20 KKR Interview Questions and Answers

As one of the world’s largest alternative asset managers, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) is always looking for talented individuals to join its team. If you’re hoping to land a job at KKR, you’ll need to be prepared to answer some tough questions during your interview.

In this article, we’ll give you a rundown of some of the most common KKR interview questions, so you can go into your interview with confidence. We’ll also provide some sample answers to help you get started.

KKR Interview Process

The interview process at KKR can be long and difficult, but it is also very competitive. It typically starts with a resume screening, followed by a HireVue, and then two rounds of Zoom interviews. If you make it past the initial stages, you will likely have to complete a case study and/or a brainteaser/math assessment. The final stage is usually a Superday, where you will meet with multiple higher-ups in the company.

1. Why do you want to work at KKR?

This question is a great way to show your enthusiasm for the company and its values. When you answer, make sure you highlight what attracted you to KKR in the first place.

Example: “I want to work at KKR because of the innovative culture that it has created. I have read about how KKR’s founders were pioneers in private equity investing, and I am inspired by their commitment to excellence. I also love the idea of working with other talented individuals who are committed to making an impact on the world.”

2. What differentiates KKR from other private equity firms?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the company and its culture. You can use this time to highlight any unique aspects of KKR that you are familiar with, such as its investment strategy or how it treats employees.

Example: “KKR has a reputation for being one of the most innovative private equity firms in the industry. For example, I read about how they were the first firm to offer their portfolio companies employee stock ownership plans. This shows me that they care about more than just making money. They want to create long-term value for both investors and employees.”

3. How would you describe the culture of the company?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your cultural fit. They want to know if you will be able to adapt to the company’s culture and whether it aligns with your own values. To answer this question, think about what you’ve read or heard about KKR’s culture. Then, describe how your personality and work style would fit in at the company.

Example: “I have read that KKR has a very collaborative culture. I am someone who thrives on teamwork and collaboration. I enjoy working with others to solve problems and find solutions. In my last role, I worked as part of a team to develop new marketing strategies for our client. We all had different ideas, but we were able to come together and create something unique.”

4. Tell me about an investment that you have seen KKR make in the past year and why you think it was a good choice for them.

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the company and how you can contribute to its success. When answering this question, it’s important to be specific about what KKR has done recently and why you think it was a good choice for them.

Example: “I saw that KKR made an investment in a small startup called XYZ Corp. I know that they have been looking for new ways to expand their business, so when I heard that KKR had invested in them, I thought it was a smart move because of their expertise in growing businesses.”

5. In what ways does KKR’s culture differ from your previous employer?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you’re a good fit for KKR’s culture. You should highlight similarities and differences between your previous employer and KKR, as well as how you would adjust to these changes.

Example: “KKR has a very similar culture to my previous employer in that it values hard work and innovation. However, I think KKR is more collaborative than my last company because of its size. At my last job, we were all working on our own projects, but at KKR, there are many opportunities to collaborate with other employees.”

6. Describe a time when you had to deal with a difficult co-worker, how did you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle conflict and challenges at work. Use examples from your past experience to highlight your problem-solving skills, communication skills and teamwork abilities.

Example: “In my previous role as a financial analyst, I had a coworker who was constantly late for meetings and often missed important deadlines. At first, I tried to be patient with them because everyone makes mistakes sometimes. However, after several weeks of this behavior, I decided it was time to have a conversation with them about their performance.

I scheduled a meeting with them during our lunch break so we could talk in private. During the meeting, I explained that while I understood they were new to the company, I needed them to improve their performance or risk losing their job. They apologized and promised to do better. After that, I checked in on them every week to make sure they were keeping up with their responsibilities.”

7. I noticed on your resume that you recently completed an internship. What skills did you gain from that experience?

An internship is a great way to gain experience in the field and learn more about what you enjoy. Employers ask this question to see if you gained any skills that would be useful for their company. When answering, think of one or two skills you learned during your internship that could help you succeed at KKR.

Example: “During my internship, I learned how to manage multiple projects at once. This skill has helped me stay organized and prioritize tasks. It also taught me how to work with others and communicate effectively.”

8. If a client asked you for information that you were not sure of, how would you respond?

This question is an opportunity to show your problem-solving skills and ability to learn quickly. You can answer this question by giving a specific example of when you encountered a similar situation in the past, how you researched it and what information you were able to find.

Example: “When I was working as an investment analyst at my previous company, a client asked me for information about a particular stock that we did not have on our database. I told them that I would look into it and get back to them with more information within 24 hours. The next day, I found out that the stock had been removed from the market due to fraud allegations. I apologized to the client and explained that I could no longer provide them with any information.”

9. Can you tell me about a time when you worked well under pressure?

Working in a fast-paced environment is common for many roles at KKR. The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your ability to work under pressure and how you handle it. Use examples from previous jobs or describe a time when you faced a challenge that required you to think quickly.

Example: “In my last role, I was responsible for managing the company’s social media accounts. One day, our CEO made an announcement on Twitter that we were going to be laying off some employees. Within minutes of his tweet, there were hundreds of comments asking questions and expressing concern. I worked with our communications team to respond to all of the comments as quickly as possible.”

10. Tell us about a time where you took initiative as part of a group project.

This question is a great way to show your leadership skills and ability to work with others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention how you helped the group achieve its goals or what you learned from the experience.

Example: “In my senior year of college, I was part of a team that had to create an advertising campaign for a client. We were given a lot of freedom in creating our own ideas, but we also had to present them to a panel of judges who would decide which ones they liked best. My team decided to focus on social media marketing because we thought it would be more relevant to the target audience.

We presented our idea to the judges, and they loved it. They told us that we should pursue careers in advertising after graduation. It was a really rewarding experience, and I learned a lot about teamwork.”

11. Do you consider yourself someone who is willing to take risks? Give an example of a risk you took professionally and personally.

When working for a company that invests in risky ventures, it’s important to have employees who are willing to take risks. This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer you’re someone who can do this and explain why.

Example: “I consider myself someone who is willing to take risks. In my last job, I was tasked with finding new clients for our firm. I knew we needed more customers, but I also knew there were some companies out there that weren’t quite ready to hire us yet. So, I started cold-calling businesses to see if they would be interested in learning more about what we had to offer. It took several months of calling before I found a client, but it ended up being worth it.”

12. Have you ever made a mistake while working with numbers, what happened and how did you fix it?

Interviewers may ask this question to see how you respond to challenges and learn from your mistakes. When answering, try to be honest about a mistake you’ve made in the past and explain what steps you took to fix it or prevent it from happening again.

Example: “I once calculated an investor’s return on investment incorrectly when I was working as an analyst at my previous company. The client called me after receiving their statement and asked why they didn’t receive the expected ROI of 10%. After double-checking my work, I realized that I had forgotten to include one of the company’s quarterly returns. I immediately contacted the client and explained the error, then sent them a new statement with the correct information.”

13. What are some of your strengths?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your personality and how you would fit in with their company culture. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a few of your soft skills that are relevant to the position.

Example: “I am extremely organized and detail-oriented, which helps me stay on top of my work. I also have excellent communication skills, so I’m able to clearly explain complex financial concepts to others. Another strength is my ability to think critically and solve problems creatively. This skill has helped me find solutions to challenging situations at previous jobs.”

14. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

This question is a great way to learn more about your candidate’s career goals. It can also help you determine if they are a good fit for the company and its culture. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention how your role at KKR will help you achieve your long-term goals.

Example: “I see myself in a management position with my current employer by 2028. I would love to continue working here as I have enjoyed my time so far. I feel that I am on track to reach my goal of becoming a manager within 10 years. My experience working here has helped me develop many skills that I know I need to succeed in this role.”

15. We highly value communication skills here at KKR. Can you give us an example of a time you used strong communication to address a problem or situation?

Strong communication skills are important for working at KKR because the company is global and has many offices. Interviewers want to know that you can effectively communicate with others in a variety of situations.

Example: “At my previous job, I was responsible for communicating with clients about their investments. One day, one of our largest investors called me to ask why they hadn’t received their monthly statement yet. I immediately checked our records and realized we had sent it out late. I apologized to the client and explained what happened. They were understanding and appreciated how quickly I responded.”

16. What do you know about Kohlberg Kravis Roberts?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the company and its history. You can use this opportunity to show that you have done some research on the company, including what it does and how long it has been in business.

Example: “Kohlberg Kravis Roberts was founded by Henry Kravis, George Roberts and Jerome Kohlberg in 1976. The three founders were all private equity investors who wanted to create an investment firm that would allow them to take advantage of opportunities in the market. They started out with $50 million in capital and began making investments in companies across the country.”

17. Explain LBO modeling to us.

LBO modeling is a process that involves creating financial models to analyze the potential profitability of an LBO. The interviewer may ask this question to assess your ability to use complex processes and tools in your work. In your answer, try to explain how you would complete an LBO model and what steps you would take to do so.

Example: “I have experience using Excel for LBO modeling. I first start by gathering all relevant information about the company being acquired, including its current debt load, cash flow, assets and liabilities. Then, I create a pro forma balance sheet based on these figures. Next, I calculate the target company’s enterprise value and equity value. Finally, I compare the two values to determine whether or not the acquisition will be profitable.”

18. How comfortable are you using Microsoft Excel?

Excel is a common tool used in the finance industry, and KKR uses it to manage its portfolio. Your answer should show that you have experience using Excel or another spreadsheet program. If you don’t have any experience with Excel, consider mentioning other programs you’re familiar with.

Example: “I’ve been using Microsoft Excel for over five years now. I started out as an intern at a small investment firm where we used Excel extensively. At my current job, I use Excel to create financial models and analyze data. I find it’s a great way to organize information and perform calculations.”

19. What brought you to finance?

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s background and how they got into finance. It can also help you determine if their career path aligns with KKR’s values.

Example: “I’ve always been interested in business, but I didn’t know what kind of business I wanted to be in until my senior year of college when I took an accounting class. The professor was so passionate about his work that it inspired me to pursue a career in accounting. After graduation, I worked as an accountant for three years before deciding to go back to school to get my MBA.”

20. Walk us through a DCF analysis.

This question is a great way to show your ability to use financial modeling software and demonstrate your understanding of the process.

Example: “A discounted cash flow analysis, or DCF, is a method for valuing a company by forecasting its future cash flows and discounting them back to present value. In my last role as an analyst at XYZ Financial Group, I was tasked with performing a DCF on a client’s business. The client had recently acquired another company, so we needed to perform a valuation using both companies’ financials.

I used Microsoft Excel to create a spreadsheet that included all relevant information about the two companies, including their revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities and equity. Then, I performed a DCF analysis on each company separately and combined the results to get a final valuation.”