unrelated work experience bad?

i'm trying to gain an analyst position in the next few months for the entering analyst class of 2007

i have several years of work experience teaching English in China (i taught a few years before attending college)

and because i overloaded courses in order to graduate in 2.5 years, i haven't had a chance for finance internships. will my unrelated work experience look bad?

i thought that ibanks might want someone who they could mold and train

20 Comments
 

If you have the marks, I'm sure you'll land up with an intrview. (with a botique even if nothing else).

Besides, they just need someone who can get the work done for them. As long as you prove it to them somehow (be confident in interviews, etc.), chances should be good for a second-tier bank if nothing else.

 

the china angle is interesting, play it to your advantage. certainly being a summer analyst at Merrill would have been ideal, but remember there are many others that get hired without it. look good on paper and tell a good story about your experience.

 

How many years is several? Could age be an issue to start as an analyst?

Banking > VC > Tech PE; PM me if you would like any advice I'm happy to help
 

it's not a disadvantage and it cannot hurt you -- i disagree with whoever thinks that unrelated experience shows lack of focus. but you really need to put in deep thoughts to let it mean something and work it in your favor.

 

don't tell them you can't speak chinese, it makes you look dumb. even if you only know a little (come on, 2 years and you've gotta know something), emphasize that b/c it's impressive. I think it depends on the interviewer--I had a similarly diverse background and some interviewers were like 'wtf' but others loved it. Just don't look unfocused.

 

No kind of work experience hurts you.

"We are lawyers! We sue people! Occasionally, we get aggressive and garnish wages, but WE DO NOT ABDUCT!" -Boston Legal-
 

whoever said work experience makes you look unfocused is a fucking douche bag shit head. I am sick and fucking tired of college kids leading people the wrong way. WORK EXPERIENCE IS GOOD. IT DOESNT MATTER WHERE IT CAME FROM, IT IS GOOD.

 

I beleive that every international experience is good. Also if you have certain qualifications, and you can convince them that you are a person that can be an ideal I-Banker your work experience won't matter as much. Obviously basic finance, math, accounting concepts are requited.

 

Teaching English won't earn you a lot of money in Asia but you will prolly get laid 93% the amount you will ever have in your whole life if you know how to leverage..

Nobody wants to work for it anymore. There's no honor in taking the after school job at Mickey D's. Honor's in the dollar, kid.
 
nonTargetChimpTeaching English won't earn you a lot of money in Asia but you will prolly get laid 93% the amount you will ever have in your whole life if you know how to leverage..

This man speaks the truth

in it 2 win it
 
Best Response

Sounds awesome--you can have a great time in many places, especially depending on why you are going. If you want to go to make money that can actually be saved, Korea is easily your best bet from what I hear. I have had friends go that make much more than just their costs. It is probably the one place that you can make money.

Recruiters are difficult and can cause problems. I have a lot of experience with people going to China and running into troubles--visa is tied to an employer, your passport is held until completion, etc. One way of doing what you are saying is without a contract show up in whatever city you want to be in and start teaching. Almost anywhere you would be able to find some teaching gigs (last I heard you can expect 100-200 CNY an hour for private tutoring in second/third tier cities). Another thing to try to get linked into SAT tutoring/college admission support--especially if you are from a top tier school with strong brand value.

Be aware of visa issues if you go like this--often you can only get a 3 or 6 month visa.

Hope this helps.

 

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