Coaching Services
Private Equity Career Coaching
Save time with high-impact actions and build confidence through personalised guidance. Present a refined, compelling profile to secure interviews and offers, while gaining clarity on your goals with actionable, industry specific insights.
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Who Is Career Coaching For?
Kickstart your career in private equity
For current students and recent graduates eager to gain a clear understanding of how to build a successful career in private equity.
Transition to the buyside with confidence
Guidance for junior professionals in investment banking, strategy consulting, or accounting aiming to move to private equity in London or Europe.
Enhanced support for FastTrack alumni
Tailored assistance for our Fast Track programme alumni who want to refine their interview strategies and optimise their go-to-market approach.
Customized strategies for non-traditional candidates
Personalised insight for experienced candidates from non-target schools, post-MBA, or related fields making their transition to private equity.
Lika Petitt
is the Co-Founder of First Point Partners, an executive search firm specialising in the placement of investment professionals across the European private equity market. With approximately 40% of her placements involving cross-border relocations, Lika brings a nuanced and international perspective to talent acquisition in this highly competitive space.
Lika began her career at renowned London-based search firm Walker Hamill, where she focused on supporting junior professionals transitioning into mid to large-cap private equity funds. She then gained hands-on industry experience with roles in origination at Chiltern Capital, a UK-focused fund, and in Investor Relations at Pantheon, a global private markets investor. Having operated as a candidate, client, and recruiter, she offers a rare 360-degree insight into the private equity talent landscape.
She holds an MSc in the Neuroscience and Psychology of Mental Health from King’s College London, and an MSc in Psychology from Birkbeck University of London. She is accredited by the British Psychological Society and is currently training with the International Coaching Federation.
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What This Coaching Offers
Career strategy sessions
- Craft a strategic plan tailored to your strengths, experiences and current market demands.
- Identify and target the right firms - mid market, large-cap, sector-specific or regional players.
Resume & LinkedIn
- Highlight key achievements and skills to make your application stand out.
- Optimize LinkedIn and other professional profiles for networking and visibility to ensure relevant contacts can find you.
Interview preparation
- Behavioural question training: craft authentic yet strategic responses to common questions.
- Technical interview practice: build confidence in areas like financial modelling, valuation, and industry analysis.
- Mock interviews: simulate real-world interviews with constructive feedback
Realistic goal setting
- Get honest feedback about your options and the private equity landscape.
- Focus your time and energy on the most promising paths.
- Have someone on hand to hold you accountable, keep you motivated and ensure you reach your desired goals.
Student Or Recent Graduate?
Check Out Our FastTrack Programme
Support For Non-Traditional Candidates
- Strategies to emphasize transferable skills and bridge experience gaps.
- Guidance on lateral moves, internships, or rotational programs to build credibility.
References
‘I was assisted by Lika on understanding where my strengths and niche was within the private equity fundraising space.
We spent a few sessions strategising a move from the consulting world to private equity and with the assistance of Lika and her network, I was able to speak and discuss the move with peers to truly understand the role and responsibilities.
I want to thank Lika for all your support and guidance it assisting me finding my true potential!’
'When we first met, Lika no nonsense told me I was completely irrelevant for the private equity industry and outlined what experience I needed at this stage of my career.
Over the years she has coached me through interview processes, helped edit my CV and acted as my mentor at every step of the way. She really believed in me. Now I am working in an established private equity fund. I would not be where I am today if not for her.'
'I was recommended to speak with Lika and now I understand why! Thank you so much for your time and advice on a whole number of areas. I only wish I had spoken to you earlier in my career.
Despite knowing me for one hour everything she said about the type of work I would most enjoy was scarily accurate.
I value her insight as it helped me move forwards in my career with more assurance.'
Book a free 15-minute complimentary call
Together we can discuss your current professional situation and your career aspirations as well as give you an honest assessment of your chances of getting to the buyside. This way you can make an informed decision on how much time you want to commit to making the move going forward.
BOOK NOWBlog Posts
Further reading on how best to position yourself to land a job in private equity
The 'I Don't Know What I Want' Career Conundrum. Questions to Help You Focus.
One of the best parts of being a recruiter is that we have had the privilege to speak with thousands of candidates from a specific industry. Which means we can track candidates through various stages of their careers - their successes, failures and everything else in between. We see the candidate's present, learn about their past and can ultimately guide them towards a superior future by helping them avoid the mistakes made by those who came before them.
Here's What You Need To Make The Optimal Career Move.
Many candidates do not realise that they are the CEO of their own career. Scared to make mistakes they seek reassurance, stick to a path well-trodden or simply sit idle waiting for market opportunities to come their way. However, a phenomenal CEO is not passive. A phenomenal CEO has a robust understanding of market conditions, is prepared to take calculated risks, learns from setbacks, thinks strategically and proactively forges ahead. The single most important thing you can do for yourself when job hunting?
From Poundstretcher to Private Equity. On Finding Purpose Through Work.
People chase this elusive thing called purpose as if it is the answer to life and all their problems. The holy grail of career enlightenment. But real purpose cannot be chased because it is not a destination and it is not static. Purpose is the internal self creating something of value into the world. Purpose is alignment. Specifically alignment with self. Purpose doesn’t need to be chased because it is already there - found within.
