Scam interview at a search fund?

Background: Freshman at low semi-target, looking at search funds for a summer internship. I know I'm late to the game, so I'm going to take whatever I'll get, but I have only heard back from one fund that I applied to. 

The guy has good credentials and a solid background, and I got emailed for the interview process. It includes a small case study (which I expected), but the next two parts are odd. I have to find a potential acquisition in the industry and report it to him. I also have to interview someone in that industry and collect some information about their company (including their contact information). I'm going to do it as I need the internship, but is it possible that this guy is just trying to use me for free labor instead of hiring me? It feels odd that I would have to cold call before he would even take me as an intern. Thoughts on this? I don't think the fund has any deal history yet.

4 Comments
 

Agree, they look at tons and tons of companies. Their game is volume and u finding one company will not even be a big help. They are looking for you to pick a company that fits their thesis (if they r a HC fund they want you to realize that and find a HC company). Good luck on ur interview.

 

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