How do you decide which firms to interview for without really knowing their culture?
Getting a bunch of off cycle opportunities but having trouble deciding which firms I'd actually want to work at. I have sector and fund size preferences in mind, but I'm still wary of applying to any place without a clear idea of what working there will be like. Some of these firms are well-known, so I can do a WSO search to read up on them. Others seem interesting but are more obscure, so I have no idea what I would be getting myself into. I've tried contacting some people at these firms on LinkedIn, but most don't respond, so I'm not sure what to do. To those that went through a similar process, did you just take first round interviews with these firms to get a sense of what working there would be like? Any advice? Thanks.
If you have sector and size preferences, you should be able to whittle that into a discrete list of firms you’d want to work at.
From there, start by messaging a current Associate. They may not be 100% transparent about culture but you’ll be able to tell if they’re enthusiastic / authentic when they say it’s a good place to work, and that will speak volumes.
It’s really an advantageous thing to do with off cycle recruiting. You can also ask about fund strategy and example investments to learn more about the fund. Once they do start interviewing, you can talk to the associate you know and tell them you’re interested. At the minimum they should kick your resume and a note over to HR and get you a first round. Then since you already know about the fund, you are advantaged over other candidates because you can be more tailored with your interview prep, which always shines through in interviews.
There’s very little you can tell from first round interviews. Usually you’re doing mutual introductions (not that insightful), answering questions about yourself (not insightful), technicals (not insightful) and then your chance to ask questions, which is rarely insightful since you usually get 5 minutes to barely scratch the surface of any meaningful discussion of culture.
Don’t trust WSO gossip about funds. It’s rarely a nuanced assessment of the pros and cons of working at a certain fund.
Thanks! What do you recommend in the case I can't find any current associate to speak to?
Try another one, or try a former. Former can still tell you about culture, fund, and interview process, but won’t be helpful in kicking your resume to HR obviously.
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