How To Market Yourself On Wall Street

careers in investment banking


KNOW WHAT THE RECRUITER IS LOOKING FOR

Quantitative/Analytical Skills

  • Overall GPA is used as an indicator
  • Usually determined by case study type questions. For example, you may be given a description of two firms based on a percentage and type of assets, and then be asked to identify what type of company they are.

Marketing/Communication Skills

  • Are you articulate, believable, trustworthy?

Interpersonal Skills

  • Can you carry on a comfortable conversation and do you appear to be able to get along well with other people? Do you appear sociable?

Motivation/Tenacity

  • Do you appear to be hungry for this job? You have to be highly motivated to handle the long hours and intense pressure. Have you demonstrated an ability to handle this kind of environment before?
  • Have you just followed the crowd, or have you pushed yourself beyond the norm?

Decision Making

  • In your past, have you demonstrated good judgment and life choices? Why did you choose BC? What have you been involved in and why?


THINGS YOU SHOULD DO TODAY

Start early

  • Get an internship at a good firm. Talk to everyone, network, prove yourself to be dependable and accurate. Learn to "walk the walk and talk the talk".

Choose your coursework carefully

  • If you're an A&S student, take some accounting, economics, or finance courses. Add technology whenever possible.

Network

  • Use the Career Advisory Network, as well as who you know and any contacts through your internship. Use young alums for basic questions and see higher level alums for more serious questions.
  • Try to meet alums in the firms you want to work for, and find out what the company is like from someone who knows the culture.

Get involved in extra curricular activities

  • It helps to make you look like a more interesting, well rounded person. Highlight any leadership roles or responsibilities.

Don't wait until graduation to look for work

  • Most companies want their quotas filled by January. Start early. Be aware of the campus Recruiting Program at BC and when companies in which you are interested are coming on campus.


INTERVIEW TIPS

Create a good resume

  • Try to customize your resume for each area of the finance industry in which you are interested. Pull out your background information that might apply to that particular division.
  • You have to be able to weave a story about yourself that separates you from other applicants and makes you unique.

Do your homework about the firm

Prepare 3-5 key points about yourself

  • The focus of the interview is for the recruiter to figure out why they should hire you. You have to be ready to provide them with these reasons. What separates you from everyone else? What can you offer that they need?
  • Do a practice interview at the Career Center.

Ask at least one intelligent question

  • Be prepared to ask job/industry/company questions.
  • Avoid personal benefit questions, and focus on what is happening in their world.
  • Be aware of current news events, and how they may impact the industry or the company (i.e., what is the company's economic outlook?, how does the company expect to grow its business over the next 5 years?, how will the Southeast Asia situation affect the company's Latin American operations?)

Convince them you have focus

  • Tell them your story in a way the shows that you have purpose and direction, and you're not here on a whim. Convince them that you're serious and motivated to do this kind of work.

Dress properly

  • Even for an informational interview, even for an internship. Your attire conveys a sense of commitment and focus. It goes back to the saying, "walk the walk and talk the talk".

Remember the basics

  • Don't forget the competencies the recruiter is looking for from Section One. Give specific examples of when and where you demonstrated these qualities.