I believe in order to improve the sight there should be a tiered certification system. An example is to give a silver star next to the name of people who were SA over the summer. Also to have icons on user profiles to demonstrate if they work in a BB, work in the buy side or sell side, have gone to a M7 school, etc. This is the next step too show that the user has some credibility to what they are saying. I know anonymity is important so general categories will do.
As this sight is geared towards prospective monkey's I think it would be very beneficial for them to know that they are getting sound advice from monkeys who have already done the internships they seek.
I think that Patrick should set up an encrypted verification system, similar to facebook, where one can enter his email address and a confirmation email will be sent to that address for certification.
This would be beneficial for many reasons:
1.) People wouldn't have to compromise anonymity (if the system is properly encrypted) 2.) People from hack shops and second-tier firms, whose opinions don't matter anyway, won't be able to become certified (since, I'm assuming, like facebook, the system would only be set to recognize well-known firms, so some idiot with an @rho.com email or some other mom-and-pop shop won't be able to get certified) 3.) He could set the system to only accept certifications from Oct-July, so that summer's won't be able to fool the system (as so many have already fooled Patrick... despite his claims that all Certified Users are full-time professionals)
I don't see myself sending out my email anytime soon, but, if there were an encrypted form, I'd consider it. As of right now, the certification system is "unreliable", to say the least [in terms of how legit certified users actually are].
b2, a few responses to your points:
1) this isn't facebook and I don't have thousands of dollars to set up an e-mail encryption system or the time to figure out how to do it -- so grow some cojones (none of the other certifieds have ever had one ounce of anonymity compromised). Even if you did have any balls to send me an e-mail it wouldn't matter because as I state clearly here: http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/certified-users you actually have to demonstrate a level and maturity and respect to be considered.
2) read http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/certified-users ...if a person hasn't demonstrated superior knowledge and a willingness to help others they won't get certified. if they happen to be from a "mom-and-pop shop", so be it. I'm sorry you can't handle it.
3) there has actually only been 1 certified user that was a summer intern that had sent me an email from his work acct over the summer that I certified by mistake. Do you mind pointing out the other "many" that have fooled me? I've had about 30 summers e-mail me - I made one error. shoot me.
No certification system will be perfect and i think the current certified users are knowledgeable and just as important, willing to help with maturity. If you want to be an asshole that's your choice. We have a lot of changes coming in the next few weeks and after those are done I will implement some of the tiered certification I discussed in my other post.
Thanks for your thoughts, Patrick
I've already confirmed with Patrick that I was an SA this past summer at a bulge bracket, so I would hope to get some sort certification if we went with this system.
Patrick, you do remember the e-mail I sent you, right?
hey guys, I love this idea.
Right now, we have only 1 tier of certification. A Certified User with a gold star next to their name. I have mixed feelings about the idea of having a silver star for users that have had a summer internship -- although it would give more identification,I am not sure interns should be given a star given they still have relatively little experience in said industry and might give misleading advice.
I think something that would be more useful is actually taking the gold stars and modifying them so that they have small letters in them representing what industry the user is certified in.
So a user could be certified in ibanking they would get an "IB" in their star, Private Equity = "PE" etc.
Unfortunately these changes will have to wait because my web developer is super busy trying to get the new theme ready for launch later this month. We will know a lot more about whether the end of this month is a reasonable time frame for the launch.
Once the new theme is launched, we will definitely revisit this asap and try to give the certification more tiers.
Thanks, Patrick
I already posted in the other thread who you certified who is not a professional. Go look it up.
b2, sorry, don't have time to go "look it up". I'm too busy with exams, starting another business and trying to improve a site that you spend most of your waking hours trolling...pretending to be someone you're not.
why don't you stop posturing and send me an anonymous e-mail from your work account? Could it be that your still in school? it's lame to lie about your qualifications. if you are telling the truth at least I could back you up in some threads where people call you out. right? so what do you have to lose?
if you can do a better job, I highly encourage you to go create your own forum. just remember that nobody owes you anything. WSO is going to improve and if you want to be a part of it, great. if not, you can take your trolling elsewhere. I can appreciate some of your blunt posts because sometimes it is deserved. Other times you just sound like a 17 year old brat.
you don't "clash" with people because you're a "straight-shooter". You clash with people on this forum because at times you have an elitist attitude and you act like an asshole.
Thanks, Patrick
ps - and i responded to your b school / family question in the other thread
WSO,
While I agree that it would be interesting to have specific certifications that designate which industry individuals work in, I ask that you please don't separate out icons for those at Bulge Brackets. People already have this strange notion that BBs are the only "real" investment banks, and would hate if my opinions were discounted for my working in the middle market. Thanks!
~~~~~~~~~~~ CompBanker
Also can you also add an official star or icon for posters who are official employees of WSO.
I technically don't have any "employees" but several users have helped me sell forum sponsorships and ads around the site to help keep the site running and getting better.
Would you want those users pointed out for any reason?
Now that the theme and design is coming along, I really need to focus on growing traffic and getting more sponsorships sold so we don't run out of cash!
Thanks for the feedback though, Patrick
It was my understanding that affluenza and edwardo braverman were writers under you. The only reason was that they seemed to be like the news agency of the forums as they only start news topics.
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