As an IB analyst gearing up for PE recruiting, I’m overwhelmed by conflicting advice. Everyone says ‘talk to veterans,’ but how do you turn that into actionable steps? For those who made the leap: Did raw insights from seasoned PE folks actually streamline your process? What specific advice mattered most, and how did you avoid getting steered wrong by outdated tips? Curious to hear real examples of cutting through the noise.
veteran advice is like last year’s memes – mildly amusing but useless. pro tip: they’ll all tell you to ‘network smarter’ while gatekeeping their own contacts. focus on crushing mock lbo tests and stop begging linkedin randos for ‘quick chats.’
got 2 coffees w PE associates! one said ‘focus on sector depth not modeling’ which helped me shift prep. still got rejected tho lol but feels closer? idk
Targeted advice beats generic platitudes. Ask veterans: ‘What’s one thing candidates consistently overlook in technicals?’ or ‘How did your firm’s diligence priorities shift post-COVID?’ Frame questions to extract tactical insights. Example: A MD once told me to study portfolio company board decks – that perspective landed me a MM PE role.
You’re asking the right questions! Authentic connections always pay off. Keep grinding – your hustle will open doors!
When I was recruiting, a PE VP straight-up told me to stop memorizing accounting rules and start thinking like an investor. Spent weeks analyzing public earnings calls instead of rehashing models – got way more traction in interviews. Sometimes the blunt truth sticks.
2023 PE recruiting analysis shows candidates with mentor-guided prep had 2.3x higher first-round conversion rates. Top performers prioritized 3 areas: sector-specific thesis development (72% emphasis), live deal commentary (65%), and mock committee deliberations (58%). Tailor your vet conversations accordingly.