20 Partners Group Interview Questions and Answers

When it comes to interviews, preparation is key. And when you’re interviewing with a private equity firm like Partners Group, it’s especially important to be prepared to answer questions about your experience, your qualifications, and your goals.

To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most common questions asked in interviews for positions at Partners Group. We’ve also included sample answers to give you an idea of what the interviewer is looking for.

So whether you’re a seasoned veteran of the private equity world or you’re just starting out, make sure you’re ready to answer these important questions.

Partners Group Interview Process

The interview process at Partners Group is long and drawn out, spanning multiple weeks and consisting of multiple calls and case studies. The questions asked are repetitive, and the overall atmosphere is quite stiff and formal. This can be off-putting for some perspective employees, who may not feel that the company is keeping up with the times.

That said, the process is efficient, and results are typically known a few days after the final interview. The company does a good job of managing the process and relocation for those who are moving to work in their overseas office.

1. Which area of private equity are you most interested in?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the industry and how you can contribute to Partners Group. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest about what interests you most in private equity. If you’re unsure which area you want to work in, consider reading more about each sector to help you decide.

Example: “I’m interested in working with distressed assets because I enjoy helping companies that are struggling. I find it rewarding to see businesses turn around and succeed after they’ve overcome challenges. In my last role, I worked with several distressed companies and helped them improve their financials by implementing new strategies.”

2. Tell us about a time when you had to work with someone who was difficult. How did you handle the situation?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle conflict and challenges. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific example of when you had to work with someone who was difficult but still managed to get the job done.

Example: “In my last role as an account manager, I worked with a partner who would often make excuses for why he couldn’t meet deadlines or complete projects on time. This made it challenging to manage our clients’ expectations and deliver results. However, I learned that if I focused on my own responsibilities and delivered quality work, my partner would eventually follow suit.”

3. What is your experience working on projects as part of a team?

This question can help the interviewer understand your teamwork skills and how you might fit into their company culture. Use examples from previous work experiences to highlight your ability to collaborate with others, communicate effectively and solve problems as a team.

Example: “In my last role, I worked on a project team that was tasked with developing a new marketing strategy for our client’s business. We had weekly meetings where we discussed our progress and challenges, which helped us stay organized and focused on meeting deadlines. In addition, we used Slack to communicate outside of our scheduled meetings so we could answer questions or provide feedback more quickly.”

4. What do you think makes Partners Group different than other financial firms?

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 highlight what makes Partners Group unique and why that matters to you as an employee.

Example: “I think what makes Partners Group different than other financial firms is its commitment to growth. I’ve read about some of the companies you have invested in, and they all seem to be growing at a rapid pace. This is something I’m passionate about because I believe businesses should always strive for more. I also love working with people who are committed to excellence.”

5. Can you tell us about a time when you provided excellent customer service?

Customer service is an important skill for any professional, and the interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your customer-facing abilities. Use examples from previous jobs or describe a time when you helped someone who wasn’t your client.

Example: “I once had a client call me at home because they were having trouble with their computer. I was able to help them fix the issue over the phone, which saved them time and money. They were so impressed that they asked if I could come in on my day off to train their IT staff.”

6. We want our employees to be innovative and creative, can you give an example of a time where you were able to approach a problem from a creative angle?

This question is a great way to show your ability to think outside the box and come up with unique solutions. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide an example of how you used creativity in a professional setting.

Example: “In my previous role as a financial analyst, I was tasked with finding ways to reduce costs for one of our clients. After looking at their budget, I noticed that they were spending quite a bit on office supplies. I approached the client about reducing their supply budget by offering employees discounts on supplies if they brought back any unused items. This resulted in a 20% reduction in overall expenses.”

7. Why is it important for companies to pay attention to their competitors?

This question can help the interviewer determine your knowledge of business strategy and how you might apply it to their company. Use examples from your experience that show how paying attention to competitors helped a company succeed or how ignoring them led to failure.

Example: “In my last role, I worked with a client who was in the process of developing a new product. The CEO wanted to know if they should pay attention to their competitor’s products or not. I advised him that while he didn’t have to copy everything his competitor did, he needed to at least be aware of what they were doing so he could make sure his product was better than theirs.”

8. What made you decide to apply for this position at Partners Group?

This question can help interviewers understand your interest in the company and how you discovered their job posting. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific aspect of Partners Group that interests you or what drew you to apply for the position.

Example: “I applied for this position because I was drawn to the mission statement of Partners Group. Your firm’s goal of investing in businesses with strong growth potential resonates with me as someone who has always been interested in business development. I also think my skillset would be an excellent fit for this role.”

9. In your opinion, what does it take to succeed as a financial analyst?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the financial analyst role and how you can contribute to Partners Group’s success. Use examples from your experience or education to explain what skills, abilities and personality traits are important for a successful financial analyst.

Example: “I believe that it takes someone with strong analytical skills, attention to detail and communication skills to succeed as a financial analyst. I have always been interested in finance, so I took several classes in college to learn more about accounting and business management. In my last position, I was responsible for analyzing company data, creating reports and communicating those findings to senior leadership.”

10. Describe your experience with data collection and analysis.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your analytical skills and how you use data to make decisions. Use examples from previous roles where you used data to inform important business decisions.

Example: “In my last role, I was responsible for collecting and analyzing data on the company’s financial performance. This information helped me understand which areas of the business were performing well and which needed improvement. I also analyzed competitor data to determine our strengths and weaknesses in comparison. From there, I developed a plan to improve our overall performance by implementing new strategies.”

11. What would you say is your greatest strength?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you have the skills and abilities needed for this role. When answering, it can be helpful to think about what you are most proud of or what you feel makes you unique from other candidates.

Example: “My greatest strength would definitely be my ability to communicate effectively with others. I’ve found that many people struggle with communication in their professional lives, but I believe that being able to clearly convey thoughts and ideas is an important skill to have. In my previous roles, I was always praised for my active listening skills and my ability to speak up when necessary.”

12. Do you have any experience analyzing assets or portfolio management?

This question can help the interviewer understand your experience with private equity and how you might fit into their company. If you have relevant experience, share it in your answer.

Example: “I’ve worked as a portfolio manager for my current employer for five years now. I manage our investments by analyzing market trends and researching potential assets to invest in. I also monitor the performance of our existing assets to ensure we’re making the most of them. This has helped me develop my skills in identifying growth opportunities and capitalizing on them.”

13. Are you comfortable dealing with large amounts of money?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your comfort level with handling large sums of money. This can be an important skill when working in private equity, as you may need to manage millions or even billions of dollars at once. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention that you have experience managing large amounts of money and describe how you did so.

Example: “In my previous role, I managed millions of dollars in assets on behalf of clients. I was responsible for ensuring these funds were invested properly and monitored regularly. I am comfortable dealing with large sums of money because I understand the importance of investing wisely and monitoring investments closely.”

14. How well do you work under pressure?

Working in private equity can be a high-pressure job, especially when you’re working with deadlines. Employers ask this question to make sure that you have the ability to work under pressure and complete tasks on time. In your answer, explain how you handle stress and give an example of a time you worked under pressure and succeeded.

Example: “I thrive under pressure because I know it’s just another challenge to overcome. When I’m faced with a tight deadline, I immediately get to work and focus all my energy on getting the task done as quickly as possible. At my last job, we had a client who was looking for a new company to buy. We only had two weeks to find them one, so I stayed up late every night researching companies until we found the right fit.”

15. Our company values teamwork and collaboration, how would you describe yourself as a teammate?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you value teamwork and collaboration. You can describe yourself as a team player by highlighting how you work well with others, communicate effectively and complete tasks on time.

Example: “I am a highly motivated individual who enjoys working in teams. I find it motivating to collaborate with my teammates to solve problems and achieve goals. In fact, I have found that the more people are involved in a project, the better the results tend to be. I also believe that communication is key when working in a team. As such, I make sure to listen carefully to what my teammates say so I understand their ideas and opinions.”

16. If you were hired and given multiple tasks that needed to be done at once, how would you prioritize them?

This question is a great way to assess how well you can multitask and prioritize your work. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest about the steps you would take to complete each task in a timely manner while still maintaining high-quality results.

Example: “I would first determine which tasks were urgent and needed to be completed immediately. Then I would move on to the next most important tasks that could wait until later in the day or week. Finally, I would tackle the least important tasks that could be delegated to other team members.”

17. Have you ever worked in an environment where there were many moving parts and high stress situations, if so, how did you deal with it?

This question is a great way to determine how you will fit into the company culture. Partners Group wants employees who can work well with others and are able to handle high-pressure situations. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight your ability to collaborate and communicate effectively under pressure.

Example: “I have worked in an environment where there were many moving parts and high stress situations before. In my last role as a project manager, I had to manage multiple projects at once while also managing a team of five other individuals. This was definitely a challenge for me at first, but I learned that delegating tasks to my team members helped alleviate some of the stress. I also made sure to set aside time each day to check in on my team and provide them with support.”

18. What qualities should an effective leader possess?

This question is a great way to assess your leadership skills and how you would apply them in this role. When answering, it can be helpful to think about the qualities that make you an effective leader and what makes others leaders as well.

Example: “An effective leader should possess many different qualities, but I believe they are most successful when they have strong communication skills, empathy for their team members and a willingness to learn from mistakes. These three traits allow me to understand my team’s needs and concerns while also providing guidance and support.”

19. Give an example of when you went above and beyond for a client.

This question is a great way to show your dedication and willingness to go the extra mile for clients. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide specific details about what you did for the client and how they benefited from your actions.

Example: “When I was working as an accountant at my previous firm, I noticed that one of our clients had not filed their taxes in over two years. This meant that they were missing out on valuable tax credits and could have been subject to penalties. I reached out to them and explained the situation, offering to file their taxes for free if they would agree to work with us again. They agreed, and we saved them thousands of dollars.”

20. What motivates you to come into work every day?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you as a person and understand what drives your passion for work. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention something specific about the company or role that motivates you.

Example: “I love working in a fast-paced environment where I can make an impact on my team’s success. In my last position, I was able to lead a team of five people who were responsible for generating leads for our sales department. We worked hard to meet our quota every month, and I enjoyed seeing how much we grew over time.”