Private Equity Recruitment

The pathways into Private Equity are narrow indeed, with few professionals entering the industry via other methods:

Pathway #1: As An Undergraduate (Analyst)

Banks hire undergraduates for junior-level roles, such as Private Equity Analysts (common in some markets, such as Brazil and Portugal, and increasingly common at mega-funds and upper-middle-market funds in developed markets). 

Pathway #2: As An Investment Banking Analyst

Large PE firms target Investment Banking Analysts at bulge-bracket and elite-boutique banks, as well as a few In-Between-a-Banks.   Smaller firms may hire IB Analysts at middle-market and boutique banks. 

Pathway #3: Being Hired From Another PE Firm 

If you already work at a PE firm, then there is a chance you’ll be headhunted or can otherwise switch to another firm. 

If you sit outside these 3 pathways, then it’s very unlikely you’ll be hired by a US or UK firm.  In other markets such as Russia, India, Central & Eastern Europe, and Portugal, it’s more feasible for non-bankers to get in.

See our step-by-step guide on How To Get Into Private Equity for more detail.

First, note that there both on-cycle and off-cycle recruitment processes; they differ in timing, steps, interviews, and hiring criteria.

The On-Cycle Recruiting Process

The on-cycle process is the one that begins for Analysts at bulge-bracket and elite-boutique banks in New York within a few months of their start date – or even before their start date! This on-cycle process is short and intense.

If you finish the on-cycle process and win a job offer, the position will start in 1.5 – 2.0+ years.

So, you may interview in December of 20X1, keep working in banking, and then begin the PE role in July or August of 20X3.

The timing has accelerated over time, so that many Analysts interview in June or July of 20X1 for rules that start in July of 20×3!

The Off-Cycle Recruiting Process

The off-cycle recruitment process applies to everyone else:

• Roles outside of New York
• Roles in other countries
• Roles at smaller firms
• Roles available to anyone not working at an investment bank

Off-cycle processes tend to take more time – months rather than weeks or days – and interviewers evaluate your “fit” and critical thinking abilities in more depth. For more information, take a look at this article about Off-Cycle Private Equity Recruiting: How to Win Middle-Market Private Equity Offers. 

Once the decision is made, you’ll tend to start working within a few weeks of winning an offer, rather than waiting for 1.5 – 2 years. 

Assuming you have the right background, there are a number of strategies and resources you can leverage to help secure a private equity job. 

Private Equity Resumes

Just like any other professional role, your resume is your main “first impression” document.  PE hiring managers are insanely busy and if they don’t see what they’re looking for within 30 seconds, your resume will be overlooked.  The ideal PE resume should:

• Primarily focus on relevant investment banking and deal experience.
• Mention previous internships and jobs briefly and only if relevant
• Briefly include educational credentials (University, GPA, SAT scores)
• Very briefly mention Skills / Activities / Interests – don’t overdo it. 

Refer to our full article on Private Equity Resumes (with Downloadable Templates and Examples) for more information. 

Private Equity Interviews and What To Expect 

In most cases, getting into the interview is actually harder than the interview itself.  And the process will be somewhat different depending if it’s an on-cycle or off-cycle process.

That being said, almost all PE interviews have the following characteristics in common:

• Multiple Rounds: 2-3 rounds minimum (and sometimes many more!) where you speak with professionals at different levels of the firm.
• Topics Tested:
  • Fit/background questions
  • Technical questions
  • Deal/client experience questions
  • Questions about the firm’s strategies and portfolio
  • Market/industry questions
  • Plus undergo case study and modeling tests

Interviews will naturally include common questions, such as Why Private Equity? and Can you walk me through your resume?. You can also expect questions about your strengths and weaknesses. 

For a deeper coverage of this topic, see our article on Private Equity Interviews 101: How To Win Offers. 

Starting As A Private Equity Analyst

Up until relatively recently, Private Equity Analyst positions did not exist.

Banks hired the top students out of undergrad for Investment Banking Analyst roles, then the big PE firms swooped in to hire away trained bankers after a couple of years. 

But then someone in private equity wondered why PE firms don’t just hire their own analysts and groom them themselves. 

And just like that, Private Equity Analyst positions were born.

So, should you start as an Investment Banking Analyst and transition over to PE, or should you go straight into Private Equity?  This article on Investment Banking vs Private Equity will help answer that question.

Private equity has become a highly competitive and sought-after field.

Private equity firms want people who are technically proficient and who demonstrate strong “fit” because firms and teams are far smaller than in investment banking.

Banks might have tens of thousands of employees to perform grunt work, but private equity firms have no such armies; they want to hire small teams of the top professionals who can add value from day one.

That’s why many aspiring private equity professionals invest in specialized courses and training to help them get noticed, get hired, and get promoted.

Some of the courses offered by Mergers & Inquisitions and Breaking Into Wall Street that apply to private equity include:

• Investment Banking Interview Guide – Includes a 120-page guide to LBO modeling and 4 practice LBO case studies/modeling tests
• BIWS Premium – This course includes more in-depth LBO case studies and coverage of foundational financial modeling skills
• Private Equity Modeling (LBO Modeling) – You’ll master LBO modeling, paper LBOs, and case studies with 6 conceptual models and 6 full, step-by-step case studies.
• Venture Capital & Growth Equity Modeling – This one is highly relevant for roles investing in earlier-stage companies, where knowledge of cap tables and granular financial models is essential

Completing these courses will help you win interviews and job offers for roles that pay $150K+ and position you for careers in private equity. Learn more about Breaking Into Wall Street here.