Interview cheat sheet

I am looking to build a private equity interview cheat sheet. Especially I would like to have a few bullet points analyzing the pros, risks, and further DD questions for a potential new investment. 

What I am thinking is to take a very high-level understanding of different business models across industries and sub-industries that could be useful to talk about when making a new investment or going through an interview process.

For example:

(SaaS)

Pros: High margins, recurring revenue, sticky customer base, etc
Further questions: Subscription vs. repeat? Churn and cohort churn (especially at the end of the contract)? Average remaining contract life? etc.

KPIs: Unit Economics, CAC, LTV, ARR, Churn, etc.

If anyone could add to this and also pitch in by building a similar framework for other industries/subsectors to "sound" like a smart investor when looking at a new potential investment.

What is attractive and what are the main risks in advertising? e-commerce? consumer? Cybersecurity?Edtech? Education? Healthtech? Supply Chain? fintech? etc 

2 Comments
 

Porro qui cupiditate quae aut est voluptate qui. In est minus harum aperiam. Suscipit ipsum ratione dicta odio laudantium sed in. Labore accusantium cupiditate similique error consequatur omnis. Dolor quaerat esse exercitationem adipisci corrupti. Qui et velit ut voluptatum. Nulla delectus ut est nemo qui temporibus.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Bain Capital 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.3%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Ardian 98.5%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (98) $365
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (104) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (235) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (411) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (272) $124
  • Intern/Summer Associate (38) $81
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (355) $62
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”