Meet the 12 top headhunting firms sourcing talent for hedge funds and private equity

The war for talent among hedge funds and private-equity firms has always been a fiercely contested one.

Firms are eager to land the top talent, whether it's poaching them from banks or pulling them directly from the top MBA programs.

Meanwhile, there is no shortage of young people early in their career on Wall Street hoping to make the jump to the buy side. Many are eager to help manage investments at massive, high-profile shops such as Blackstone, Apollo Global, and Citadel.  

Headhunting firms play a key role in the entire process. Acting as gatekeepers, they sit between both sides, interviewing and assessing candidates to find the top dealmakers and traders. 

Business Insider tapped its sources at asset managers, business schools, and executive search firms to highlight the top headhunting firms that excel at placing talent on the buy side. 

SEE ALSO: Private-equity firms are already interviewing 22-year-old bankers who will start in 2 years. Their earliest-ever hiring kickoff shows how crazy the battle for talent has gotten.

SEE ALSO: Apollo is revamping recruiting and trying to soften its culture amid a big growth push. From MBA summer internships to kids' story time, here's a look.

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