Meeting PE Partner at His Office

Hi all,

I'm an IB analyst who, through the founder of the PE firm (personal connection), got connected to a partner. It's a big shop and the meeting is next week at their office. Have had a few calls with others.

  1. What should my expectations be for the tone of this meeting (very informal, or like a 1st round?)
  2. What would be some good questions / topics to explore?
  3. Best way to prepare and any other intangible advice / intuitive suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

whip out yours and tell him its bigger.

doesn't sound like its a formal interview, just a casual meet up. you already know this but treat it like a first round however be flexible enough to informally "shoot the shit"

questions: ask him about the firm, how they make investment decisions, etc etc. ask professional and personal questions about himself and the firm

prepare? read on the deals he's done but probably wouldn't dive into this if he wants to keep conversation informal

 
Best Response

Ask him questions that show the three things that matter in any interview: you're (a) smart, (b) hardworking, and (c) likable.

Do your homework and have insightful questions to ask about how the asset class is evolving. Will the fee model evolve as LPs get increasingly sophisticated and continue to push back against GPs? Has the increased attention and resources LPs are dedicating to direct investing hurt fund flows at all? Will changes in the tax code affect investment strategy at all?

Look as deeply into his background as possible. Was he someone who did 2-4 years in banking before moving into PE? Did he get an MBA? Did he spend time in industry before moving into an investing role? Ask questions that demonstrate you're doing your best to figure out what skills and experiences can lead to success as a private equity investor.

This isn't rocket science. You did the hard part by getting the meeting. Show up ready to listen. Don't memorize a set list of questions that you jerkily transition between after every answer he gives; be agile enough to ask good follow-up questions if he gave a cool answer. Keep him engaged, be humble, and exude warmth.

I am permanently behind on PMs, it's not personal.
 

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