3 Private Equity Superdays Without Offers. What Am I Doing Wrong?
I have had 3 superdays for private equity firms so far, all without offers.
- PE firm #1 - my fault: I stumbled on the paper LBO
- PE firm #2 - they gave the feedback that based on my biomedical engineering background, they weren't sure if I was going to stick around in PE, or use them as a stepping stone - they felt I did not explain rationale well enough
- PE firm #3 - no feedback
I have another private equity superday coming up this Friday, and I don't know what to do. In my past superdays, they have been mainly (or entirely) behavioral questions. They know we are competent at this point because we have passed the modeling test. Honestly, it feels like a personality test, and I don't know how to prepare for that. The private equity firm I'm interviewing for also has less diversity than a country club, and we don't have any shared colleges or companies.
Does anyone have any advice?
ChatGPT post
I just formatted it to be easy to read lol. It does look at bit ChatGPT like. Seriously though, what am I doing wrong?
On one hand, it feels like these superdays are just "vibe checks" to see which candidate they get along with the best. Which candidate they'd like to work 14 hours a day with. So maybe I'm just not very likable...
On the other hand, there's plenty of unlikable personalities in private equity, so I honestly don't know what gives.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, it sounds like you've identified some areas for improvement and are seeking advice on how to better prepare for your upcoming private equity superday. Here are some tailored suggestions to help you tackle the challenges you've faced:
Addressing the Paper LBO Issue:
Conveying Commitment to PE:
No Feedback from PE Firm #3:
Preparing for Behavioral Questions:
Dealing with Lack of Diversity:
Networking:
Remember, each superday is a fresh opportunity to showcase your skills and fit for the firm. Be confident, be yourself, and let your preparation shine through. Good luck on your upcoming superday!
Sources: Ask an ex-IB MD anything........., Superday Related Advice, PE SUPERDAY, Superday Advice From a Tired Interviewer, Two Superdays Next Week--Advice On How To Answer Two Possible Questions
I like to think super days boil down to preparation and confidence / attitude.
For preparation, besides knowing your past deals and technicals, take some time and think about what the firm is looking for (investment style, culture, etc) and how you fit. Then prepare 1 or 2 stories that highlight either some skill or an experience that shaped you to be a good match with the firm. Since a lot of the non-technical questions ultimately drive at "are you a fit?", it's likely you can shoe horn those stories to answer multiple behavioral questions.
Hopefully the exercise above also inspires you to believe you truly are a strong fit. Exude that confidence when you walk into your superday. Be eager to tell your stories / answer technical questions because you know you are a great fit for the role.
Finally I think it's helpful to remind yourself to have gratitude about the opportunity. Not many people make it this far in their career -- even less to the superday at a PE fund. Yes some luck but also a lot of hard work was necessary to get you where you are. Be proud of yourself, keep an open mind and enjoy the opportunity to meet some new people.
Best of luck man! You'll do great
Thank you, really appreciate it!
Since I'm a consultant, I'll memorize things like how we sized TAM, market growth, model methodology, along with basic stuff like EBITDA and EBITDA margins of the business. I'll also do a bit of prep around paper LBOs (in case they do one) and common questions like how $10 of depreciation flows through 3-statements.
For the non-technical questions (which have been the vast majority of my previous superdays), can you clarify what you mean by preparing 1 or 2 stories? In my experience, the questions have been more "tell me about a deal" or "did you agree with the investment decision?" or "what is an interesting area within X sector?" rather than "tell me about a time you were in a challenging situation." I suppose it wouldn't hurt to prep a story to answer questions like that.
Anyway, just want to see if you think this is a reasonable approach, and if there's anything else I should be aware of
PM me if you want a mock interview. No charge
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