I have a case study for a PE firm coming up. They said it would be a 4 hour case focusing more on data analysis and synthesizing information. I don't believe it is an LBO because they are giving me another 24-hour LBO plus presentation later on.
Has anyone encountered this before? What should I expect?
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
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This is becoming more and more common. Data analysis is a crucial skill that many associates struggles with early on. You’ll likely be given a dump of customer data in excel and told to summarize any key insights. I’d focus on analyzing different segments and cohorts of data. The key metrics you’ll want to focus on depends on the vertical you’re interviewing for data you’re provided
Thanks its manufacturing based. So I’m assuming may need to brush up on pivot tables etc. I do know python but for a 4 hour case study, but I may just stick to excel given the time limit.
Any resources you are aware of where I can do a quick run through?
Firms will want to see your ability in excel, so I’d focus there. Asimplemodel.com had a paid data analysis course that I went through and found moderately helpful for basic data analysis. If I were you, I’d just go on YouTube and look up examples of customer data analysis and cohort analysis. Repetition is key, along with developing an understanding of what you’re actually solving for.
Thanks appreciate it
One last question for. Do you think it'll more likely be a P&l / comps / analyst estimates and I have to do ratio analysis? Or is it more likely a customer data set? I realize its probably different across platforms, but want to avoid getting reps in for the wrong thing
Not sure how a PE firm would be testing you on ratio analysis. You should be able to calculate the majority of relevant ratios when given a p&l in your head or with pen & paper pretty quickly. Or just in excel. I’m almost 99% confident that it’ll likely be some type of customer or even supplier data set you’ll have to draw conclusions from. Again, it’ll vary based on the industry verticals you’re interviewing for.
I wouldn’t kill yourself trying to prepare either, as you won’t truly know what you’re getting until you start. Actually cutting and analyzing data in excel is the easy part. When given any type of data, even financials, the key is knowing the right questions to ask and things to look for. Hopefully that’s helpful
Yeah thats very helpful appreciate and the response on the 4th. Makes me feel better as you're right its difficult to really know exactly what they will provide. I'm being given 4 hours - I feel like that's a solid amount of time to digest the data and write down some decent thoughts even if my pivot table skills are a bit slower than the rest of excel
Best of luck, but 4 hours seems like more than enough time no matter what it is.
Pivot table is likely the easiest way but there are ways to manipulate data in excel to do cohort analysis or just segmentation without pivot tables as well, just an fyi. Report back how you end up doing and the general format. Data analysis in the context of PE diligence is one of the least talked about and practiced topics (like you previously mentioned) but one of the most important imo. When I first started in my Tech / Services group, I had cut up multiple datasets to analyze cohorts and retention data before even diving into my first full beast of an operating model for a deal
How did the case study go? was it analyzing supplier/customer information?
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