1. Private Equity (PE) refers to the purchase of an existing company with the intention of growing the business and increasing its value. Private equity firms typically invest in mature companies that have a proven track record of generating cash flow but, still have potential for growth. They typically focus on companies that are undervalued or that are underperforming, and use a variety of strategies to increase the value of the company, for example, cutting costs, making acquisitions and expanding into new markets.

1. Venture Capital (VC) is the practice of investing in startups and early-stage companies that have the potential for rapid growth but, have not yet reached their maximum potential and profitability. Companies that require this type of investment are often in the process of developing new products, technologies or business models. VC firms provide funding to these companies in exchange for an ownership stake, and can also provide mentorship, networking and other resources to help the companies grow.

1. Application: where the candidate submits their resumes to the bank, either through the bank's website or through a recruitment agency.
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3. Screening: The recruitment agency or banks Human Resources department will shortlist candidates based on their requirements.
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5. Interview: Candidates will generally be required to attend multiple interviews, these can range from HR interviews to meetings with the hiring manager and senior company members. The number of interviews required will depend on the level of the position applied for and the size of the company. These interviews can be performed in person, on the phone or using video conferencing.
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7. Testing: the majority of banks (and all our clients) require candidates to take aptitude tests such as numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning or case study analysis (for example, a DCF or LBO model).
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9. Offer: Successful candidates will be offered the position, they will then discuss the terms of the offer with the bank. We guide our candidates and clients through this process. All offers are normally subject to passing background checks.
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11. Background Check: these could be processed by the recruitment agency, the bank or, an external party. They typically include verification of educational and employment history, and in some cases, credit checks and/or Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS).

• The acquisition of the energy company Anadarko Petroleum by Occidental Petroleum for $38 billion
• The acquisition of the grocery store chain Whole Foods by Amazon for $13.7 billion
• The acquisition of the health insurance company Aetna by CVS Health for $69 billion
• The acquisition of the pharmaceutical company Allergan by AbbVie for $63 billion
• The acquisition of the technology company Salesforce by the software company Adobe for $15 billion

A Personal Letter Makes All the Difference!

There are usually three key elements in the first stage of a job application: the Curriculum Vitae or CV for short, the Application Form and the CV Cover Letter. It is the last of these which usually taxes the brain cells most of all. How do you write a succinct CV Cover Letter that uses just the right tone and conveys all the best aspects of your personality?

Step One: Choose the Right paper, Font and Layout.

Writing a CV Cover Letter is a professional task. This means that any old copy paper may not make the kind of impression you are looking for. You should select a slightly heavier weight than the pages you use in your photocopier but stick to the standard A4 size. Font and layout should also be drawn from the familiar repertoire of Courier, Times Roman, Arial, or whatever font you would normally use in your daily work. If you have very elegant handwriting, then by all means go ahead and craft a hand-written work of art. On the other hand, if like most people your scrawl is barely legible even at the best of times, then just type your letter neatly and sign it with a good quality gel or fountain pen.

Step Two: Maintain a Clear Focus.

As you start to write, think carefully about the three or four most important things you want to say. Don’t repeat all the details you have included in the other parts of the application, but single out just a few highlights which will hopefully mark you out as a person worth calling for interview. Say who you are (think of an up-beat phrase that describes yourself), the job you are applying for (just to keep the reader focused on the task in hand), why you are interested in the post, and what you can offer to the company. Finish with a word of thanks for reading your letter, and add a signature. Don’t launch into your life story and don’t try to be too clever. Just aim for clarity and authenticity.

Step Three: Spell Check, Re-read, Reflect and Revise!

This is perhaps the most vital part of CV Cover Letter Writing. There is nothing worse than a glaring grammar error or random spelling mistakes scattered throughout the text. Careful checking, and some revision here and there will improve your letter immensely.

Step Four: Repeat Step Three!

Yes, that’s right. You should put your letter aside for a while, sleep on it if you have time, and then read it again to check one last time for any minor flaws. Even better: ask a sensible friend to look it over for you and give some feedback. Now you can relax and send your letter off.

Guest copy: from DJG Consulting - Recruitment Paris specialising in Investment Banking jobs and executive assistant jobs

The tips that you receive before a job interview will depend upon whom you ask; but for the truly inexperienced who wish to acquire that dream job or that job that will get them by until they find their dream job - you're in need of job interview tips that will ensure you're shortlisted for the job that you want. Lucky for you, you've come to the right place.