This part of the private equity recruitment process is all about whether you’re the right fit for the fund and its team.
More than skills, which will be tested in the later modelling and case study elements of the process, this assessment of fit will depend on your level of understanding of the company and the role you are applying for.
There are three sections to this interview.
- What do you like about us?
- Tell us about yourself
- Why do you want to work in private equity?
We’ll deal with the meat of this sandwich, you, in the first video and then tackle the bread and butter, your knowledge of the business and the industry, in the second.
Start with your personal background, explaining how you chose your academic path and how you got your first role. Use your work experience to demonstrate that you’ve been trained in financial modelling, you’ve had exposure to different businesses, you’ve met management teams and you’ve thought about the market and seen different scenarios.
Choose one or two projects you’ve worked on and talk about them from a private equity perspective. Show the interviewers that, thinking as a buyer, you can see the opportunities to invest in the businesses. Watch our video for a top tip on how to always sound commercial.
Choose one or two projects you’ve worked on and talk about them from a private equity perspective. Show the interviewers that, thinking as a buyer, you can see the opportunities to invest in the businesses. Watch our video for a top tip on how to always sound commercial.
Find out about the private equity firm’s portfolio, identifying parallels with your personal interests or professional experience. The interviewers are really asking why they should be interested in you. If you don’t do your homework, they will ask you awkward questions to catch you out.
When they ask why you want to work in private equity, the real, hidden question is, ‘What do we get when we employ you?’
Watch our video for practical tips on explaining how the combination of your skills suits this career move.
When they ask why you want to work in private equity, the real, hidden question is, ‘What do we get when we employ you?’
Watch our video for practical tips on explaining how the combination of your skills suits this career move.