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Making the jump into Private Equity

Date
March 3, 2025

Fuelled by record levels of fundraising over the past few years and a moreΒ competitive deal landscapeΒ than we have seen for some time, theΒ private equity recruitment market continues to be the busiest it’s been in the past decade. AsΒ a result, there are more opportunities than ever before for junior candidates toΒ make the move into private equity.

Historically,Β privateΒ equityΒ funds haveΒ favouredΒ individuals with more experience when looking to hire into investmentΒ teams and the ‘sweetΒ spot’ to make this transition has traditionallyΒ been once you have amassed 2-4 years of experience. This is now closer to 2-3 years and whilst this is only a slight adjustment, one trend we have witnessed is an increasing number of private equity firmsΒ hiring individuals with 18-24 months experience. If you’re looking for a career in private equity, there really has never been a better time to make the move.

We spoke with leaders from within the PE industry who have given their top tips for moving into the industry:

  • Be heard. Early on into your time as an Associate in private equityΒ your colleagues will want to hear your opinion. Don’t be afraid to speak up and have your own view. This point was mentionedΒ  multiple times and should be a key takeaway for juniors entering private equity. There is often more than one solution to a problem and through a collective approach an investment team is more likely to find the right one. Regardless of level your opinion counts and you will be expected to contribute,Β for those that feel unsure of speaking up, start pushing yourself in group environments to make your opinion known.
  • Think about the bigger picture.Β Instead of simply processing the information made available to you as an advisor, challenge yourself further and spend time thinking about the bigger picture. Take a step back from the situation and think about the why and how of the specific task you are doing and how theΒ differentΒ pieces of the puzzle fit together.
  • Be responsive to feedback.Β Seize every opportunity to seek out personal feedback either through peers, colleagues, mentors or individuals already in the industry and actively implement the changes you need to make as a result. This will not only ensure you stay ahead of the learningΒ curve butΒ will contribute immensely to your own professional and personal development.
  • Develop your personal brand.Β Β Make sure you’re aware of how you are perceived within the business. It’s one thing to be good at your job but investing time back into the culture of the firm will never go unnoticed and could make all the difference when being considered to join a deal. Whilst the technical skills and investor mindset are key toΒ succeedingΒ in private equity, a key part of the job requires you to be able to buildΒ relationships both internally and externally.
  • Focus your energy.Β Dedicate time to think about what type of investor you’d like to be. Are you more interested in operational involvement or prefer the financial engineering in investing? Would you like to be a sector specialist or generalist? Work with more mature businesses or entrepreneurial start-ups? Start thinking now about which area could be the most interesting to you and prepare accordingly for interviews.
  • It’s never too early!Β Whereas traditionally funds haveΒ favouredΒ individuals with more experience when looking to hire into their teams, in recent years the market has moved in a direction which has made the move more accessibleΒ to junior candidates. If you feel that you’re ready to make the moveΒ now butΒ hesitating over whether you should spend one more year in banking or consulting, feel confident enough to make that leap now. An additionalΒ 12Β monthsΒ spent in a fund is far more valuable experience than an additional 12 months in banking if you see your career on the buy-side.

ThisΒ all being said, the most important thing when getting ready to make the moveΒ is feeling prepared both technically and commercially for these interviews, but ultimately if feel you’re ready only 18 monthsΒ in, then don’t be afraid to make the jumpΒ –Β you’ll never regret trying.

Author

  • Daisy Forden-Keech

    Daisy focuses on search execution for a broad range of Private Equity clients across venture capital, growth equity, mid-market, and large-cap LBO firms. She is committed to providing the same level of service for each private equity fund. Whether a first-time fund or a large-cap buyout platform, she ensures a consistently high quality of delivery and execution.rnrnDaisy has worked on search assignments for all different strategies within private equity, allowing her to understand the nuances of each. She provides a global service and supports private equity funds with their hiring agenda on both sides of the Atlantic.rnrnDaisy graduated from Durham University with a 2:1 degree in Music. Before joining Dartmouth, she worked for a global recruitment firm, where she focused on placing legal professionals into both the private practice and in-house space. Outside the office, Daisy spends her time exploring the exciting restaurant scene in New York City and trying (and failing) to understand the rules of the NFL.Β rn

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