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Any thoughts on what it is like working for a private equity backed company?

Chris

Hello all, 

I am currently in the final interview stages for a head of HR role with a real estate company. The role looks great, with a decent package and health company values. However, they are a private equity backed company. I have never worked for such an entity before (they are a medium sized company, with big growth plans) and was wondering if anyone has experience of working with a PE backed company they would be happy to share. 

I have heard that such companies are highly growth orientated with high levels of pressure on the senior management team, and uncertainty about the future (given the aim is ultimately to sell the company). I am quite interested in the role, but mindful of these potential drawbacks. 

If anyone had any general perspectives on this, that would be great. Thanks in advance - as always - for your input

Thanks, 

Chris 

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  • Hi Chris

    I'm sure it's almost impossible to generalise, but for what it's worth, my past experience and observations are that they are usually very very financial-results-oriented and about maximizing these, so that many would be off the maximum scale if rated for concern for results and the other extreme as regards concern for people rating. But so are a lot of other employers - some are enlightened enough to know that disregard of the best interests of their people doesn't make good business sense - but it isn't quite as simple as that, really, especially with opportunists and those without any longer-term stake in that particular sector. If the people in charge of your company aren't totally heartless and ruthless then I think you can count yourself fortunate. Many of the brighter ones in such roles I think realize that it's best to look after people too - especially the better-performing ones amongst their people - but there are still plenty who don't and never will. But I think that applies to working in the private sector generally and not necessarily to working for private equity companies. However, that said, personally if a potential employer was eg private equity or USA-based I'd be especially anxious to seek out indications about their particular ways of running things.

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  • Hi Chris

    I'm sure it's almost impossible to generalise, but for what it's worth, my past experience and observations are that they are usually very very financial-results-oriented and about maximizing these, so that many would be off the maximum scale if rated for concern for results and the other extreme as regards concern for people rating. But so are a lot of other employers - some are enlightened enough to know that disregard of the best interests of their people doesn't make good business sense - but it isn't quite as simple as that, really, especially with opportunists and those without any longer-term stake in that particular sector. If the people in charge of your company aren't totally heartless and ruthless then I think you can count yourself fortunate. Many of the brighter ones in such roles I think realize that it's best to look after people too - especially the better-performing ones amongst their people - but there are still plenty who don't and never will. But I think that applies to working in the private sector generally and not necessarily to working for private equity companies. However, that said, personally if a potential employer was eg private equity or USA-based I'd be especially anxious to seek out indications about their particular ways of running things.

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  • in reply to David
    Hi David - thank you for your feedback, I appreciate it. The company seem to offer their staff pretty generous benefits, and have a strong sense of employee voice with various committees etc. It seems the PE backers see the value in treating the people well (on first glance, that's the impression I get anyway)