Career move from Strategy Consulting to PE (experienced)

Hi there,

I have switched from Bain Germany to a Mid Cap fund last year and can give you the following advice:

1. Depends on the funds and the recruiting market environment. Before considering switching to MBB, I would definitely give it a try with PE funds directly. I myself moved from L.E.K. to Bain, but that was mainly driven by the early stage pf my career and the strong momentum for candidates at MBB at that time. Happy to discuss this point in more detail.

2. This is a big plus. I also had prior PE experience as an intern which was highly valued from a skill and personal fit perspective.

3. Unlike what some headhunters might say: the sonner the better given as long as you start as an Associate. Happy to discuss when the best timing would be for you personally, but you should definitely move before being a project leader. MBA can be a plus but is not at all required.

4. Firstly, I would try to access as many people from your professional and personal network first (alternatively via the platform). Secondly, I would speak to the large and well respected HH as there are many unprofessional ones out there.

Happy to discuss in more details and structure/map the DACH PE landscape.

Hey 👋

Great questions, and it sounds like you already have a really strong background for PE. 

1. A move to MBB isn’t mandatory. Many mid-cap and even upper-mid funds in Germany also consider Strategy&, Roland Berger or Oliver Wyman if you’ve had solid deal exposure and analytical depth.

2. Your IB and PE internships plus modeling experience definitely strengthen your profile. It shows you’re not just strategic but also financially fluent, which funds value a lot.

3. The sweet spot for switching is usually after two to four years in consulting, once you’ve led parts of a CDD or similar projects. An MBA only becomes relevant if you’re targeting very large or international funds.

4. It’s smart to already reach out to PE-focused headhunters like PER, Kea Consultants, Dartmouth Partners or Blackwood. Even an informal chat can help you stay on their radar.

Hope it helps and good luck with your next steps!

Hi there,

Moving from strategy consulting to private equity is definitely possible, especially if you’ve worked on deals or commercial due diligences.

Your mix of consulting and PE/IB experience is a solid starting point. What usually makes the difference is showing that you’ve been close to real transactions, not just strategy work. If you’ve done commercial due diligence or built an investment model, highlight that - it’s what PE teams value most.

An MBA can help, but it’s not a must if you can show real deal experience. Talking to PE-focused headhunters early on is also a good idea - they can tell you which funds value your consulting skill set most.

You're in a solid position. Here's a straight breakdown for each question:

1. T2 to PE – MBB is preferred, but it's not a hard requirement. Strong candidates from Strategy&, especially from offices like Germany where the firm is well-regarded, do make the jump. Your chances improve if you’ve done due diligence-heavy projects or M&A work.
2. Your background helps – Yes, big plus. IB and PE internships, plus a finance master's and modeling experience, tick important boxes. That makes you stand out versus pure-strategy folks with no modeling exposure.
3. Timing – Earlier is usually better. Most mid-cap PE funds prefer people with 2–4 years of experience. Waiting too long (PM level or post-MBA) can overqualify you for junior roles, and firms may hesitate unless you’re aiming for a more senior/principal-track role.
4. Talk to headhunters now – Yes, especially if you're 1–2 years into the role. It's useful for market intel and visibility. 

Let me know if you want to dive into prep tips.