What Not To Do
Andy note: Best of WSO - this post originally went up May 2008 and we thought it deserved to go back on the homepage for those who may have never seen it.
Some advice for all the prospective monkeys out there...
#1- For those of you on this forum and looking for a job... you are entitled to nothing. No one on here owes you shit, if they help you, it’s because they want to not because they owe you.
#2- Never say anything (publicly or through a PM/E-Mail) you wouldn't say to an interviewer; because potential interviewers may very well be on this forum. And when you specifically mention what firm/div/group you’re interviewing in, they will know who you are.
#3- If someone goes to bat for you and gets you an interview, you are representing them. Meaning anything you do or say reflects positively or negatively on them. They did you a favor; don't embarrass them by acting like an imbecile and then mentioning them by name.
#4- While you’re in school, you may feel like you have the world by the balls. Maybe you go to UNC-CH like this kid and have a solid GPA, get the highest grade on your exams etc... I’m sure you feel like a real rock star at times. Get ready for the real world. You will have the most success by being humble, keeping your head down, and working harder than you ever dreamed possible.
Since I've already FWDed this transcript to a select few colleagues, I guess my anonymity has been breached.
This fine specimen is interviewing for an Investment Analyst position tomorrow.
you better keep yourself in check small timer, you're obviously one of those kids with no connections like me ;) ... if you have any problems with buysideguy01, tell that to Harold (UNC represent) ... i can get you fired just like that if i knew your name, you have NO CONNECTIONS
Well you obviously have an interview coming up. I take it the 2 girls interviewing this week wouldn't call themselves BuySideGuy01 and the 2 guys with PE-related internships know what PE secondaries consist of; that leaves one stray douche bag interviewing this week... AKA BuySideGuy01. Try to keep your smug attitude in check.
Don't count on an offer.
Nice use of "especially" Looks like they hire "especially intelligent" people in GS PEG. Good luck with your "especially" interesting job at PEG; this may be a difficult job market, but I have the advantage of being selective and looking over GS PEG, that FoF group. Thanks.
Marcus_Halberstram wrote:
You should be careful how you come off when talking to people on this forum. Especially when you have an interview coming up and you could potentially rub someone the wrong way. Especially if that someone works in the group you're interviewing in and could potentially be interviewing you. The job market is tough, PEG is a group that is VERY particular about who they hire and have dinged people for seemingly minuscule transgressions.
Just a friendly heads up.






Well done Marcus, totally
Well done Marcus, totally agree with what you said.
Wow, you've got to be
Wow, you've got to be kidding. Can't believe someone would take the chance of screwing themselves over like that before the interview has even happened. Might as well not show up.
"Never say anything (publicly or through a PM/E-Mail) you wouldn't say to an interviewer." Great advice, esp given how small the finance world is and how much ppl talk / ask about those they're considering bringing on board at their respective firms.
Attitude's like that will get squashed pretty quickly in the real world. I'm sure his "CONNECTIONS" would be thoroughly embarrassed being associated w/ him, especially if they knew that they were being paraded around in that manner to boost his already over-inflated ego.
I'm glad that this
I'm glad that this condescending idiot has just been exposed. At my school, I have seen tons of arrogant kids landing IB offers, and it never ceases to amaze me how kids with attitudes like that could ever hope to make it in the real world.
Good advice - This is
Good advice - This is actually crazy though. Is this through private convo? Or was this a posted forum topic that went astray?
very good post, this is very
very good post, this is very important advice for young people going into finance. i feel like many of us are high achievers and are "rockstars" in our own way, but sometimes lack a certain level of maturity and professionalism.
i had a horrible experience of my own in regards to confidentiality. long story short, a high-ranking executive at an MM firm overheard me talking smack about him while walking to the train station, and he called me out on it. it was a very unfortunate coincedence that the person was standing right there, but it really taught me to be wiser about what i say and where i say it. indeed, a budding rockstar that keeps his mouth shut is likely to fare much better than a cocky d-bag like the OP is referring to.
Interesting...I would add don't embellish or lie
..because you will be caught at it at some point.
Maybe the OP should take this to heart along with buysideguy....
You work in GS PEG and you are going to let your "colleagues" know about this d-bag? I doubt it considering the track function on WSO.
Check them out..recent posts include...
CorpF500
Ive heard alot of people recommend F500 CorpFin. What are the hours like? How would you go about finding these types of positions? Obviously the culture will vary from one firm to the next, but what are some general trends in this particular line of work? What type of work would you do...?
Would appreciate some insight from people who have work/considered working in this area. Or are atleast familiar with what it consists of.
Thanks in advance.
Interview Secret Weapons
What have been people's 'secret weapons' interviewing? As in your most valuable/helpful resource in slaughtering an interview... or that one thing you saved to really blow an interviewer away? Something you did/learned/conveyed that you really think helped put you over the edge and really impress your interviewers...
Not really trying to be an asshole, but be honest or it will catch up to you.
What is funny is that
What is funny is that BuySideGuy01 now changed his name to stemple369
His connections won't get him too far when someone on this forum that works at GS sends a link pointing to this thread to the MD he mentioned.
Financial Modeling Training
Guide to Finance Interviews
Banking Resume
Interview secret weapons was
Interview secret weapons was a genuine interest. And F500 was... dare I say it, for a friend of mine. I just find the 'a friend of mine wants to know' disclaimers pretty pointless. I have plenty of friends who don't feel like they're cut out for 60-70 hr weeks, and are considering other avenues.
I don't really need to prove anything to anyone. The original culprit should have a pretty good idea of whether or not I am who I claim to be by the info I have already given him. And by the outcome of his interview(if there still is one).
Financial Modeling Training
Guide to Finance Interviews
Banking Resume
how embarrassing btw how'd
how embarrassing
btw how'd you know this guy changed his username?
When you change your
When you change your username it retroactively changes it in all your past posts, as well.
young and new
hey everyone,
i just joined today and i am already fascinated with WSO. i find that this post in particular is very interesting because it seems to me that there are so many people out there that are so intelligent, yet arrogant.
but, what do I know? im still an undergrad. I really want to get into I-banking but the chances are not too great, coming from a non-ivy school. i do, however, pride myself on my professionalism, maturity, and respect for those around, especially my "professional superiors." any advice for a kid like me? someone that wants to get into I-banking, or the like, coming from a Big Ten school.
What not to do: don't put
What not to do: don't put your real name as your user ID.
Financial Modeling Training
Guide to Finance Interviews
Banking Resume
Harold
What is funny is that BuySideGuy01 now changed his name to stemple369
His connections won't get him too far when someone on this forum that works at GS sends a link pointing to this thread to the MD he mentioned.
Esp if that MD would happen to be Harold Hope who is listed as one of the heads of GS PEG on the GS website.
[email protected]
He prob doesn't even know the guy, just looked up someone on GS PEG website and dropped a name.
point taken. just
point taken.
just wondering, but why not? just liability?
Wouldn't a name like
Wouldn't a name like "buysideguy" imply existing employment in the buyside?
Correct.
Check out my WSO Blog
Are FoFs considered buyside?
Oh fuck
Mack AttacK!
What would you do if you
Interesting.
an example of the lack of
Tell us if he shows up for
aghh, this is all fairly silly
...
Financial Modeling Training
Guide to Finance Interviews
Banking Resume
i think i have a fairly rational mind in general
As an undergrad, you have
Financial Modeling Training
Guide to Finance Interviews
Banking Resume
you are incorrect
and btw
That reminds me of a post I
Looking back, I think it was
Financial Modeling Training
Guide to Finance Interviews
Banking Resume
haha
ahh, there you go
Is there a difference
I think the biggest
Financial Modeling Training
Guide to Finance Interviews
Banking Resume
Kind of funny because I know
Warren Buffett comes to mind
lmfao
lmfao
Hahaha yeah I believe it was
is there any way to find
...
well
http://www.wired.com/gadgets/
Financial Modeling Training
Guide to Finance Interviews
Banking Resume
Yeah, Jobs's tirades and
Dude Ellison is the guy who
exactly
>>>
absolutely agree with
I challenge badam to wall
"Oh the ladies ever tell you that you look like a fucking optical illusion" - Frank Slaughtery 25th Hour.