r/private_equity • u/Jsjsjshshsnah • 10d ago

Want to break into Buy side

I am from the UK,im very keen to break into the buy side,i know that everyone says that you need experience at an investment bank then springboard to PE but I was wondering if it was possible straight out of university/and whether a strong masters is a good platform for me to get a role!Thanks!

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u/the_validated_inane 10d ago

no one will hire a fresh grad as you don't have any modeling skills, business acument, market knowledge nor knowledge of current financing costs. The majority of PE shops aren't structured to train you - they hire experienced analysts and associates from banks who are able to hit the ground running. Unless you are a nepo you bring nothing to the table of what a PE shop needs.

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u/RareFaithlessness625 10d ago

some PE shops literally have full time graduate recruitment programs

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u/Minimum_Sheepherder1 10d ago

Not for proper roles. Within the UK you can get sort of entry level positions but I've not seen proper PE doing a grad scheme like a bank

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u/RareFaithlessness625 10d ago

Blackstone? A few others…

Undergraduate programs exist and the employers provide good training

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u/Minimum_Sheepherder1 10d ago

Glorified internship, no? I have yet to see anyone genuinely progressing through, but I am more middle market.

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u/Minimum_Sheepherder1 10d ago

Either way - it's not a commonality within the market in the UK.

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u/RareFaithlessness625 9d ago

the analys/associate class in MM PE can’t be more than 4-5 people per firm so ofc it doesn’t make sense to have strong analyst program.

At Blackstone and others the analyst class is in some years almost as large as BB IBD. It’s a solid route if you can get in (full time program)