What does it mean when firms say "we want to see how you think"

In PE/HF case study interviews, what do you mean when you say "we want to see how you think"? Are you expecting some kind of outside-the-box thinking (which is hard to achieve given the lack of experience)? Are you looking at the logic in their argument?

 

Same with when firms say they are looking for not only econ/STEM majors but also poli sci/humanities majors because supposedly they would think "differently". How much of that claim is valid?

 
Most Helpful

It's how you approach the answer. 

For example - investing in a residential solar panel installer.  Assuming financials are fine, business wise thinking about it as renewable energy strong industry tailwinds, pass through etc. etc. would be a pretty poor answer if you stopped there. 

If you touched on it being basically a commoditized roofing company with low barriers to entry - answer gets a bit better. Lastly including regulatory, ie thinking through residential solar tax credits and change in administration and those dynamics can make the answer much more well rounded.

 

Labore quis labore ipsum beatae quis recusandae nisi. Deleniti at eum facere dolore minus. Et ex vel nihil consequatur. Nihil tempora labore excepturi est eligendi.

Dolores itaque dolorem quo corrupti qui necessitatibus enim. Harum corrupti aperiam voluptates aut impedit. Et architecto exercitationem et voluptas et tempora rerum minus.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Blackstone Group 99.0%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.4%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 97.9%
  • Bain Capital 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.4%
  • Ardian 97.9%
  • Bain Capital 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Bain Capital 99.0%
  • Blackstone Group 98.4%
  • Warburg Pincus 97.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (22) $569
  • Vice President (92) $362
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (90) $280
  • 2nd Year Associate (205) $268
  • 1st Year Associate (387) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (29) $154
  • 2nd Year Analyst (83) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (246) $122
  • Intern/Summer Associate (32) $82
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (314) $59
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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Kenny_Powers_CFA's picture
Kenny_Powers_CFA
98.8
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”