Am I a Fish in a Big @SS Lake?

First off I want to extend many thanks to WSO and it's quirky members for their often humorous yet helpful musings that make a previous lurker like myself keep coming back.

That being said I need your help... I'm a Finance major solely interested in CF and beginning my career as efficiently as possible right out of undergrad. Here are the facts:

-I have two years left until graduation -I have decent grades(3.7) -One leadership role in a club and 3 years work experience in unrelated menial jobs

-My school has 58 thousand students -8 thousand are in the business school alone

Next summer would be the only semester I could squeeze in an internship

Finally, let's assume that 50% of the students at my school are completely inept, which is undoubtedly true so why assume?

How the eff do I differentiate myself among the masses when it comes time for scouting for jobs in CF? What's the best way I should be spending my two years?

Thanks in advance

6 Comments
 

In before everyone starts in with the usual, "Networking! Networking, you dumbass!" That said, it is good advice...

See if you can get off-cycle internships as well? I've known a lot of people who do PT internships their senior fall, etc. when their courseload allows them days off.

Currently: future neurologist, current psychotherapist Previously: investor relations (top consulting firm), M&A consulting (Big 4), M&A banking (MM)
 
Best Response

*Start a company, I don't care if all you're actually doing is mowing the neigbor's lawn. People like seeing this stuff

  • Do "corporate" work, as most kids are chilling in the library or some other non-career job.

  • Apply to EVERY JOB AND INTERNSHIP you can. Intern this summer.

  • NETWORK, duh. Join business frats / clubs / student societies

  • Talk to everyone: deans, professors, randoms on LinkedIn. Open your mouth

  • breath. These jobs aren't as hyper competitive as working in a bank.

  • Hail Mary option: transfer to a school that recruits for CF

Bottom line: work hard...just get busy. You have good grades, so they know you're smart, now go DO STUFF to show that you're a workhorse. Also, create a rasume profile and post here asking for comments.

Get busy living
 

Thank you for the replies. I did use the magical search button after posting and got many of my other questions answered, go figure. But,

I have one final question. I work at Lowes part time and I believe they are a F50 company; would they be a good option to launch a career or should I be looking at other companies?

 

Wondering if you go to the same school as I do. As far as I know there are only two schools in the country that can say they have 58,000 students...

EDIT: Just checked your profile. Just as I suspected. Feel free to PM me, we have similar concerns as far as CF recruiting at our school.

--Art Vandelay

 

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