The mega-fund recruiting circus gets all the headlines. But here’s what nobody tells you: off-cycle is the norm for middle market and lower middle market private equity firms—not a backup plan. Large firms, such as mega funds, dominate the headlines and set the pace for on-cycle recruiting, while most other firms in the middle market … Read more
77% of U.S. buyouts in Q1 2025, or nearly 8 out of 10 deals, happened in the middle market, and ~70% were below $500M in enterprise value per PitchBook’s latest data. This stat blows up the “mega-fund or bust” myth that resonates through the deep, dark Wall Street Oasis forums, and points to middle-market private … Read more
This section is for the ones who didn’t follow the traditional playbook — and still made it in. I’ll be sharing real stories, takeaways, and frameworks from my own journey breaking into private equity without a target school, blue-chip internship, or polished network. Whether you’re navigating imposter syndrome, figuring out how to position your story, … Read more
Need a clean LBO model? A resume that actually works? A checklist to track your off-cycle process? This section will house the exact tools I used (and wish I had earlier) to break in and level up. From Excel templates and resume examples to recruiting trackers and technical prep — you’ll find them all here … Read more