Can I get into private equity with no experience?
Landing a career in private equity is very difficult because there are few jobs on the market in this profession and so it can be very competitive. Coming into private equity with no experience is impossible, so finding an internship or having previous experience in a related field is highly recommended.
- 1) aim for an analyst position (if you're still in undergrad)
- 2) lots and lots of work (if you're mid-career already)
Although raising the capital for your first fund and hiring the initial team are both extremely difficult, the rest of the journey isn't exactly a walk in the park. The biggest issue is that many founders do not realize that they are not just “investing” or “executing deals” but also running an entire business.
It's possible, but firms are typically selective, showing preference to candidates who have prior experience in the space. The private equity space is a career target for many, often due to its potential for high compensation, room for growth and pretty cool professional relationships.
Private equity funds are illiquid and are risky because of their high use of debt; furthermore, once investors have turned their money over to the fund, they have no say in how it's managed. In compensation for these terms, investors should expect a high rate of return.
For the vast majority of first-year private equity associates, the base salary is around $135k to $155k. Then, based on fund performance, bonuses tend to range from 100% to 150% of the base salary.
but nowhere near as much as in management consulting. While the travel will be less, the work in private equity is very stressful and demanding, so the hours you actually spend working may be more stressful or mentally demanding.
In short, if you're at a top mega fund, then you can expect to get paid between $350-$400k per year. These numbers reflect total compensation paid to private equity associates in 2022.
State | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay |
---|---|---|
California | $89,038 | $7,419 |
Maryland | $88,832 | $7,402 |
Tennessee | $88,240 | $7,353 |
Utah | $87,969 | $7,330 |
Both investment banking and private equity are demanding careers that require long working hours, although private equity firms tend to have a more relaxed work environment and offer a more flexible schedule.
How to break into PE from undergrad?
Get into private equity right out of college
A finance degree is usually the most valued in the field. If you can't get a job or an internship in private equity during or right after college, consider getting one in a complementary field, like investment banking, venture capital or asset management.
Nearly all the large private equity firms (“mega-funds”) offer some form of internships to undergrads: KKR, Blackstone, Ares, Silver Lake, Carlyle, TPG, Apollo, and, on the European side, firms like Cinven, CVC, Bridgepoint, EQT, and Permira.
The Cold, Harsh Truth About Low Grades
If you've earned a low GPA over several years, industries such as investment banking and private equity are probably not right for you.
Getting a job in private equity typically requires a strong educational background in finance or a related field, relevant experience in areas like investment banking, and proficiency in financial modeling and investment analysis.
How Do Private Equity Owners Make Money? Private equity owners make money by buying companies they think have value and can be improved. They improve the company or break it up and sell its parts, which can generate even more profits.
Private Equity Associate Lifestyle and Hours
At many smaller funds and middle-market funds, you can expect to work 60-70 hours per week, mostly on weekdays, with occasional weekend work when deals heat up.
The estimated total pay for a Vice President, Private Equity is $275,065 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $176,393 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users.
Annual Salary | Weekly Pay | |
---|---|---|
Top Earners | $241,298 | $4,640 |
75th Percentile | $187,500 | $3,605 |
Average | $143,004 | $2,750 |
25th Percentile | $113,500 | $2,182 |
Private Equity Associates must be able to lead deal processes from start to finish without step-by-step instructions. They spend their time on sourcing – generating new deal ideas – as well as financial modeling and due diligence for active deals, portfolio company monitoring, and even some fundraising.
Private Equity Career Training
PE firms are small, tight-knit, and full of extremely smart and highly motivated people.
What is the hardest finance job to get?
1. Investment Banker. Roles in investing banking are highly sought after. For investment bankers, it's often a higher competition to land a role in one of the largest firms.
Is it hard to get hired at BlackRock? Glassdoor users rated their interview experience at BlackRock as 61.3% positive with a difficulty rating score of 2.97 out of 5 (where 5 is the highest level of difficulty).
Compared to other jobs in the financial space, private equity roles can provide a more balanced lifestyle, potential for better pay and more engaging, connected work. Private equity is growing in popularity, and an increasing number of college graduates or financial professionals are looking to break into the space.
Analysts at all types of private equity firms earn significantly less than Associates, just as Analysts in IB earn significantly less than Associates. In fact, PE Analysts often earn less than IB Analysts! So, you might initially make less money if you start in private equity.
How much does a Private Equity Ceo make? As of Apr 16, 2024, the average annual pay for a Private Equity Ceo in the United States is $82,146 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $39.49 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,579/week or $6,845/month.
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