Navigating the Job Market During a Financial Crisis with Beau Thomas, Managing Director at Audax Private Equity

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Beau Thomas is a Managing Director at Audax Private Equity, a leading provider of capital for and partner to middle market companies having raised over $26B in capital. He currently serves on the boards of APC Automotive Technologies, Gabriel Performance Products, ICP Group, MNX Global Logistics, Peak Toolworks, and Van Pool Transportation. Originally from New Orleans, he graduated from Princeton in 2009 with an AB in Economics. He lives in Boston with his wife Jennifer and two children, Austin and Bryson. 






Major Takeaway

Use this time to really pursue an interest. This pandemic is truly a blip in the road, and there’s a long way ahead for your career.

Time Stamps

0:19 We kicked off the conversation by speaking on Beau’s experience as a student in Fall 2008 during the market crash.

1:56 How does the situation in 2008 look different than the situation today for students?

3:20 With companies like Google and Microsoft freezing hiring or cutting the number of jobs for new grads, what did the job search look like for a junior or senior during your time? 

6:20 Were there any sources of networking opportunities, like opportunities at the Career Center, that you saw your peers reach out to during this time? 

8:02 Looking back, ten years after this entire financial crisis, what advice would you give to students who are really stressed about everything going on, with internships getting cancelled or internships going remote? 

10:19 How can students stand out when you lose the face-to-face aspect of a traditional internship? 

12:28 Beau gave some great advice on how students should be proactive in seeking out opportunities to learn from employees or even more senior people at their firms. But, it’s important to realize that these people also have additional stress, as businesses become impacted by COVID. How can students take part in networking while approaching others with a sense of empathy? 

14:08 Is there any other advice you think we should keep in mind or anything that we haven’t touched upon that you think we should mention? 

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