WSO Weekly Wrap-up

July 26, 2025

Hey WSO Monkey,

Just want to let you know about the WSO PE Interview Bootcamp next weekend (August 2). It’s designed to help you get ready for private equity interviews, with insights from experienced pros. The bootcamp includes things like LBO modeling tests, interview questions from different funds, and PE case studies. You also get access to our Company Database where you can find information on comp, interviews, and reviews.

Now, let's take a look at the latest buzz in the forums this week.

-Patrick

Top Discussions

  1. Ex-Goldman Sachs Banker Speaks Out - "I was a Healthcare and TMT investment banker at Goldman Sachs. And what I saw inside would break most people. We don’t talk about how Zoe had a seizure on the floor during our 2023 internship. We don’t talk about how one intern flagged it to the staffer — “She isn’t doing well.” We don’t talk about how that intern went back in after it happened and said, “I told you.” We don’t talk about how he didn’t get a return offer. But I will..."

  2. Recruitment Is a Joke. - "The whole process becomes less about matching your values with a career, and more about proving you can survive it. A game of who can compete, just because someone said it’s the highest level to achieve. Worse, if you’re at a non-target, the desperation is six fold. You’re already told you’re behind. You’re told to never look back, if you do you’re fucked. I’m not saying investment banking is inherently bad. I’m also not saying anything that isn’t already known. The recruitment process, by nature, cannot be questioned by undergrads unless they want to risk the opportunity they are told it is."

  3. Where Do I Start? - “If you are an investment banking analyst or associate looking to transition to private equity, you might be thinking: where do I start? FactSet’s eBook “How to Make the Leap from Investment Banking to Private Equity” provides a clear path to developing the knowledge, skills, and mindset that highly competitive, top firms demand. Get your free copy now.”

Ask the Questions That Build Careers: WSO Academy Office Hours

Forget office hours with professors who’ve never worked a day in the real world. With WSO Academy, you’ll be invited to 6 Office Hours every week where you can ask anything—live—with real finance pros who’ve climbed the ladder.

These aren’t theory-driven lectures. This is actionable, insider advice from the people who’ve done it. And whe we say you can ask anything—we mean anything.

⏰ Flexible Sessions for Every Time Zone
With 6 sessions a week, from bright & early to late at night, you’ll always find a time that works—no matter where you’re located.

💬 Open Q&A, No Limits
From cracking technicals to navigating tough interview questions, you’ll get real answers from real professionals. Plus, our CEO, Patrick Curtis, also regularly hosts Office Hours, offering firsthand insights into breaking into and thriving in high finance.

🌟 Learn From Leaders, Live
This isn’t a classroom. It’s a unique opportunity to pick the brains of people who’ve been where you are and know what it takes to succeed.

Stop counting on clips from The Wolf of Wall Street and The Big Short to learn about the real world of investing. Come see it firsthand with WSO Academy.

Top Discussions (contd.)

  1. Do You Have to Be Work Addicted to Survive in PE? - "Had an interesting discussion with a friend recently. I've noticed that the most successful people in PE (e.g., MDs in their mid-30s at large-cap funds) all seem to have one thing in common: they’re completely addicted to work. Full stop. It’s not about money or prestige. You’d expect people at that level to be spending their weekends at galas, driving sports cars, or jetting off to some luxury destination. But that’s not what we saw at all. The ones who really rise to the top just live and breathe the job. We’re talking about people who choose to be in the office on a Saturday instead of spending time with their families. It's hard to explain ... I used to imagine buyout MDs as flashy types who mostly enjoy the money. But what we observed felt more like hyper-intense, work-obsessed nerds. No big parties, no summer time off in the South of France. Basically just grinding away every freaking day..."

  2. Short Idea for L/S Interview - "My thesis is also that the business will be fundamentally worse off from here given a) usage / engagement metrics are misleading b) ROI figures invite scrutiny given the high spend vs. ambiguous ROI from DOCS alone c) competition heating up especially from other ad platforms d) deteriorating performance in SMB customers. Essentially, I'm also arguing that the moat around the platform and network effect on the both sides could break down, which hopefully results in multiple re-rating."

  3. Former PE SA Turned Operator Went Bankrupt - "I spent my first 7 years out of school in IB (3 years) and PE (4 years). I learned a ton over those 7 years but was ready for something new. I had been looking into acquiring a business for 2-3 years and finally found an opportunity that I felt was a good price and huge growth potential. Long story short, I have been operating for 18 months and its looking like we are going to have to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, both the business and me personally. I feel immense shame for putting my wife and son through this. We fought hard to make it work but its just not breaking through and the work has dried up. Its a weather dependent industry and the weather has not provided us with the same level of work that the business experienced over the last 5 years. While I am embarrassed, I am more motivated than ever to come back from this and create the life that my family deserves..."

  4. [Urgent] ChatGPT Prompt Left in an Email… What’s the Next Play? - "You're screwed. You cannot leak client info, that's like the first thing you are taught by HR for a reason (well, that and don't insider trading). You should be happy you aren't FT and licensed because in that case, you might've faced legal consequences."

New Podcasts Coming in Hot 🔥

  • UCL to Société Générale | Chat with Alkin | WSO Academy

  • University of Georgia to Real Estate Private Equity | Chat with Chandler | WSO Academy

Hot Jobs 💼

AI Tutor - Finance Specialist - "You will be instrumental in enhancing the capabilities of our cutting-edge technologies by providing high-quality input and labels using specialized software. Your role involves collaborating closely with our technical team to support the training of new AI tasks, ensuring the implementation of innovative initiatives..."

Venture Capital Associate (Life Sciences, Boston based) - "The team is seeking an Investment Associate to join as a generalist across their three sector focuses (biotech, digital health/tech, and tools/diagnostics) in Boston metro with an ASAP or Summer 2025 start date..."

Equity Research Analyst - "Buy-side research analyst opportunity with a family office. The analyst will work with the direct investment team and report to the Portfolio Manager. The team employs a fundamentally driven investment process and an owner’s mentality...."

Research Associate (Equity Small Mid Cap) - New York, NY - "This position will support the Small/Mid-Cap Equity research team and initially be responsible for covering multiple sectors in support of current team members."

On Deck - Training 🎓

All in Eastern Standard Time

Stay Strong,
Patrick Curtis
CEO and Founder, WallStreetOasis.com

WSO Mobile App: iOS | Android

PS - We're also always looking to add resume reviewers and WSO Mentors to our team. Set your own pay (from $40/hr to up to $400/hr) to increase or decrease mentee flow. To submit an application, go here.

PPS - Think you have an interesting story? Want to share it with our podcast listeners? Hit reply and let me know!




* PE Interview Bootcamp includes lifetime access to the PE Interview Course
** FMV Bootcamp includes lifetime access to the Elite Modeling Package
*** IB Interview Bootcamp includes lifetime access to the IB Interview Course