Why PJT Partners: Interviews, Careers, & Portfolio

PJT Partners Overview

PJT Partners is a global investment bank specializing in advisory services, established in October 2015 following the spin-off of The Blackstone Group’s financial and strategic advisory divisions.

Founded by Paul J. Taubman, a veteran with a 30-year career at Morgan Stanley where he held prominent leadership positions, PJT Partners has quickly emerged as a significant player in the industry. The firm provides expertise across various segments, including Strategic Advisory, Capital Markets, Restructuring, Shareholder Advisory, and Capital Raising.

Despite its relatively recent inception, PJT Partners has advised on numerous high-profile M&A transactions exceeding $600 billion in value, such as AbbVie’s $63 billion acquisition of Allergan, T-Mobile’s $59 billion merger with Sprint, and Mylan’s $50 billion combination with Upjohn, a division of Pfizer.

Headquartered in New York City, PJT Partners has expanded its global footprint with offices in key financial centers, including Boston, Chicago, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, San Francisco, and Sydney.

PJT Partners AUM

As of this writing, there is no publicly available information on the assets under management (AUM) of PJT Partners.

PJT Partners Interview Process & Questions

Although firms may tailor their interview process for each candidate, if you’re interviewing at PJT Partners (or a similar firm), you can generally anticipate the following:

• About 4-6 interview rounds
• Initial interviews typically led by junior investment professionals or HR, with senior team members conducting later rounds
• The overall process often spans several weeks, unless it’s during “on-cycle” or “on-campus” recruiting

The interviews will likely cover a range of topics, including fit and behavioral questions, as well as technical and investing-related queries.

If you need a comprehensive resource for interview prep, take a look at my Growth Equity Interview Guide.

Why PJT Partners

“Why this firm” is a frequent and crucial question in interviews.

If you’ve engaged in any networking, this is a perfect opportunity to reference the people you’ve connected with and how they’ve left a strong impression on you.

It’s also essential to come prepared by researching the firm beforehand. A great way to get insights is by listening to interviews with the company’s founders or investors.

Here’s an interview with Paul Taubman, PJT Partners Chairman and CEO, to help you get started: 

More Interviews

• Bloomberg Television interview with PJT Partners CEO Paul Taubman
• Roland Phillips, Partner at PJT Partners, with INSEAD Investment Banking Club

PJT Partners Case Study

Case studies are a standard part of the interview process, as they allow firms to evaluate your technical skills and communication abilities.

At firms like PJT Partners, case studies typically revolve around financial modeling and providing investment recommendations, though for junior positions, you might also encounter a cold calling exercise.

If you’re looking for guidance on acing case studies, explore our course: Growth Equity Interview Guide.

PJT Partners Salary & Compensation

According to Glassdoor, PJT Partners offers a competitive median salary of $122K and $192K per year to their analysts and associates, respectively. These figures are only estimates and will vary depending on the individual’s experiences, education, and other factors that the firm considers.

Analyst

Associate

PJT Partners Careers, Jobs, & Internships

To see open roles at PJT Partners, check out our job board which features all open roles for them and other similar firms.

PJT Partners Portfolio & Investments

According to Crunchbase, PJT Partners has made two acquisitions and one investment. Some of their notable deals include deNovo Partners and Camberview Partners.

Notable Transaction: deNovo Partners

On September 18, 2024, PJT Partners announced its agreement to acquire deNovo Partners, a leading advisory firm based in Dubai that specializes in the Middle Eastern market. This acquisition builds on the successful strategic alliance that PJT Partners and deNovo established in 2020.

Founded in 2010 by May Nasrallah, deNovo has a team of over 20 professionals and has advised on more than 100 transactions, including the two largest private-sector M&A deals in the Middle East this year. The firm serves a diverse range of clients globally, including corporates, government-related entities, and investors.

Paul J. Taubman, Chairman and CEO of PJT Partners, expressed enthusiasm for the acquisition, stating that it marks an important step in expanding PJT’s international presence and enhancing their ability to serve clients in the Middle East as well as international clients with business interests in the region.

May Nasrallah will continue to lead the Middle Eastern operations and will join PJT Partners’ senior leadership team, further supporting the firm’s strategic expansion globally.

Next Steps

If you’re hoping to become a professional investor at PJT Partners, the Growth Equity Interview Guide can help you get ready. It covers important topics like case studies and financial modeling that often come up in interviews.

Take some time to go through it and feel more prepared when it’s time to interview.