When PE recruiting starts, it is like a domino effect because every fund wants to get the best analysts. This year recruiting started in mid-February because rumor has it Bain Capital jumped the gun. This is EXTREMELY early but you have to be ready for anything. I think mid-December is a great time to start meeting with head hunters. If you work for a good firm, they will most likely be reaching out to you directly. You just need to make sure and meet with them before recruiting kicks off, because once it does, you are very unlikely to get a meeting with them until all the good funds are done hiring.

Apparently PE recruiting season is up and running again. I’d start polishing my resume and practicing if you are looking to get a 2012 summer job offer.