Beware ZT Corporate Internship Experience

I’ll preface this by saying this was not through their Houston HQ, which runs a more formal program, but rather a regional office setup. It is still useful context for anyone looking at the firm.

ZT Corporate puts candidates through multiple interview rounds as if it is a standard private equity internship. Compensation is not mentioned. Only later on does it turn out to be unpaid, with the usual line about possibly transitioning into something paid down the road. Interns are placed on live deal work including modeling, research, and drafting IC decks, but with no pay, no real structure, and no feedback when the arrangement ends.

Instead of disclosing upfront that the role is unpaid, it is revealed much further into the process, which makes the whole thing feel less like an internship and more like free consulting.

Watch out.