Private Equity (and VC) Career Advice

Landing private equity jobs takes operational, financial and relationship skills and a Harvard MBA is not required to be successful. Private equity jobs provide great challenge, power (at the higher levels) and a chance to earn huge income, with the average compensation package well over $200,000 and many partners earning millions each year.

The challenge when seeking private equity jobs is not only finding the opportunity but also being well prepared for the interview and offer process. The private equity and venture capital industries continue to evolve and Job Search Digest provides you with private equity job resources that will help you find an opportunity, create your resume, and prepare for a successful interview.

Private Equity and Venture Capital Hiring Trends Report

Job Search Digest has been tracking the private equity/venture capital job market since 2002 and has established a comprehensive database documenting virtually every online job posting in this sector. The Job Search Digest Hiring Trends Report captures job opening conditions across the globe and provides an overview of the job market for finance professionals interested in Private Equity or Venture Capital. Updated quarterly, the report tracks the most important trends in the industry.

 

Private Equity and Venture Capital Compensation

There are thousands of funds and many opportunities for private equity jobs. The annual Private Equity Jobs Digest Compensation Reports are based on surveys designed to capture pay information directly from those involved in private equity and venture capital. Over the years, hundreds of partners, principals, vice presidents, associates and others from investment firms, both large and small have contributed to the compensation reports.

 

Private Equity’s New Priorities

Several years after the economic downturn began, the new framework for successful private equity firms is now in focus. Learn what it means for your career.

 

Guide to Carried Interest

Carried Interest is a percentage of a fund’s profits that managers keep on top of management fees and is a big component of the upside in a private equity compensation package. Fund managers receive both carry and a management fee, which executives feel is justified because each investment requires a lot of work to generate a profit. How that carry is shared among the firm’s team members varies widely. The Private Equity Professional’s Guide to Carried Interest helps to sort some of this out.

 

Questions and Answers on Private Equity Careers

We often get very specific questions about what it takes to start a career in private equity. Here are some of those questions from professionals looking to break into private equity and answers from private equity insiders. If you are coming from outside the industry there is hope for you!

 

3 Tips for Private Equity Resume Success

A private equity or venture capital resume needs to be focused on results and provide specific information surrounding past efforts that achieved results. To create a successful resume, here are a few tips to drive success.

 

Surviving Tough Private Equity Job Interviews

Private equity job interviews are hard to come by in this market but if you land one, you must be doing something right. If you find the interview process is dragging out – you might have a problem….

 

How to Get a Private Equity Job

Our research shows that there is no magic formula or a must-have prerequisite background. Sure, an MBA or investment banking background helps – but things are changing. This article discusses the role of private equity recruiters and how things are shifting away from a financial engineering focus.

 

Careers in Mergers and Acquisitions

An in depth interview with a partner at a boutique M&A firm. We discuss how M&A has changed recently, life in a boutique firm, war stories from the front lines of M&A, and breaking into mergers and acquisitions as a career.

 

Achieving Balance in Your Career

What is the price of working in a high-paying investment job? Why do so many wake up one morning feeling like they have become a slave to their work? We interviewed Denise Palmieri and she brought a unique point of view on what professionals in financial jobs can do to avoid such a predicament. Is it possible to hit the reset button on your career, achieve good work-personal life balance and make a living?

 

Private Equity & VC Careers Guide

The Private Equity Careers Guide will walk you through the industry and prepare you for the job search process. We have prepared this guide for to help you learn about the industry, uncover job opportunities, prepare an outstanding resume, and conduct a successful job hunt.

 

Profiles of the Largest Private Equity Firms

A list of the largest private equity firms from around the world. Each profile includes salary information, employee reviews and the latest news about each firm.

 

What is Private Equity?

The basics of private equity. This article discusses the size and scope of the industry and investment strategies employed. Primarily created for private equity beginners, much of the information will be of interest to experienced professionals as well.

 

How to Write a Private Equity Cover Letter

Your cover letter serves as a first impression with an employer. The person screening applications will spend very little time with your cover letter, so getting it right is critical to your job search. This article will help you craft a cover letter that hits the mark every time.

 

Working with a Private Equity Recruiter

There is a lot to be gained from working with a private equity recruiter. The trick is getting the attention of the right recruiter. This article discusses the different types of recruiters, what to look for, and questions to ask before selecting a recruiter and moving forward in your job search.

 

An Overview of Private Equity Careers

A discussion of the types of private firms, some of the largest firms, the differences between venture capital and leverage buyouts, industry changes and the skills needed in private equity jobs.

 

Understanding the Venture Capital Industry

A discussion of the venture capital business model, exit strategies, venture capital firm structure and challenges the industry faces.

 

What You Need to Know About Venture Capital Jobs

General partner openings are rare and represent relative few venture capital job opportunities to industry outsiders. There are many other positions available in the VC industry. A discussion of entry points for a venture capital career, the VC career path, how to keep your career on track.

 

Successful Networking for a Venture Capital Job

The venture capital industry is absolutely a game of who you know, not what you know. Effectively building your network is the key to landing a venture capital job interview.

 

Mastering the Venture Capital Job Interview

Landing a venture capital job interview is half the battle. Once your interview is scheduled, you need to prepare for the interview so you can demonstrate that you are the right person for the job.

 

How to get a Job in Venture Capital

You need to create your own luck when it comes to landing a venture capital job. Here are some tips to get you started.

 

How to Do Your Homework Before Accepting a Job in Venture Capital

Developing a successful, long-term venture capital career means finding the ideal fit, both for the firm and you. Making the wrong choice early in your career can be difficult to recover from in the venture capital industry.