PE Reference Library & Career Toolkit

Start with a technical guide or the career playbook. Find the tools and specialist workflows below.

01 / Technical Library

PE Technical Deep-Dives

LBO modeling, valuation, working capital, and the mechanics behind a deal.

Net Operating Working Capital (NOWC): The PE Operator's Guide with Definitions / Examples

CCC, Days-to-Dollars math, AR/AP/inventory levers, and working-capital pegs.25 min→T-06Valuation

Enterprise Value vs Equity Value: Complete Guide to Business Valuation Metrics

The EV bridge, diluted shares, IFRS 16 lease adjustments, and M&A applications.30 min→T-07Market Map

Middle Market Definition: A Comprehensive Guide for Finance Practitioners

Revenue, EBITDA, and EV ranges from LMM to UMM, plus buyer maps and multiples.32 min→T-08Fund Selection

Private Equity Performance Persistence: Can You Pick Tomorrow's Winners?

Whether past PE returns predict future returns, why buyout persistence fades at fundraising, and how to read a track record.16 min→T-09Model Review

What a VP Marks Up in Your First LBO

The senior-review sequence: model trust, deal mechanics, debt logic, underwriting judgment, returns, and the investment recommendation.18 min→Exhibit ACase Study + Model

PE Case Study: $150M Distribution LBO (Step-by-Step)

A hands-on Excel lab with a downloadable model: build the mini-LBO, model ABL availability, stress working-capital timing, and present a value bridge.26 min→

02 / Career Playbook

Career Playbook

Recruiting, interviews, compensation, and the practical work of landing the seat.

C-01Roadmap

How to Break Into Private Equity in 2026 - A No-Banking, Non-Target Roadmap

Full roadmap: LBO skills, deal proxies, outreach cadence, and recruiting timelines.30 min→C-02Resume

Private Equity Resume Template (2026)

Proven template + 75 bullet tips for Analyst/Associate roles. Word & PDF.48 min→C-03Networking

Private Equity Networking: A Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

Cold outreach, coffee chats, events, and a scorecard to track wins.21 min→C-04Interviews

The Three Pillars of the Private Equity Interview: Technical, Behavioral & Fit - 2026 PE Interview Guide

The three pillars of every PE interview, and the #1 mistake in each.5 min→C-05Career Paths

Mega-Fund vs. Middle-Market Private Equity Careers: A 2026 Guide

Why MM/LMM is the highest-probability path, especially for outsiders.13 min→C-06Recruiting

Off-Cycle Private Equity Recruiting Timeline (2026)

Month-by-month US/EU peaks, outreach cadence, and hiring signals.18 min→C-07Comp Data

Private Equity Salary 2026: Fund Size Data + Carry Calculator

Base, bonus, and carry tables, Analyst to MD, broken down by fund size.32 min→C-08Interviews

Private Equity Interview Questions: The Complete Guide for Middle-Market Professionals

Deal walks, paper LBOs, debt basics, coverage ratios, and behavioral frameworks.24 min→C-09Career Paths

Investment Banking vs Private Equity

Work, comp, recruiting, and who should pick which, especially in the MM.26 min→

03 / Reference Tools

Interactive PE Reference Tools

Calculators and references for a specific question. Start with the task you need to complete.

Choose a tool →

SYS-01Returns

Private Equity Returns Lab

Route a returns question to five existing calculators or six method- and agreement-controlled workbenches.12 min→SYS-02Deal Judgment

Private Equity Deal Judgment Library

A free educational framework for screening deal fit and translating diligence findings into explicit decisions.18 min→SYS-03Fund Mechanics

Private Equity Fund Mechanics Atlas

A free educational reference mapping fund anatomy, waterfall mechanics, and deployment-pressure decisions.20 min→SYS-04Evidence

Private Equity Evidence Atlas

Claim-level evidence records for value creation, persistence, benchmarks, leverage, covenants, US tax and US regulation.14 min→

04 / Supporting Workflows

AI in Private Equity

Use AI in PE work with clear sources, model checks, and human review.

AI in PE field guide →

AI-01Deal Workflow

From CIM to IC Memo With AI: The Evidence-Ledger Workflow

A source-tracked workflow that keeps reported facts, management claims, analyst judgment, and model outputs separate.24 min→AI-02Confidentiality

Can You Upload a CIM to ChatGPT? A Private Equity Decision Tree

The approval, NDA, product, retention, data-classification, and review gates to clear before a deal document enters an AI workflow.18 min→AI-03Model Control

AI for LBO Modeling: What to Automate, Audit, and Never Delegate

A practitioner control standard for AI-touched LBOs, from source traceability and model invariants to the final variance bridge.22 min→

Put it to work

Resources & practice

Free models and templates
Private Equity Glossary
Free Deal Room preview

Paid timed practice: Project Forge LBO modeling test · $59.

Deal Flow Bullet

New guides, by email.

Worked examples and practical PE notes from Andrew. Free to subscribe.

Company website

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