
Does anyone have experience with Selby Jennings?
Mixed bag
Anyone worked with Nordbridge before?
They are on the better end of the spectrum
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