Infra PE recruiting / prep

What is your background? If you are an infra banker, your preparation would look really different vs. if you work in another sector. I switched from REPE and did the following:

• Reach out to HHs with a story on why Infra and firm preferences
• Reach out to firms in the space that you haven't come across through HHs
• Prepare basic modelling tests - I found all tests I did fairly simple/intuitive but not being used to Infra modelling vs. RE, I did struggle with certain differences (especially debt facilities/refis, which you don't care about when looking at shorter hold periods in non-infra PE)
• Read research reports from IBs on 2 or 3 sectors. You don't need to know every industry in and out but I was asked in virtually every interview what trends I see in the Infra space and what sector I would invest in
• Don't forget your story and why your joining this fund would mean that "it all comes together" for you. I mentioned that I had tried to get into the Infra space before but ended up in RE teams in BBs
• Focus on culture - infra funds are generally a bit nerdier than e.g. RE and think more long-term, i.e. they really want you to stick around (in my experience). Both firms I got offers from asked me back in because they were worried about fit (I never had any such discussions in the BBs I worked at) - interestingly, one fund thought I was too aggressive given my BB background (i.e. too American/cut-throat), whereas the other thought I was too soft.

Note I'm based in Europe so recruiting here is much less structured than in the US. I actually got one offer through a HH but accepted an offer from a firm that I contacted myself.