PE Analyst Case Interview

Convenience Software — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:42:35 -0500

I just got called in for a first round interview with Audax Private Equity. Has anyone been through their interviews and does anyone have any advice? I assume it will be partially case based. Does anyone have any suggestions about case questions in general? I have the vault guide but it is about 400 pages and I have 2 days... Help!

Job options other than banking...

Convenience Software — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:28:08 -0400

So as full time recruiting is winding down, and the prospects of landing that elusive IB job seems to be passing partially due to the miserable job market... what are people in the class of 2009 looking to for other job options? Most of us who managed to make it through part of the IB interview process are well qualified. Our resumes should be solid for many other jobs. Where are people applying, what types of positions, and how are you going about applying?

The "what other banks are you applying to" question

Convenience Software — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:46:47 -0400

So in the past, when I have gotten the "what other banks are you applying to" questions, I have been completely honest with my interviewers. I had a superday with a top MM bank in IB, and have a superday coming up with a top BB for IB on Tuesday. At my MM superday, I was honest, said I was applying a number of places, including the name of the top BB. I thought the interviews went great, felt good that I was going to get the offer, but then didn't. I now feel as though I screwed myself by not just lying and saying I was applying to some smaller places but that they were clearly number one, but thats besides the point.

Now what do I say in my BB interview when I get that question, and I have now been rejected in the other Superday that I had (I am still waiting to hear on some S&T positions)? What do you think?

Stock Picks in this market???

Convenience Software — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 23:26:30 -0400

While I know there are plenty of scrubs on this site (I myself could be considered one of them to an extent), I think there is also a wealth of knowledge out there as well. With the stock markets getting crushed overall the past few weeks, there must be some very very fundamentally undervalued stocks out there if you are willing to buy and hold for at least a few years while things recover.

Lets get a thread going of people's stock picks for fundamentally undervalued companies, and their reasoning for their pick.

Credit Default Swap

Convenience Software — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 23:17:05 -0400

Could a knowledgeable individual please explain Credit Default Swaps on a broad level? I'm a bit confused about who sold them, how they work, who gets paid in the event of bankruptcy, and what exactly happened with all the CDSs that Lehman I guess created and sold? Thanks.

FCF question and Beta question

Convenience Software — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:06:43 -0400

Alright, so I have two questions that I have been a bit puzzled by.

First, I have seen FCF calculated in two ways. First, by starting with EBIT(1-T), subtracting change in NWC, subtracting capex and adding D&A. I have also seen it calculated starting with net income, and then subtracting change in NWC, subtracting capex and adding D&A. Can someone explain the difference, and when you would use each one? I know it has something to do with the interest tax shields, but I am not exactly sure.

Secondly, when do you use a levered beta, when would you use an unlevered beta, and when you see a beta on yahoo finance or some other financial service, is that levered or unlevered? And when "walking through a DCF" would you use levered or unlevered beta?

Thanks in advance.

Dow below 9,000

Convenience Software — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:05:28 -0400

Wow... Dow below 9,000... a year ago we were over 14,000... where does everyone see the bottom being?

Would I be crazy...?

Convenience Software — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 17:00:56 -0400

Sorry in advance for the long post, but I need some advice... Let me begin by saying I know I am getting slightly ahead of myself, but I would rather start thinking about this sooner rather than later. So I lost my summer internship in IBD when my bank went under in the spring. I managed to get another job working for a TOP Asset Management company in their Alternative Investment group, in a PE related fund. I worked 6 weeks, just myself and an MD. We get along great, he's a great boss, the lifestyle is far better than IBD and he wants me to come back and work for him when he launches the fund. I would literally be the first person working in the group besides the MD, so it would be nice to get in very early. Base pay is IBD street (65k+10k signing) and bonus will be slightly below street, but not living in NYC, so cost of living is much lower.

Piper Jaffray First Round FT Interview

Convenience Software — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:22:31 -0400

Hey Guys,
I have a first round in-person interview for FT with Piper Jaffray next week. Has anyone been through the process/have any advice or insight? Thanks in advance.

Never Lose Your BlackBerry
www.conveniencesoftware.com

An interesting NY Times article

Convenience Software — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 12:21:11 -0400

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/fashion/21dim.html?_r=1&ref=fashion&or...

People's thoughts? Personally, it seems if the comp goes down, people won't be willing to work the hours...