Breaking into Operations

Someone really close to me will be graduating this spring/summer with a math degree from a top 50 state school. He is very smart, obviously quantitative, but for X reasons did not do well in school and will graduate with a 2.5-2.8 GPA.

I think an operations job would be a great option for him: low level of stress with a decent salary.

How competitive is breaking into ops? Can it be done given his GPA at a top 50 university?

Can people take the same approach to getting into OPS that they can for front office jobs? For example, will reaching out to alums and asking for information interviews dramatically increase one's chances?

Thanks

 

Reaching out dramatically increases your chances for anything. Definitely talk to alums and network. Given he's smart and is a math major I don't feel like he'll be satisfied in operations however, if he can get his foot in the door with some first rounders maybe he can prove his smarts.

 

How smart or quantitative can he possibly with a 2.5? Just majoring in something difficult doesn't automatically make you smart... you have to actually succeed in it as well. It's going to be tough to break into anything with a 2.5, so networking is an absolute must in his situation. And as much as people like to make fun of ops on here, it still isn't that easy to break... they have some standards too after all.

 
Best Response
downtown22:
How smart or quantitative can he possibly with a 2.5? Just majoring in something difficult doesn't automatically make you smart... you have to actually succeed in it as well. It's going to be tough to break into anything with a 2.5, so networking is an absolute must in his situation. And as much as people like to make fun of ops on here, it still isn't that easy to break... they have some standards too after all.

Downtown, your reaction is exactly the point that I was trying to address. It is why I trying to seek advice and see how attainable such feat is.

I am a big proponent of math majors. I think that it is nearly impossible to bullshit your way through an advanced calculus or topology class at a reputable university. Thus, I do believe that "simply majoring" in and completing a math degree screens for the minimum level of logic/intelligence that is necessary for such a career.

 

Ops is not too hard to break into, same approach will work. Since most BB's actually have structured Ops recruiting programs.

However, since it is Ops, your friend won't really know what team he will be working on. So make sure he reads up on his finance topics, at the bare minimum WSJ.

Make sure he knows what Ops is.

Last thing, have him come up with a good reason why his GPA is low. Since most Ops interviews are fit question dominated, make he sure knows those too.

 
treynorblack9999:
Ops is not too hard to break into, same approach will work. Since most BB's actually have structured Ops recruiting programs.

However, since it is Ops, your friend won't really know what team he will be working on. So make sure he reads up on his finance topics, at the bare minimum WSJ.

Make sure he knows what Ops is.

Last thing, have him come up with a good reason why his GPA is low. Since most Ops interviews are fit question dominated, make he sure knows those too.

Certainly. He'll be prepared with a good story. Additionally, I'll have him as prepared for the ops interview as I was for my ibanking ones (industry overview, technicals, markets, product knowledge, cultural awareness). I hope this is enough to overcome a below-average academic record.

 

"I think that it is nearly impossible to bullshit your way through an advanced calculus or topology class at a reputable university. "

Yet your prior post:

"top 50 university"

ROFL. No one gives a shit why you were too blacked out drunk to get a 3.5+ at shitty penn state. Something I could do while brain dead.

PS: I had a 3.8 at an ivy in a double major econ+math and I didn't even study that much.

God damn are you guys stupid.

 
boutiquebank4life:
"I think that it is nearly impossible to bullshit your way through an advanced calculus or topology class at a reputable university. "

Yet your prior post:

"top 50 university"

ROFL. No one gives a shit why you were too blacked out drunk to get a 3.5+ at shitty penn state. Something I could do while brain dead.

PS: I had a 3.8 at an ivy in a double major econ+math and I didn't even study that much.

God damn are you guys stupid.

Pardon my lack of elitism, but I do think that most top 50 universities are reputable, particularly in hard sciences and math. Also, without divulging too many details, this is not a case of drunken debauchery.

And though I commend your scholastic abilities, the anecdotal evidence you provide does not take away from my belief that it takes a certain degree of intellect to pass math classes. If what you state is true, then clearly you have the intellectual capabilities to succeed in the technical aspects of finance. I was trying to address minimum requirements.

 

It would depend on your network, experiences, and general credentials. I don't think it would be that difficult but it can depend on the place as they might source their Ops candidates from certain schools. Networking evens the playing field though so just keep talking to people and applying! Also use your college's career resources if you still have access to them as they can help in directing you to companies that recruit/alumni.

For the lead! Sipag, tiyaga, at lakas ng loob!
 

Thanks! Any advice on how I should go about it? I have been filling out applications on company websites and with recruiters - no luck. Not very many job listings either so things are not looking good.. I'm thinking about finding the email addresses of back office directors and reaching out to them directly.

 

Sure, sending your resume in through a firms external website has very little chance of success. Through your network, try to find a connection to someone in the firm with the opening. If you can find someone with a connection, try to meet them and see if they can make an intro for you and get your resume in front of the right person. Next, find out the most important aspect of the position and make that your main pitch: they want someone to reconcile account balances? Say you did that across 4 external platforms for your last role...something like that.

 

You could probably get a back office job through a temp agency so a BB will use you and hopefully will just buy you out. Sure it sucks to not get the job outright, but you'd be inside and maybe after some time an opportunity will open up for you in that department or another. I've seen this happen.

 

Thanks guys! I've found the email addresses of some managing directors of operations. Would you guys say it's a better idea to email these directors or to inquire on openings through the HR emails listed on the company websites? Also, my GPA is 3.1 cumulative and 3.4 major - should I list this on my resume? Thank you in advance!

 

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