S&T to Private Equity Interview Question response

Hey Guys,

I have an interview with an organization that places juniors in finance internships. Do you think the following response makes sense..

Interviewer: You mentioned in your application that you would eventually like to get into Private Equity in developing markets in Africa. Why are you pursuing S&T right now instead of IB or Equity research?

Response: I realize that work in IBD would be more relevant to PE than S&T, which is why it is the typical track people pursued by people getting into PE. But I feel that in IBD, I will not get significant exposure to companies and frontier and developing markets as I would in such a desk in S&T.

Its bs but can I say anything better for these PE interviews?

8 Comments
 

That's a terrible answer. Why did you put that in your application? If you didn't put that in the application, you wouldn't have to think up some BS answer.

 

Why not research or investment management instead? Kinda lost on the S&T...

[quote]The HBS guys have MAD SWAGGER. They frequently wear their class jackets to boston bars, strutting and acting like they own the joint. They just ooze success, confidence, swagger, basically attributes of alpha males.[/quote]
 

just to clarify.. When I was writing up the application. I knew I wanted to do S&T. On a section that asked about future goals, I mentioned that I was really interested in Developing markets,, which I am.. cause I'm from Africa,, and that I wanted to get involved in PE/VC in that region. I didn't know at the time that there was no real trajectory from S&T to PE .. I was stupid. When I go in for the interview, what should I say if they bring it up?

"Many are stubborn in pursuit of the path they have chosen, few in pursuit of the goal" - Nietzsche
 
Best Response
mossesgetchjust to clarify.. When I was writing up the application. I knew I wanted to do S&T. On a section that asked about future goals, I mentioned that I was really interested in Developing markets,, which I am.. cause I'm from Africa,, and that I wanted to get involved in PE/VC in that region. I didn't know at the time that there was no real trajectory from S&T to PE .. I was stupid. When I go in for the interview, what should I say if they bring it up?
Maybe you can tell them you want to do VC that is focused on funding start up investment banks in Africa? This is a tough one. Or, just tell them you meant angel investing in Africa with your personal money after you retire from a long career in sales and trading?
 

Honestly the angel investing thing may be the best way to approach this question without sounding like you literally have no idea what the difference between trading and banking is.

MM IB -> Corporate Development -> Strategic Finance
 

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