LGT Capital Partners Graduate Programme: Starting a Career in Private Markets

The LGT Capital Partners graduate programme discussed in its September 2026 CareerFairy session is a two-year analyst route into private markets. The employer called it the Global Private Markets Entry Program, with graduates applying to a particular team and building expertise there. It was explicitly described as a programme without rotations.

That is the first distinction to understand if you are comparing graduate schemes. You are choosing an area of work, rather than signing up to move through several unrelated departments before deciding.

This guide focuses on LGT Capital Partners, the alternative investment specialist. Its programme should not be confused with graduate recruitment at LGT Private Banking. The shared LGT name does not make their roles, requirements or programme structures interchangeable.

Recruitment status: checked 8 November 2026

The 30 September CareerFairy recording announced recruitment activity for the 2027 intake at the time of the session. That announcement alone does not confirm availability today.

The employer’s careers site currently surfaces 2027 analyst advertisements, including Product & Client Solutions and Private Credit Solutions. These are employer-hosted listings, not verified CareerFairy vacancies. Check the live role before applying: positions can be removed as recruitment progresses.

The current advertisements use “Analyst Program” terminology. Read the team-specific description rather than assuming every role under the broader entry-programme label has identical requirements.

What does private markets mean?

Private markets investing involves assets and investment structures outside the straightforward purchase of shares on a public stock exchange. In the session, LGT Capital Partners described work across private equity, private credit and real assets.

There are also different ways to invest. A primary investment can involve committing capital to a fund; a secondary transaction can involve buying an existing investment interest; a co-investment involves investing alongside another manager. Those differences affect what analysts research, how they assess an opportunity and whom they work with.

You do not need to master every strategy before reading a vacancy. You should, however, know which type of work the team does. “I want to work in private equity” is less informative than explaining why you are interested in evaluating managers, analysing an investment or connecting a strategy with clients’ needs.

If the wider finance landscape still feels unclear, start with our guide to choosing a first role in finance.

How was the 2027 programme described?

The September recruiter described a two-year analyst programme starting in July, with an initial tailored training period of roughly three weeks. The training covered foundations such as fund mechanics, financial modelling, valuation and corporate finance, followed by learning through the work itself.

The session discussed a July 2027 start and stressed the importance of joining the cohort’s training and onboarding. Applicants should confirm their own team’s start date and ensure their studies can be completed in time.

There was no rotation programme. The recruiter encouraged a focused choice of team and said applicants should be able to explain that choice. Development would come through increasing responsibility within the selected area, feedback and contact with other specialists.

The session also described a possible move to an Associate role for strong performers, subject to available positions and approvals. Completing the programme does not guarantee a permanent appointment.

What does a Program Analyst actually do?

The recording is especially useful because it includes people discussing work at different points in their careers. Their experiences show the breadth of private markets without implying that every analyst does everything.

Investment teams: investigate and assess opportunities

The recruiter distinguished teams working on manager selection and co-investments from teams focused on secondaries and other investment structures. Availability differed by team and recruitment year, so an opening mentioned in a past session should not be assumed to recur every year.

A participant who had progressed beyond the analyst programme described investment work involving screening opportunities, preparing material for investment-committee discussion and following developments with managers. He also discussed data and AI-related projects alongside investment activity.

Those were examples from his own team and role. They help you understand the environment, but they are not a list of guaranteed first-year analyst duties or a promise of a particular number of deals.

Product & Client Solutions: connect the investment work with clients

Another participant described Product & Client Solutions as a bridge between investment teams and clients. Her work included preparing client materials, responding to questions and coordinating information across investment and other functions.

She focused on private credit within that wider team. Understanding a fund’s strategy and performance was part of explaining how it might fit a client’s needs. Communication therefore depended on investment knowledge, rather than simply producing attractive presentations.

This can be a useful direction to explore if you enjoy both analysis and explaining complex information. Read the current vacancy to understand where the balance lies between product work, analysis, coordination and client-related responsibilities.

Accuracy and coordination run through both routes

A clear investment argument depends on reliable information. So does a client response. Across the accounts, participants described working with colleagues, handling information carefully and developing a deeper understanding of the products and strategies.

For preparation, think about evidence that you can check detail while keeping the larger question in view. A research project, internship or student responsibility can show that combination if you explain your own contribution clearly.

Which backgrounds should apply?

The event was aimed at students approaching graduation in 2027, including those studying finance, banking, economics and related fields. The recruiters discussed relevant internships and the importance of both technical ability and fit with the team.

Use the job advertisement to settle precise requirements. For example, the current Product & Client Solutions listing specifies master’s-level academic credentials and relevant internship experience. A broad event invitation mentioning bachelor’s and master’s students does not mean that every advertised analyst role accepts both.

English was described as the corporate language. Participants also explained how other languages can be helpful for particular regions and teams. A language mentioned as useful in one team should not be turned into a universal requirement across the firm.

Work authorisation is another early check. The session described restrictions on sponsorship for analyst roles in Switzerland and London. Read the current vacancy and clarify your own position with recruitment. Avoid treating a comment about a different student or operations route as immigration guidance for this programme.

What is the recruitment process like?

The September session described rolling application review, an introductory interview and an on-site assessment involving a case study and conversations with team members and HR. It also described a final interview before offers.

The timeline discussed then aimed to complete recruitment towards the end of 2026. That is historical guidance for the 2027 cycle, rather than a new deadline or a guarantee about response times.

The recruiter encouraged applications through the online careers system. Follow the instructions for the individual role and prepare the documents it requests. Do not assume that sending a CV to a speaker replaces the formal application.

A process involving several people is also your chance to assess the team. Ask what analysts learn first, how work is reviewed and how responsibility develops over the two years.

How can you prepare a focused application?

Choose the work before polishing the motivation letter

Read the team description and write a short explanation of what it does. Then explain why that work interests you and which part of your experience supports the choice.

If your explanation could be sent unchanged to any finance employer, make it more specific. You might be interested in understanding an investment strategy, evaluating uncertain information or explaining a product to a sophisticated client. Show the connection to the role you have actually selected.

Build examples of judgement as well as technical skills

Prepare one example of analytical work and one of collaboration. Explain the problem, your approach, your contribution and what you learned. Be ready to discuss an assumption you changed or a limitation you identified.

For a case study, practise organising information and presenting a reasoned conclusion. That is useful preparation without inventing the employer’s questions or suggesting there is one scripted answer.

Treat AI experience as evidence, not a label

Participants discussed growing use of AI and interest in candidates who were curious about it. If you have relevant experience, explain the task, how you checked the output and what improved. Simply listing an AI tool says little about your judgement.

Our guide to what recruiters look for in graduates offers more ways to make your examples concrete.

Internship and working-student routes

The session also described seasonal internships and student-support positions. These offer different ways to gain experience before full-time analyst employment and have their own availability and eligibility rules.

One participant had joined as a working student during her master’s studies and later moved into the analyst programme. She described flexibility around studies and a gradual increase in responsibility. That is an individual progression story, not a guaranteed conversion route.

The recruiter described student-support work as something done alongside study, with office presence and a longer period of commitment. Check a specific vacancy against your timetable and location. Seasonal internships may suit a different study schedule; the official career-life-cycle page explains the broad entry routes.

Compare other programme routes

To compare private markets with wealth management, read our Julius Baer programme guide. Applicants who already have postgraduate qualifications and relevant professional experience can also investigate the distinct World Bank YPP route.

Next, watch Private Markets Unlocked to hear the team accounts, then visit LGT Capital Partners on CareerFairy for employer content and updates. Use its official team-specific vacancies to confirm requirements and availability.