Essential advice for professionals taking their first steps into the world of private equity and venture capital
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Progressing in your career isn’t just about working hard; it’s about being proactive, visible, and intentional in how you develop.
From seeking feedback and showcasing your achievements, to building strong networks and aiming for promotion, here are some practical ways to take control of your growth and make a lasting impact.
How can I ensure my manager gives me regular feedback on my performance?
When you’re finding your feet, it can be frustrating to have to wait for your next review to hear how you’re getting on. Here’s how to aim for continuous feedback from your line managers and the people around you.
It is important to recognise that your manager is busy and will find it difficult to respond to an out-of-the-blue request for feedback. So, before you expect them to have feedback at their fingertips, you need to prepare. Ask for a few minutes to review a recent project and make sure that you self-analyse your performance first. Your line manager can then respond to your self-analysis and give their views.
These conversation prompts are important to help your busy boss focus on the matters that are important to you. For example, you could say something like: "I really enjoyed handling the banking aspects of this transaction for the first time. I think I picked up the key points quickly, but I would have liked to build a stronger relationship so they felt comfortable coming to me first with their questions. How did my performance look from your perspective, and what do you think I could do better next time?” In this way, you will focus your line manager’s mind on the things that are important to you and help the conversation flow.
Initiating these discussions is also a useful way to present your achievements and suggest ways to move your development forward with focused training or involvement in projects that will round out your experience.
It is important to recognise that your manager is busy and will find it difficult to respond to an out-of-the-blue request for feedback. So, before you expect them to have feedback at their fingertips, you need to prepare. Ask for a few minutes to review a recent project and make sure that you self-analyse your performance first. Your line manager can then respond to your self-analysis and give their views.
These conversation prompts are important to help your busy boss focus on the matters that are important to you. For example, you could say something like: "I really enjoyed handling the banking aspects of this transaction for the first time. I think I picked up the key points quickly, but I would have liked to build a stronger relationship so they felt comfortable coming to me first with their questions. How did my performance look from your perspective, and what do you think I could do better next time?” In this way, you will focus your line manager’s mind on the things that are important to you and help the conversation flow.
Initiating these discussions is also a useful way to present your achievements and suggest ways to move your development forward with focused training or involvement in projects that will round out your experience.
What do I need to do to get promoted?
It’s vital to take responsibility for your own career progression, so set yourself some milestones and test them out on your manager. It isn’t your manager’s job to give you a list of tasks and then promote you if you do them well. Promotion is linked to adding value, taking initiative and being visible. It’s no good hiding all your good work and expecting other people to unearth it.
How can I present my achievements effectively?
No one else is going to highlight your successes; it’s down to you to make sure those in charge know how your efforts are bringing them strong returns.
Secondly, you need to find ways to ensure others recognise the achievements you’re recording. For example, make sure you speak up in weekly meetings. Have a view, be prepared to listen to the responses of others and build on the conversation.
It can be very useful to become ‘known’ for something. For example, make sure you always comment on an aspect of an investment you excel in, e.g. banking, cash flow or a particular sector or geography. Become the ‘go-to’ person for your specialist area.
Thirdly, at company events, always work out who you should talk to, to ensure you are visible in the organisation. The best way to promote your achievements in these conversations is to understand what is important to the person you approach and add some value to their life. Often, this means having some insight into a deal they are working on or a problem they are grappling with, so you need to do some research.
How do I get the most out of my network?
It isn’t just the top of the hierarchy that matters in building a career; also make sure that you take notice of the efforts that other people around you make on your behalf and give them credit. For example, the finance or administration team. Their attitude towards you can make a massive difference to your upward career trajectory.
Externally, it’s no bad thing for the advisory network to put in a good word for you. Think about how you can add value to the process in a productive and collaborative way that enables them to be a supporter of yours when talking to the partners.
Also, remember that your peers in the industry will become helpful to you as you all develop your careers. The person you have a beer with at the next networking event might well become your best market ally in finding and delivering the deal that will make your career.
Externally, it’s no bad thing for the advisory network to put in a good word for you. Think about how you can add value to the process in a productive and collaborative way that enables them to be a supporter of yours when talking to the partners.
Also, remember that your peers in the industry will become helpful to you as you all develop your careers. The person you have a beer with at the next networking event might well become your best market ally in finding and delivering the deal that will make your career.
If these questions spark more thoughts in your mind, why not get in touch with PER and see if we can help? Even if you’re not looking to move, our expert consultants can help you benchmark your progress so far and track your career progression going forward.
Click below to read the profile of Gail, our Founder Director.
Gail's profile
