Crafting a private equity cover letter can be a daunting step in your job search journey, especially when you’re eager to stand out. You know it's vital to spotlight a key professional triumph, not just echo your resume. Your challenge? Conveying your proudest moment in a succinct, one-page narrative that's formal yet fresh, avoiding the trite phrases that hiring managers have seen time and again. Let's embark on transforming your experiences into a compelling story that captures attention.
- Write a private equity cover letter that helps you stand out (and get the job);
- Understand how to start and end your private equity cover letter with the appropriate greeting;
- What to include in the body of your private equity cover letter to put your best foot forward;
- Your most important achievements - how to present them as part of your private equity cover letter.
And if you want to make your life even easier, simply drag and drop your private equity resume into Enhancv's AI cover letter generator, and it will write your cover letter for you in just a few moments.
If the private equity isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:
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Private equity cover letter example
Carter Rodriguez
Charlotte, North Carolina
+1-(234)-555-1234
help@enhancv.com
- Emphasize relevant experience: Highlighting a pivotal market research initiative and subsequent acquisition showcases direct experience with investment strategies and private equity, which are crucial for the role applied for.
- Showcase success and impact: Mentioning the contribution to a 20% portfolio growth demonstrates tangible success and the ability to positively impact the company's bottom line.
- Demonstrate alignment with company values: Expressing awareness of the company's innovative spirit and eagerness to contribute to it suggests that the candidate's approach and mentality are a good cultural fit.
The format of your private equity cover letter: structure, fonts, margins, and more
Your private equity cover letter should include a header (with your name, position, and date); a greeting and introductory paragraph; a body and closing paragraphs; and an optional signature.
Remember that you're writing your private equity cover letter for recruiters - as the Applicant Tracker System won't scan this content.
Here are a few more tips and tricks to keep in mind when formatting your private equity cover letter:
- Use the same font in your private equity cover letter and resume. We recommend modern fonts, e.g. Lato and Rubik, to help you stand out, instead of the stereotypical Arial and Times New Roman.
- Each paragraph should have single spacing, which is already set up for you in our cover letter templates.
- Our cover letter builder follows industry standards for your private equity cover letter formatting - with a one-inch margin, surrounding your content.
- Always export your private equity cover letter in PDF to ensure the image or text quality stays the same and your writing isn't moved about.
The top sections on a private equity cover letter
- Header with Contact Information: Include your name, address, phone number, and email, because a clear header allows the recruiter to easily identify you and your contact details for further communication.
- Greeting with Personalization: Address the letter to a specific person, such as the hiring manager or a principal at the firm, as personalization shows that you have researched the company and are genuinely interested in the position.
- Introduction with Career Objectives: Begin with a succinct overview of your career objectives and how they align with the private equity firm's goals, highlighting why you are a strong fit for the role and demonstrating your knowledge of the industry.
- Body with Relevant Experience and Skills: Detail your previous experience in finance, investments, or related fields, and explain how your skills and accomplishments will benefit the private equity firm, which is essential in convincing the recruiter of your potential value to the team.
- Closing with a Call to Action: End your cover letter by thanking the reader for their time, reiterating your interest in the position, and inviting them to contact you for further discussion, ensuring a professional sign-off and potential engagement.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Strong financial acumen: Comprehensive understanding of financial modeling, valuation techniques, and financial statement analysis is crucial for identifying and evaluating investment opportunities.
- Deal-making experience: Prior involvement in M&A transactions, leveraged buyouts, or venture capital showcases an understanding of the investment process and the capability to manage complex deals.
- Strategic thinking: Ability to formulate and assess strategic initiatives that can create value for portfolio companies and drive their growth.
- Relationship-building skills: Networking capabilities and building relationships with corporate executives, investment bankers, and advisors are essential to source and close high-quality investment opportunities.
- Portfolio management: Experience in managing and overseeing the performance of portfolio companies, including operational improvements, restructuring, and exit planning.
- Industry expertise: In-depth knowledge of specific sectors of interest to the fund, providing a strategic edge in identifying trends, risks, and investment opportunities within those domains.
How to personalize your private equity cover letter greeting
Before you start writing your private equity cover letter, take the time to find out who is recruiting for the role.
Search for the recruiter's name on LinkedIn or the corporate website to address them personally in your private equity cover letter salutation.
What if you can't find out who's recruiting for the role?
Always aim to avoid the very impersonal "Dear Sir/Madam" - instead, opt out for "Dear HR Team" or "Dear Hiring Manager" to make a better first impression.
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Name of the Hiring Manager],
- Dear [Name of the Private Equity Firm] Team,
- Dear [Specific Department] Team,
- Dear Selection Committee,
- Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name],
Your private equity cover letter introduction and the value you bring
Moving on from the "Dear Recruiter" to your professional introduction.
Use those first two sentences of your private equity cover letter to present the biggest asset you'd bring to the organization.
Don't go into too much detail about your achievement or the skill set, but instead - go straight for the win.
That is - what is your value as a professional?
Would you be able to build stronger, professional relationships in any type of communication? Or, potentially, integrate seamlessly into the team?
How to write an achievement-focused private equity cover letter body
We've got the intro and greeting covered. Now, comes the most definitive part of your private equity cover letter - the body.
In the next three to six paragraphs, you'd have to answer why should recruiters hire you.
What better way to do this than by storytelling?
And, no, you don't need a "Once upon a time" or "I started from the bottom and made it to the top" career-climbing format to tell a compelling narrative.
Instead, select up to three most relevant skills for the job and look back on your resume.
Find an achievement, that you're proud of, which has taught you these three job-crucial skills.
Quantify your accomplishment, using metrics, and be succinct in the way you describe it.
The ultimate aim would be to show recruiters how this particular success has built up your experience to become an invaluable candidate.
Ending your private equity cover letter to avoid "sincerely yours"
Yes, this sort of closing statement may work best before your signature.
But you want to give recruiters something more with your private equity cover letter ending.
Some professionals choose to go down the path of promises. In a single sentence, they map out what they'd bring about to the role (whether that's a particular technical skill set or personal traits).
Others, decide to be more concrete by thanking recruiters for their time and prompting for their next interview.
Whatever path you choose, remember to always be polite and respectful of the opportunity you've had. Good manners go a long way.
Addressing limited to no experience in the private equity cover letter
There's nothing to worry about if you lack professional experience.
Your private equity cover letter could bridge the gaps in your professional history by focusing on what matters most to recruiters, that's either:
- skills - focusing on transferable ones you've gained, thanks to your life experience (e.g. volunteering, certificates, etc.);
- achievements - select the most relevant and noteworthy one from your history (e.g. education, projects, etc.);
- motivation - describe how you envision your professional growth in the next up to five years, thanks to this opportunity.
Key takeaways
Turning your private equity cover letter into a success is all about staying authentic to yourself and relevant to the job:
- Be creative with your private equity cover letter introduction by stating something you enjoy about the company (that is genuine) or about your skill set (to get the recruiters' interested);
- Use single spacing and have a one-inch margin wrapping all around the content of your private equity cover letter;
- Select just one past achievement from your career or life to tell a story of how you've obtained job-crucial skills and how they'd be beneficial to the role;
- The finishing paragraph of your private equity cover letter doesn't necessarily have to be a signature but could be a promise of what you plan to achieve in the role;
- Instead of focusing on your lack of experience, spotlight your transferable skills, one relevant achievement, and career dreams.
Private Equity cover letter examples
Explore additional private equity cover letter samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.
By Experience
Senior Private Equity Associate
- Mention specific achievements, such as reducing errors or enhancing processes, to demonstrate impact and experience.
- Highlight relevant industry experience, particularly with renowned firms like KPMG, to establish credibility and expertise.
- Showcase technical skills, such as developing advanced Excel models, to underline your proficiency in handling key role-related tasks.
- Express genuine interest and alignment with the company's values or mission, demonstrating cultural and professional fit.
By Role
Private Equity Analyst
- Clearly aligns personal professional ethos with the company's mission, demonstrating cultural fit and motivation for the role.
- Highlights a specific and quantifiable achievement (30% increase in portfolio revenue) that showcases relevant experience and concrete results.
- Emphasizes key skills such as strategic analysis, client management, and risk management, directly pertaining to the job's requirements.
- Mentions the ability to manage and strengthen relationships with senior executives, illustrating an ability to work effectively at high levels within a company.
Private Equity Associate
- Quantifiable Achievements: Highlighting specific achievements, such as leading a valuation process for a $200M acquisition, demonstrates a proven track record and enhances credibility.
- Industry Experience and Skills: Mentioning experience at a reputable firm like KKR & Co. Inc. underscores industry knowledge and expertise essential for a private equity role.
- Value Addition: Focusing on how strategic growth recommendations led to an EBITDA increase of 35% showcases the ability to add tangible value to portfolio companies.
- Collaboration and Communication: Emphasizing the ability to foster client relationships and work with cross-functional teams highlights interpersonal skills necessary for collaborative environments in private equity firms.
Private Equity Vice President
- Emphasize Leadership in Project Management: Highlight the ability to lead teams and strategic initiatives, as evident from the candidate's experience in spearheading innovative projects at a large organization like BlackRock.
- Quantify Achievements: Use specific percentages or metrics to demonstrate success and impact, such as the 15% improvement in calculation accuracy and reduced turnaround times.
- Showcase Technical and Industry Expertise: Focus on specialized skills like incentive fee calculations and complex modeling, which are crucial for roles in financial services.
- Alignment with Company Needs: Express genuine interest in contributing to the company's objectives, aligning experiences and skills with the prospective employer's goals.
