Last updated on Mar 19, 2024

You’re interviewing for a Private Equity job. How can you show off your teamwork skills?

If you want to land a Private Equity (PE) job, you need to demonstrate more than just your financial skills and industry knowledge. You also need to show that you can work well with others in a fast-paced and demanding environment. PE firms value teamwork because it is essential for sourcing, evaluating, and executing deals, as well as managing portfolio companies and creating value. In this article, you will learn how to show off your teamwork skills in a PE interview, and what to avoid.

1 Prepare relevant examples

One of the best ways to show off your teamwork skills is to prepare specific examples of how you collaborated with others in your previous or current roles. You should use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and highlight your contributions and outcomes. For example, you could talk about how you worked with a team to conduct due diligence on a potential target, how you resolved a conflict with a colleague or client, or how you supported a portfolio company in a turnaround situation. Make sure your examples are relevant to the PE industry and the role you are applying for.

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Nikola Markovic

Customer Operations Lead
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The best way to represent the teamwork skills is by sharing your teamwork experience. Collaboration with others is the crucial thing, no matter how lonely your job might appear. That is especially so with big companies, where each individual represents a part of a greater picture.

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2 Showcase your soft skills

Demonstrating your teamwork skills during the interview can be done by highlighting your soft skills. Soft skills are interpersonal and communication abilities that help you work well with others. PE firms look for leadership, adaptability, problem-solving, and communication skills in particular. For example, you can demonstrate leadership by talking about how you led or influenced a team, delegated tasks, or motivated others. Adaptability can be shown by discussing how you handled changes, challenges, or uncertainties in your projects, or how you learned new skills or tools. Problem-solving can be demonstrated by describing how you approached complex or ambiguous problems, used data and logic, or implemented solutions. Communication skills can be highlighted through speaking clearly and confidently with appropriate language and tone, listening actively, and asking relevant questions.

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3 Demonstrate your fit and enthusiasm

A third way to show off your teamwork skills is to demonstrate your fit and enthusiasm for the PE firm and the role. Researching the firm's history, strategy, portfolio, performance, and culture is a great way to tailor your answers and questions. Additionally, expressing your interest in the firm and the role by explaining why you want to work there, what attracts you to PE, and what skills and experience you can bring will help you stand out. Lastly, building rapport with your interviewers by being polite, respectful, friendly, and showing off your personality and humor will make a positive impression. PE firms want to hire people who share their vision, values, and culture, and who are passionate about the industry and the work.

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4 Avoid common mistakes

Finally, you should be aware of some common mistakes that can ruin your chances of displaying your teamwork skills. Such mistakes include being arrogant or aggressive, such as boasting about your achievements, interrupting or talking over others, or criticizing or blaming others. Additionally, you should not be passive or timid, by being too quiet, shy, or reserved, or avoiding taking responsibility or initiative. Additionally, you should not be vague or unprepared; providing generic or irrelevant answers, or struggling to provide details or examples.

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