Vault Career Guide to Private Equity Career Guide by Mike Martinez, Staff of Vault

Introduction     1
What is Private Equity?     1
The Scoop     3
Private Equity Fundamentals     5
Who are Private Equity Investors?     5
The Role of the Private Equity Firm     5
The Modern Private Equity Firm     7
The Big Names     8
A Look Inside Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.     12
A Brief History of Private Equity     15
The Beginning     15
Greed is Good: Modern Private Equity     15
The Summer of 2007     17
Going Public     19
Looking to the Future     20
How Private Equity Works     21
Creating a Fund     21
Finding a Target     22
Making the Deal     24
Getting Financing     25
Unlocking the Company's Value     27
The Exit Strategy: Return on Investment     28
The Players in Private Equity     30
The Top Deal-Makers     33
Famous Big Deals     35
Getting Hired     39
What Are Private Equity Firms Looking For?     41
Education     41
Experience     42
Personality Type     42
Finding the Job     45
Getting in the Door     46
Sample Resumes     52
The Long Way Around     55
Job Hunting and Networking     57
The Interview     59
Sample Expertise Questions     60
Sample Knowledge Questions     60
Sample Personality Questions     61
Sample Vision Questions     62
Your Turn: Questions You Should Ask     63
On the Job     65
Life as a Private Equity Specialist     67
Lifestyle     67
Pay and Benefits     68
Opportunities for Advancement     69
Day in the Life: Entry-level     70
Day in the Life: Researcher     71
Day in the Life: Fund Raiser and Investor Relations     72
Day in the Life: Deal-Maker     74
Day in the Life: Portfolio Company Manager     75
Private Equity Career Paths     77
The Typical Career Path     77
Within the Private Equity Firm     78
Leaving the Private Equity Firm     79
Continuing Education and Improvement     81
Final Analysis     83
Appendix     85
Helpful Web Sites     87
Firm Web Sites     87
Recommended Reading     89
About the Author     91