Hey guys, so we have a new project in the works and I was hoping to get your feedback. Basically, we have the WSO Job board where recruiters and companies post jobs for the community, but we thought to supplement this, what if we could offer them a huge database of relevant applicants that they could actively reach out to with advanced filters?
With this in mind, within 1-2 weeks (in time for WSO Conference!) we will be releasing a WSO Applicant Profile form that allows members to fill in detailed information about their current status, target job and other details (all anonymously and not tied to their username). The goal here is that for those members not willing / able to spend the $ on a job board subscription, they can still enter in their profile information and have companies and/or recruiters reach out to them.
So the reason for this post is I'd like your feedback....below is the list of fields we will be asking the Applicants (you) and what the recruiters/HR will be able to filter by...ARE WE MISSING ANY?
1. Current Status:
First Name
Last Name
E-mail
Current City (Office or School)
Available to Interview Immediately? Yes/No
I started working: (month) (year) [option "NA" for students in drop downs]
Current Company
Current Job Title / Status
Current Industry
Current Group/Division
Profile Picture
Attached Resume
2. Education & Scores:
Undergrad School
Undergrad GPA
Undergrad Class Year (or expected)
Grad School
Grad GPA
Grad Class Year (or expected)
Major/s
Degree/s
Certifications
Varsity Athlete? Yes/No
Military Program? Yes/No
Sex: Male/Female
Math SAT
Verbal SAT
Writing SAT
GMAT
ACT
3. Target & Preferences:
Desired Industry (check all that apply)
Desired Group (check all that apply)
Desired Position Title (check all that apply)
Location Preferences (Cities):
Firm and Fund Size Preferences (check all that apply): [need to add in these options..."boutique / small firm", "middle market / medium sized firm", "bulge bracket / large firm"
I want to be contacted for/by: [ ] All relevant opportunities [ ] Recruiters Only [ ] Direct from companies only
4. Skills:
Language 1, Level 1 (Basic, Intermediate, Fluent, Native)
Language 2, Level 2....[4 languages...search will have to look across all 4 of these language fields to filter for the right applicants]
Overall Financial Modeling (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
LBO Modeling (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Discounted Cash Flow (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Other valuation Analysis (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Mergers & Acquisitions (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Restructuring / Complex Capitalization Tables (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Overall Excel Skills (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Excel - Data Tables (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Excel - Macros (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Excel - Formatting (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Excel - Advanced Functions (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Overall Investing Skills (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Long Ideas (Equities): (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Short Ideas (Equities): (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Derivatives: (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Investing Ideas (Fixed Income / Credit): (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Overall PowerPoint Skills (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Overall Microsoft Word Skills (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Other Skills (please put level in parenthesis), Programs and Interests:
[free form paragraph field for applicants to put other interests and skills in certain programs...like real estate people would put "Argus" as a program]...this way, recruiters can search for more specific skills here...
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anything else? Thoughts on this idea?
This is a great idea. However, my concern with the "skills" section is that it's totally subjective and filled out by the applicant. Anyone can put in that they are an expert LBO modeler and there's no benchmark for what makes them expert vs. good, adequate, etc. People are going to be inclined to embellish their skills to try and make themselves more attractive as a candidate, at which point the objective of that section is completely eroded.
Instead, I'd echo another commenter's suggestion that you include some form of Certified User tag. Then perhaps change the skills to years experience in specific fields (i.e. instead of personally saying that I'm a good LBO modeler, I just enter that I've worked in [M&A] in group [XYZ industry] for [4 years] and perhaps provide me the option to check that I've worked on LBOs during that time (although I'd assume this is the case for most M&A bankers).
Same goes for Excel, PPT, etc. If I've worked in banking for a number of years, then I'm probably a lot more adept with Excel, PPT, etc. than someone who's still an undergrad. However, if the undergrad says they are an Excel expert and I only say that I'm good, then a recruiter either has to assume I have a better skill set because of my experience (at which point they are ignoring whatever the candidates entered for their level of expertise) or I may not make the cut when the undergrad does.
Again, to echo someone else's point, either allow candidates to upload models, decks, etc. or just allow us to enter our experience and let the recruiters determine how adept we are (most firms are going to give you a model test and/or ask for prior examples of work anyway).