Hi all,
Full disclaimer: I am not a SJW or anything like that.
I recall these vague memories of learning about implicit biases associated with resume review - names/org involvement/interests seem to trigger negative bias against implied nationality, sponsorship issues, race, sexual orientation (from org involvement), etc. on a statistically significant level.
I used to simply tune out of those lectures, thinking it was just some PC stuff we're required to hear and acknowledge..........until I started as recently a Summer Analyst. I was born and raised in the United States with perfectly fine English and a lot of pride in my family's US military services. In the months leading up to this summer, I got several HR calls asking to "confirm my citizenship and work status", which I thought was a bit weird but just kept telling them I'm a US citizen every time. Then, the lady verifying my I-9 seemed extremely frazzled - she took my passport away to make a call. I heard her repeat an address, which I discreetly googled on my phone and it turned out to be the Homeland Securities ICE office (I'm not even Hispanic). There is a senior guy who keeps "complimenting" me on my "good English" and tells me it's rare that I'm so friendly because most of my people don't smile much (wtf). Now, I took this boutique job as an IB stepping stone to something better with no intention of returning, and I'm glad I did because this experience exposed me to an ugly truth - people's first assumption of me will rarely be that I grew up in the States, speak English, or have the ability to communicate professionally. Granted, I'll admit this is probably due to the fact that the vast majority of international Asian students refuse to learn or speak English in America. It made me wonder how my name alone might have hurt my resume during prior recruitment.
Now, I'm not the sensitive type but something about all this just didn't sit well for some reason. A few drinks later on Friday night I did a quick google search and found these https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2017/02/2… https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/minorities-who-whiten-job-resumes-get-more-interviews
It's what it is, I'm not trying to be an activist, I literally just want to secure my first FT IB job, work a couple of years and leave. I'm not ashamed of my ethnicity and I don't care to be buddy buddies with these people - just need to reach my goal for now. My questions are: - Should I omit my ethnic last name? Use initial or just my first and middle name? - Should I somehow indicate that I'm a "US Citizen who can speak English fluently and do not require work visa" big and clear on my resume? How? - Should I throw in some "white interests" like skiing, hiking, hockey, etc.?
Obviously, my plan is to network first before applying but realistically I can't get to know 5 people from every bank x20. Some, I'm just gonna have to apply with my resume. Interested to hear your thoughts and advice on "whitening my resume".
Thanks,
Yeah the world is racist, is this really news for you? You’re Asian, you don’t experience the same systemic racism Blacks, Latinos, or Women face (unless you are female which is a very low probability given the demographic of this site unfortunately).
I never said you were instigating anything, I said to suck it up and go through with it because honestly Asians really don’t face as much racism. Just stick to your shit and go with it. Your whole thing came off as disingenuous when you said “SJW” and crapped on international students
"You're Asian, you don't experience the same systemic racism Blacks, Latinos, or Women face"
Bet bro, lmk when my URM networking event with GS takes place, you can email me my travel arrangement to my school address, and the plane tickets to my Diversity Superdays as well, thanks!
You realize that being an Asian male is literally the only minority group to not get all that URM Diversity treatment, right? Tell me this isn't news for you. Also, you're saying that I'm more privileged than some millionaire's spoiled daddy's girl - for what, "male privilege"?
This. I've encountered plenty of racism and prejudice (both explicit and implicit - the latter hurts much more). That said, it is a drop in the ocean compared to what so many other groups face and frankly we Asians (FOB or not) often perpetuate and push along that racism personally and professionally in order to get ahead. I'm specifically pointing the finger at my past self here (in addition to many others).
OP in short - it sucks, dude. It does. I (and I suspect many others of us) have been there. Hang in there. I hope that you don't try to change your identity. It'll confuse you even more and the potential negative long term ramifications to your mental well-being and social friends/circle/identity is potentially huge. The later in life that stuff hits, the worse it is for you and those around you. Ever seen truly confused people above the age of 35 who all of the sudden have all of these career/personal/professional regrets? I have. It's ugly. And a lot of it stems from trying too hard to please others or "fitting in". In the end all of this is just a job. That's it. A job. Nothing else.
If you need to omit organizations or your last name or whatever on your resume, you probably don't want to work there and with those people.
You probably won't have the problems you have faced at bigger organizations. So try to stick through this and learn a lot (or quit and do something else) and prep to land something at a larger more diverse organization.
Good Luck
Bolded emphasis mine. If you have already decided, then why this thread?
If I saw a resume without a last name I'd pause, chuckle and pass it around and probably chuck it. But that's me. I once saw a partner at a PE firm who didn't put his last name in the marketing docs. He just had his last initial. Many of us still joke about it today. He/they definitely did not get funded.
In your resume you can put it at the bottom and in emails to people you can put "I am a US Citizen" at the end. So if it's like "I think I am the best for this job or am interested to learn more blah blah blah. I am a US Citizen and will not require sponsorship. All the best, Some dude" is how I and others do it.
Once again putting in "fake" interests is not ideal. If, for example, you put in skiing and some dude who loves skiing starts asking you questions, be prepared to answer them. In detail (after all it's your "hobby". Like what hills you have skiied, where, how good you are, moguls, equipment, ideas on places to go etc. That could end up being the whole interview (in many cases this is a good thing because it means you have built a rapport and stand a good chance of going further). If it's evident that you know nothing about skiing or are caught in a lie, you are finished and it looks incredibly petty, weak, insecure and just plain bad. That's literally the stuff that people may talk about to colleagues, peers, competitors at the bar or a conference or whatever gathering randomly. "Oh I met this kid who lied and said he liked skiing. And lied. hahaha, why? What's the point?" Then someone else will pipe up and be like "oh yeah I had a kid who lied and said he liked hockey. hahaha I wonder why. Wait, did we have the same kid? what was his name? Oh man!"
The industry is filled with Asians (my guess is that you are Asian) of all kinds. So this (your background) would be nothing special to most.
Once again, you will do what you think you have to do, but I would strongly caution against "whitening" or falsifying stuff, especially petty things.
Good Luck
Asians are the most discriminated group in America.
It's really irritating that it's 2019 and I still hear and read shit like what German Hardo is saying. Someone get their fucking intern.
OP - Which city are you in? If you're not in NY, CHI, or SFO, I would consider those places. There are more people of color and the people in those cities are more accepting / less racist (if at all). At the end of the day, you can not change your race, so don't hide it. Wear it with pride and don't hide a single thing about it. If people have a problem with you being Asian, they can fuck right off.
When people say you have "good English", they probably ONLY speak English. They tend to forget that you probably know an entire other language (something they don't have). Asia is growing faster than ever, and it's possible America won't be #1 forever. Just by being Asian, you are already at a significant advantage to work (and succeed) there if you ever decide to.
Wall Street is definitely becoming more diverse. More people of color are entering Wall Street, and more importantly, being promoted to leadership positions. It's only a matter of time until things become more "balanced".
My advice would be to keep your resume as is, and focus on your work experience, not how white it looks. If a firm is going to hire or pass on you because of how "white" you are, you don't want to work for them - trust me.
I've been in the corporate world long enough to know that racists do not last long.
Keep hustling and work hard - you'll get there. Ignore the racists - they're stuck in the past, and it's not worth your energy to feel upset about it. Put that energy into networking and studying.
PS - I help lead recruiting efforts for my IB's NY office (I work at a EB). Four years ago, our analyst class was about 90% white. This year, it's about 50%, and each class is more impressive than the last. This trend is not just happening at my firm - it's happening everywhere, and I expect it to continue. I think people are realizing that talent comes in different colors, and taking action.
We are still collecting resumes for a Summer 2020 start (FT and SA). If you're comfortable sharing, why don't you PM me your latest and greatest resume? If it's good, I'll throw it in the mix. If it sucks, nothing I can do.