What’s up everyone,
I’m 26 and working at a company that buys struggling tech companies, usually paying around 2-4x their annual revenue. My official title says private equity, but honestly, most of my day is spent on deal sourcing and basic business analysis. The financial models I build are pretty simple compared to what real PE folks do. The good news is I work from home with lots of flexibility.
I got this job through connections and some luck, but my background isn’t typical. I had health issues during college that tanked my grades and made normal recruiting routes impossible. Still managed to land this gig through persistence.
Now I’m thinking about what comes next:
Option 1: Real PE Role - Try to move to an actual private equity firm doing LBO deals and technical modeling. My worry is whether anyone will take me seriously without proper buyout experience.
Option 2: Investment Banking - Jump into IB for better training and exit opportunities. Not sure if my current role plus mediocre college grades from Canada would cut it.
Option 3: Top MBA Program - Use business school as a fresh start to get into elite finance roles. Already prepping for GMAT but know I need a killer score.
There’s also a practical issue - I’m in Canada where my medical insurance covers everything. Moving to the US would mean dealing with private healthcare, which makes me nervous.
Another thing bugging me is whether AI will kill entry-level finance jobs in the next few years. Should I even bother with traditional paths or look at fintech and strategy roles instead?
Honestly, I’m feeling like an imposter right now. My LinkedIn says PE, but I know what I actually do day to day. Should I keep the facade or be more honest about my role? Anyone else dealt with this kind of identity crisis?
Stop calling yourself fake! You’re doing real deals while others just dream about finance. Your unique path makes you interesting, not less qualified. That distressed experience is gold right now!
Your background actually sounds pretty solid - lots of professionals take winding paths into finance. Don’t see it as a limitation. You’re in distressed acquisitions, which hits multiple hot areas: special situations, operational fixes, and tech turnarounds.
For your three options, I’d go hybrid. Your deal sourcing and business analysis experience would work well at smaller middle-market PE shops. They care more about practical skills than where you went to school. These firms want people who actually understand how distressed businesses operate, not just financial modeling wizards.
The MBA gives you a fresh start credibility-wise, but at your age with real experience? You might get faster results targeting specialized roles at bigger places - credit funds, distressed debt groups, or corp dev at strategic buyers. These leverage what you already know while giving you the technical training you want.
Be honest about your role but emphasize the strategic stuff you do. Healthcare concerns are real, but don’t let them drive everything. Focus on building skills AI can’t touch - relationships, strategic thinking, and deep industry knowledge.
Honestly, you’re overthinking this. Distressed acquisitions at 26? That’s solid experience most people don’t have. Forget the imposter syndrome - you’ve been doing real deals while others are still grinding through internships. I’d skip IB at this point. You’re too experienced for analyst work and associate spots are competitive as hell. The MBA route makes sense if you need that network reset, but your current role already gives you a better story for interviews than the typical consulting->PE path. Healthcare coverage is definitely worth considering, but don’t let it trap you completely. Maybe check out Canadian PE shops first before making the jump to the US?
Your distressed acquisition experience is way more valuable than you think. Tons of traditional PE firms are moving into special situations and distressed deals, so your background actually helps instead of hurting you. You’ve already figured out deal sourcing - that’s usually the hardest thing for junior people to learn. On the AI thing - yeah, it’ll automate boring stuff, but deal sourcing and relationships? That’s still all about people. You’re already doing the parts that won’t get replaced. I’d focus on firms with distressed or special situations teams instead of fighting for regular LBO spots. You’ll stand out from the typical candidates and actually use what you already know. The healthcare thing makes sense but don’t let it drive your whole career - most big firms have solid coverage anyway.