I’m a 25 year old male with Singapore citizenship. I finished my business degree at NUS and have been working as a Senior Investment Analyst at a mid-size private equity firm (around $3-5B assets under management) for about 2.5 years now.
For the last year, I’ve been trying to switch jobs. I want to either join a bigger fund, change to a different investment area like infrastructure or healthcare, or move into investment banking focusing on acquisition finance since it relates to my current debt analysis work.
The job market in Singapore has been really tough though. I’ve made it to final interviews with several companies but haven’t gotten any offers yet. I don’t think things will get much better soon either.
Now I’m thinking about doing a 1-year MBA or post-experience Master in Finance program. I’m looking at top schools like LBS and INSEAD, and I think I have a good shot at getting in. I would pay for it myself mostly. The plan would be to use the school’s reputation and internship connections to move into a better role or different sector. I’m fine with coming back to Singapore after graduation.
What worries me is that I’m getting too specialized in my current investment area, and this will only get worse over time. Also, spending $100K-130K is a huge financial commitment with no guarantee it will work out.
Should I spend the money and time on a 1-year MBA/MFin to escape being stuck in one sector, or should I keep applying for jobs without the degree and hope the market gets better?
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been in a similar situation or successfully changed sectors.
honestly the singapore market is brutal right now but dropping 130k seems risky without guarantees. have u tried reaching out to alumni from ur current firm who made similar jumps? networking might get u further than another degree at this point, especially since u already have good pe experience.
Your PE background already sets you up perfectly for infrastructure deals - no extra schooling needed. Infrastructure funds want analysts who get debt structuring and cash flow modeling, which you’ve got covered. Healthcare’s trickier, but most PE folks break in through healthcare services deals first, not biotech/pharma. With Singapore’s hiring freeze right now, timing a program for 2025 graduation makes sense - markets usually bounce back by then. But you’re 25, so you can ride out this downturn. LBS and INSEAD open doors, sure, but they’re most valuable when the economy’s hot and everyone’s hiring. Why not try secondments or project work in those sectors first?
Been there. Back in '19 I was trapped in equity research trying to break into corp dev. Did the INSEAD MFin and it changed everything - not just the brand but their career services team is amazing. They’ve got dedicated finance placement officers who actually know the Singapore market inside out. Yeah, 130k stings, but here’s the thing… you’re probably stuck at your current level for 2-3 more years minimum in this market. The opportunity cost of staying might actually cost you more than the degree.
You’re 25 with solid PE experience - that’s a great spot to be in! I’d hit up recruitment firms that focus on infrastructure and healthcare PE. Your specialized knowledge isn’t holding you back - it’s actually an asset that transfers really well to other areas.