Why You Can’t Break Into Private Equity as a Foreigner in China

Despite my repeated warnings that emerging markets don’t care about you – only people who know the language, have connections, and are qualified to work there – this question won’t go away:

“I really want to work in China! How can I break into finance there? I’ve studied Mandarin for 5 years and I can read faster than Chinese people now! Show me how to get into PE!”

I’ve gotten tired of answering that one, so today you’ll hear from someone much better qualified to answer it than me: a reader who works in private equity in China.

He’ll tell you all about:

• How to network your way into the industry and how it’s different from PE in the US/Europe.
• Why foreigners are getting pushed out of the industry and why you’d have to be “crazy” to go work there these days.
• What you should do instead if you want to do business in China.
• How the pay and work culture differ from other parts of the world.

Wheeling, Dealing, and Joint Venturing: On the Job in Corporate Development

Last time around you learned all about how to break into corporate development – from getting interviews to answering questions to following up successfully.

But just as with sales & trading, the more interesting part is what you do on a daily basis in corporate development, what the lifestyle is like, how much you get paid, and what you do afterward.

So let’s get started with part 2 of this interview and dive into all of those – plus how this interviewee got a unique experience in China out of his role.

Which Language Should You Learn to Break Into Investment Banking?

Right after the merits of the CFA, GPA rounding, and the ranking of schools and banks, the question that spawns the most debate is which language you should learn to break into investment banking.

And there are many candidates, each supported by a combination of logic and zeal:

• Spanish: Latin America!
• Portuguese: Brazil!!!
• Mandarin: China!!!!
• Arabic: The Middle East!!!!

So which one should you learn to maximize your chances?

Or is the real answer not even on this list?