Preparing for a private equity interview

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by an member from University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School
in Philadelphia, PA, USA

4yrs ago

Preparing for a private equity interview

Recently I was informed that I am moving into the final interview round (super day) for a private equity fund. I would like to go above and beyond just referencing an LBO, DCF, and M&A model to show my technical competency. What specific commentary/topics should I reference to leave a good impression on my interviewer?

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reply by an investor 4yrs ago
from The University of Chicago in Chicago, IL, USA

- They will expect you to be a numbers-cruncher / just like everyone else (no ability to differentiate yourself here).
- The long-term is all about i.) creativity; ii.) deal sourcing; and iii.) the ability to connect with others (often those far older than you).
- Talk about any research you may have done into new industries or segments - even if it only related to an academic exercise.
- Do you have any real world work experiences to talk about? In a perfect world, you can talk about working for the small family biz or the entrepreneur. This is the target market for middle market PE firms (on the buyside). A successful PE pro needs the ability to connect with this audience.
- Weave into the conversation some insight you may have as it pertains to future opportunities. Example: COVID world > pushes online shopping > pushes the warehousing & distribution world > pushes technology evolution > pushes the blue collar world (building products mfg. / contractors /etc.)<< What does this mean to you?What opportunities do you perceive? This type of thinking will differentiate you.
- Your competition is most likely some other blue chip university biz school graduate (in polite language: a crowded field; in unvarnished language: a dime-a-dozen).Your ability to exhibit why you are different will win the day. Good luck.