WATCH: Top talent execs at firms like Carlyle and Apollo reveal how to land a private-equity job in 2021

But, in spite of economic headwinds and high unemployment throughout the year, it’s actually a good time to land a job in the world of private-equity, according to four top PE recruiters who spoke to Business Insider in a live panel about landing a job at elite firms like theirs.

So — how do you get hired in private equity? You need to master quantitative knowledge like how to build leveraged buyout and three-statement models, show critical thinking skills during case studies, demonstrate a curiosity about how businesses work, and explain to interviewers why you’re serious about building a career in investing. 

On December 3rd, Business Insider’s Wall Street reporter Reed Alexander spoke with:

• Matt Breitfelder, the global head of human capital at Apollo Global Management
• Sara Diniz, vice president in human resources at Bain Capital
• James Cherubim, head of talent acquisition at The Carlyle Group
• Anthony Keizner, co-managing partner at Odyssey Search Partners, a New York-based recruiting firm for PE firms

Among some of the topics that the four experts addressed:

• What it’s like to go through the interview process at their firm.
• What kinds of modeling exams to expect and the quantitative skills you’ll need to demonstrate.
• How to stand out as someone who could become a future star PE dealmaker and investor.

Plus, we explored initiatives related to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the private-equity firms, and how people who come from nontraditional backgrounds or so-called “non-target” schools can carve out a pathway into PE.

Read more:Private equity is backing off from recruiting young investment bankers in their first few weeks on the job. Here’s what triggered the reversal.