HarbourVest Interview Questions

7 total interview insight submissions
Interview Experience (91%)

The Interview Experience is a score from 1 star (very negative) to 5 stars (very positive) generated based on the Interview Insights at this company.

The number you see in the middle of the doughnut pie chart is the simple average of these scores. If you hover over the various sections of the donut, you will see the % breakdown of each score given.

The percentile score in the title is calculated across the entire Company Database and uses an adjusted score based on Bayesian Estimates (to account for companies that have few interview insights). Simply put, as a company gets more reviews, the confidence of a "true score" increases so it is pulled closer to its simple average and away from the average of the entire dataset.

4
  • Very Negative
  • Negative
  • Neutral
  • Positive
  • Very Positive
Interview Difficulty (75%)

The Interview Difficulty is a score ranging from very difficult (red) to very easy (green) generated based on the Interview Insights at this company.

The number you see in the middle of the doughnut pie chart is the simple average of these scores. The higher the number, the more difficult the interviews on average. If you hover over the various sections of the doughnut, you will see the % breakdown of each score given.

The percentile score in the title is calculated across the entire Company Database and uses an adjusted score based on Bayesian Estimates (to account for companies that have few interview insights). Simply put, as a company gets more insights, the confidence of a "true score" increases so it is pulled closer to its simple average and away from the average of the entire data set.

2.7
  • Very Easy
  • Easy
  • Average
  • Difficult
  • Very Difficult
% Interns - FT Offers (68%)

The % of Interns Getting a Full Time Offer chart is meant to provide a realistic estimate of the hiring practices of the company based on the reviews at this company.

The number you see in the middle of the doughnut pie chart is the simple average of these scores. If you hover over the various sections of the doughnut, you will see the % breakdown of each score given.

The percentile score in the title is calculated across the entire Company Database and uses an adjusted score based on Bayesian Estimates (to account for companies that have few reviews). Simply put, as a company gets more reviews, the confidence of a "true score" increases so it is pulled closer to the simple company average and away from the average of the entire data set.

20%
  • 0%
  • 10%
  • 20%
  • 30%
  • 40%
  • 50%
  • 60%
  • 70%
  • 80%
  • 90%
  • 100%

Interviews at HarbourVest

Filter by:
Year
Job Title
Group/Division
Location
Experience
Difficulty
Assistant
Year 2022
Job Title Assistant
Group/Division Private Equity
Location Boston
Experience
Positive
Difficulty
Easy
Intern
Year 2022
Job Title Intern
Group/Division Operations
Location Boston
Experience
Very Positive
Difficulty
Easy
1st Year Associate
Year 2020
Job Title 1st Year Associate
Group/Division Generalist
Location Boston
Experience
Positive
Difficulty
Average
3rd+ Year Associate
Year 2021
Job Title 3rd+ Year Associate
Group/Division Generalist
Location Boston
Experience
Very Positive
Difficulty
Average
1st Year Associate
Year 2016
Job Title 1st Year Associate
Group/Division Investments
Location Boston
Experience
Neutral
Difficulty
Average
1st Year Associate
Year 2013
Job Title 1st Year Associate
Group/Division Private Equity
Location Boston
Experience
Neutral
Difficulty
Average
1st Year Associate
Year 2008
Job Title 1st Year Associate
Group/Division Secondaries
Location Boston
Experience
Positive
Difficulty
Average

Interview Questions & Answers - HarbourVest Examples

Operations Interview - Private Equity

Anonymous employee in Boston
Interviewed: October 2022
Outcome
Accepted Offer
Interview Source
Applied Online
Length of Process
1-2 months
Application
Phone Interview
1 on 1 Interview
Background Check
Interview
Started with an HR screening phone call. The actual process was three 30-minute 1-on-1s with managers from the department. The questions were all behavioral and focused on what skills I learned at my prior jobs. There were a few questions about systems previously utilized and general knowledge, but overall very laidback.
Interview Questions
Why do you want this role?

Intern Interview - Operations

Anonymous employee in Boston
Interviewed: September 2022
Outcome
Accepted Offer
Interview Source
College / University / On Campus Recruiting
Length of Process
1-2 months
Application
Phone Interview
Background Check
Interview
Focused on resume and behavioral questions. Two interviews back to back with current employees. Very open to questions
Interview Questions
Questions were behavioral based

Associate Interview - Generalist

Anonymous interview candidate in Boston
Interviewed: April 2020
Outcome
No Offer
Interview Source
Recruiter
Length of Process
Less than 1 month
Application
Group Interview
Interview
First round was a 2-on-1 interview with some Associates on the team, and second round was another 2-on-1 with VPs on the team. Both started out behavioral and then became technical.
Interview Questions
Beyond the usual technicals, there were some more theoretical PE questions that actually had fairly easy answers, but made you overthink them. For example, would you rather invest in a portfolio of 5 companies or 15 companies?

Associate Interview - Generalist

Anonymous interview candidate in Boston
Interviewed: April 2021
Outcome
No Offer
Interview Source
Applied Online
Length of Process
3-4 months
Application
Phone Interview
1 on 1 Interview
Skills Test
Interview
HR phone screen, followed by several one on one phone interviews with VPs, principals, and partners. Finally a case study
Interview Questions
No unexpected questions. Focused on experience and deals

Associate Interview - Investments

Anonymous interview candidate in Boston
Interviewed: February 2016
Outcome
No Offer
Interview Source
Applied Online
Length of Process
1-2 months
Application
Phone Interview
1 on 1 Interview
Interview
Interview process consisted of a phone screen with an associate followed by eight 1-on-1 interviews at their home office.
Interview Questions
Why is Warren Buffet a good investor? Have you read Benjamin Graham's book on investing?



What is happening in the private equity markets today? Tell me as much as you know.



Tell me what you talked about with the other interviewers.




What did you do between the phone interview and today to learn more about the firm?



Why primary funds investing when you seem a lot more enthusiastic when you talk about your direct deals?

Fund Interview - Private Equity

Anonymous interview candidate in Boston
Interviewed: April 2013
Outcome
No Offer
Interview Source
Staffing Agency
Length of Process
1-2 months
Application
Phone Interview
Interview
Mostly behavior interview where you describe your personal and academic background, deal experienceMostly behavior interview where you describe your personal and academic background, deal experience
Interview Questions
General investment preferences and rationaleGeneral investment preferences and rationaleGeneral investment preferences and rationale

Associate Interview - Secondaries

Anonymous interview candidate in Boston
Interviewed: February 2008
Outcome
No Offer
Interview Source
Other
Length of Process
1-2 months
Application
Phone Interview
1 on 1 Interview
Personality Test
Interview
One phone interview followed by in person interview day. Impressive group and everyone I interacted with was friendly. Due to the specific opportunity being for their secondaries fund, it was clear that they were focused on someone with a very technical/analytical background. Firm has a great reputation and the offices were extremely nice. Mentioned that occasionally people will be able to transition from the secondaries fund to the direct investment fund.
Interview Questions
Please tell us about your investment banking experience...what you have enjoyed and what you have not.
Why are you interested in joining a secondaries firm compared to joining a traditional private equity firm?