I’ve been looking at job postings and feedback from some PE people I’ve talked to, and I keep noticing gaps between what I’m strong at in consulting and what PE seems to be really focused on. I’m solid on project leadership, client-facing work, and building narratives around strategy. But when I look at what PE wants—and I mean really wants—it’s financial rigor, operational improvement frameworks, and the ability to dig into unit economics in ways that feel different from consulting models.
I’m not saying my consulting skills don’t matter. But I’m also not going to pretend I’m equally strong in all the areas PE cares about.
So I’m trying to be honest with myself: What are the skill gaps I actually need to address before I start seriously competing for PE roles? And more importantly, what’s the best way to build those skills while I’m still in my current role?
I’ve heard people say things like “take a corporate development rotation,” “learn to build models,” or “focus on deals.” But I want to know what actually worked for people. Did you pick up skills in a formal program, on the job, or through a project you volunteered for? What moved the needle for you?
I’m trying to build a targeted playbook here, not just hope I’m ready when the moment comes.
skill gap obsession is another form of procrastination. pe doesn’t hire for perfection. build models on your own time, read 10-k’s for companies you’re interested in, and stop waiting to be 100% ready. you learn the rest on the job. the gap isn’t as big as you think.
ok this is useful—so like, specific practice areas? reading 10-ks, lbo modeling, unit economics frameworks? anyone built a timeline that actually worked?
The highest-leverage skill gaps are three-fold: unit economics literacy, financial modeling independence, and operational diagnostics. Address these through deliberate practice. Build 10-15 LBO models end-to-end using real company financials and public comps. Study unit economics decomposition for 3-5 industries relevant to your target PE shops. Volunteer for portfolio company visits or post-acquisition projects within your firm. Most consultants become interview-ready through 60 hours of self-directed financial work and one real operational immersion. That timeline is achievable in 6-12 months if intentional.
You’re already thinking strategically by identifying gaps before the process—that’s honestly ahead of the game! A few months of focused practice on modeling and finances, and you’ll feel way more confident. You’re closer than you think!
I spent about four months building models pretty intensively—like one or two per week with real companies. Then my firm gave me a shot on a due diligence project for an acquisition, and suddenly it all clicked. The practice mattered, but getting real deal exposure was what actually made the difference. That’s when I realized I was genuinely ready, not just technically capable.
Research on consultant success in PE shows that 70% of hiring decisions are based on deal exposure, while 30% depends on demonstrated financial capability. This suggests your priority should be securing deal-adjacent projects within your current role, then supplementing with structured financial learning. An LBO model mastery program (8-12 weeks, 40-60 hours total) plus one real transaction exposure typically close most consultant skill gaps to PE-competency thresholds.