Army Reserves/National Guard and IBD Associate Positions
The general military-Wall Street types often serve their country, and consequently decide the grass is greeener on the otherside, pursue an MBA, and end up in banking. I was wondering how various firms would take to hiring an Associate (IBD) that is in the Reserves/National Guard. I understand that there is federal law prohibiting discrimination based on military commitments (USERRA Act), but when there is a will, there is a way.
Would it be better to go through OCS once a job is locked up? How about doing ROTC as a graduate student so you don't have to miss extended periods in teh beginning for the initial training?
How would your firm react to this? How about if the candidate was from a top three b-school program?
I appreciate your thoughts.
First, just to clarify - I was NROTC as a UG for a little bit and I didn't think the program is open for graduate students. Secondly, ROTC / NROTC doesn't excuse you for your initial training period where you'll be on active duty. You've still go to go through a selection course and then follow-on training. I think you'd probably go straight through OCS or OCC and then on to follow on training which could be about a year +. I'm not sure how it is for the Army/National Guard, but in the USMC OCS (10 weeks), assuming you make it through you go to TBS (6 months), and then finally you head to your MOS school for a few months. All in, you're looking at about a year of school before you even arrive at your duty station. So if you've got a position and then go to OCS, IDK how well that would be received. Again, they technically can't 'fire you' or get rid of your position, but good luck - the IBD world is small and I wouldn't really mess around.
My experience w/ recruiting and being in the Reserves... it helped round out my story and show that I'm not just a finance nerd, but I was definitely asked a lot of questions. Concerns were raised about availability on weekends, potential deployments, and the 2 weeks of AT training you do every summer. I don't think it was ever the sole reason I didn't get an offer out of UG, but I don't think it was helpful to have those questions linger in the interviewers mind.
BepBep - Thanks for the response. Army ROTC does allow graduate students, so I guess that would make that situation somewhat peculiar. You definitly hit on my main points of contention, I'm just trying to think everything through before making any type of commitment.
Anyone else encounter the problems during recruitment about commitment and the monthly training you are obligated to?
I'm wondering, has anyone heard of deferring either training for banking OR for the service to help certain situations? I know the military and Wall Street tend to have the most regimented recruiting respectively, but just hoping for any instances.
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