Private equity "chat"

Hi I know the ceo/foudner of a small unknown private equity company and I asked him if I could intern in the private equity division over the summer. I am still an undergraduate and I want to get as much pe experience as possible as an undergrad.
I have a informal telephone interview with one of the partners.
Is it likely to be technical?
What should I prepare for?

3 Comments
 

If it's a telephone interview, I wouldn't worry too much. It's probably just an inquiry about yourself, some fit questions, etc. If there are any technical questions inside, I doubt it'd be too heavy anyway, probably just a small trick question like NPV vs. IRR. Nonetheless, keep yourself updated on the markets, especially past high-profile PE deals like the Dell buyout by Silver Lake.

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Best Response
straightnochaser

If it's a telephone interview, I wouldn't worry too much. It's probably just an inquiry about yourself, some fit questions, etc. If there are any technical questions inside, I doubt it'd be too heavy anyway, probably just a small trick question like NPV vs. IRR. Nonetheless, keep yourself updated on the markets, especially past high-profile PE deals like the Dell buyout by Silver Lake.

At a lower middle market PE fund (which this sounds like), the Dell/Silver Lake buyout would have absolutely zero relevance.

You are better off doing research on the firm and maybe digging into a few industries they are active in. Understand how PE works, what junior staff do, what drives fund returns, where they get their capital, etc.

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