VC jobs are tough to get, even at the associate level (entry level). Typically firms are looking for some domain expertise they need. It can vary a lot. Background that include finance or consulting can be helpful, but aren't guaranteed to get you in the door.
At the higher (leadership) end of the VC job spectrum, it often comes down to "can you raise money?". Do you already have a track record of success?
1. Professional Finance/Banker types. Usually MBA track with some Goldman-Sachs-type experience.
2. Founders and entrepreneurs aka "Operators" who move into VC from an exit.
(Again with the generalizing) The former (MBA) tend to work later stage, whereas the latter (Founders) usually work early stage.
Late stage has more financial metrics and needs stronger traditional finance networks. This suits a professional finance type better.
Early stage requires a grass-roots network and some technical/operational chops can be a big advantage. Founders can also differentiate here as they can roll their sleeves up and help hands-on in more areas.
A less common way is to build up to VC as an Angel investor or some type of advisor. After getting a bit of a portfolio you can start raising a fund (or more likely, help someone else raise one and jump on). However, they tend to be founders with some level of liquidity. But if you're in for a long haul that seems to work too.
Basically this is the case. In the case of compensation you get a piece of a much larger n (how many deals does a single VC do (and how much of the proceeds does an associate get -- none or almost none)). And in terms of private equity the VC industry as a whole is a barely visible bump -- there are many private equity firms each larger than the entire VC industry.
Why do so many HN commenters think that movie is, like, a credible documentary?
(I don't necessarily mean you, obviously.)
Typical background: Major in business/finance, or CS/engineering; whichever side you don't do, get some exposure to the other side - teach yourself to code or take an accounting basics class.
Get involved in the local startup ecosystem - volunteer at a demo day or a local tedx event, intern at a startup, something like that. Get to know a lot of people in this world. Maybe write a couple blog posts with insights about some upcoming markets.
Generally, you want to show that you get both tech and business pretty well, and also seem like someone who's eager to work hard to prove themselves and that lots of people seem to know.
Or.
You already are "important".
