Employers
About 45 percent of PE firms are headquartered in the United States—typically in big cities such as New York, Boston, San Francisco, and Chicago. In addition to employment in the PE sector, chief dealmakers can work in the hedge fund and venture capital sectors, in investment banking, and for corporations in a diverse array of industries.
Starting Out
It takes many years to obtain the skills and deal experience to be qualified to work as a chief dealmaker. Many aspiring dealmakers work their way up from lower-level positions (e.g., analyst, associate, due diligence or risk management professional) in the deal-making department. Others develop their deal-making skills by working at investment banks or in corporate mergers and acquisitions.
Landing a job in the private equity industry is a lot about “who you know.” The money involved in PE transactions is mind-boggling, and managing partners want people whom they know and trust involved in these deals. Strategies that will help get you noticed include building your network by using social media and attending industry conferences, developing relationships with respected industry recruiters, and landing internships or cooperative education opportunities at PE firms.
Finally, it never hurts to use the job-search resources of your college’s career services office, ask your professors for introductions to PE dealmakers, and search out job leads at employment sites such as https://www.efinancialcareers.com and https://www.jobsearchdigest.com/private-equity-jobs.
- Investment Underwriters
- Private Equity Accountants and Auditors
- Private Equity Business Development Directors
- Private Equity Compliance Professionals
- Private Equity Financial Managers
- Private Equity Investor Relations Specialists
- Private Equity Lawyers
- Private Equity Marketing Specialists
- Private Equity Research Analysts and Associates
- Private Equity Risk Managers