What A Private Equity Associate At Apex Capital Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Private Equity
Jerry, a Private Equity Associate, wished for more practical knowledge before starting, noting that "academic wise versus real life practice is...very different." The biggest gap was understanding the day-to-day tasks, such as "creating pitch decks," and the nuances of formatting and bank expectations, which would have lessened the steep learning curve.
Private Equity, Finance, Investment Banking, Financial Modeling, Pitch Deck Creation
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Jerry Zhou
Private Equity Associate
Apex Capital Growth Partners
UCLA, 2012
UCLA Anderson School of Management, MBA Candidate
Economics
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Finance
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. The significant difference between academic learning and real-world practice in private equity.
2. The importance of understanding the nuances of daily tasks such as creating pitch decks and formatting them according to industry standards and bank expectations.
3. The steep learning curve, especially for those without a corporate background, and the value of prior knowledge about day-to-day activities in the role.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone had told you before you entered the industry?
Before an MBA, they prepare you well for the technical aspects. They really hone in on financial concepts and all that. But when you enter the actual position, it's very different.
Academic learning versus real-life practice has many nuances, and the work is quite different. I wish someone had told me specifically what you do on a day-to-day basis. This includes creating pitch decks and how to format them.
I also wish I'd known what banks typically look for when formatting, and the reasoning behind industry formatting. Learning about all these nuances beforehand would have lessened the learning curve somewhat.
This would have allowed me to focus better on other things. Especially since I didn't have a corporate background going in. If I had learned that stuff before, it would have helped with my personal learning curve.
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