If you're a tall, good looking guy, can you still land a position on Wall Street if you come from a low-income background?
I am a bit older 29 (will graduate December 2018) from Harvard University Extension School. I have great grades, alot of work experience in another industry, etc. "Most" of the people on Wall Street are only there because they come from affluent backgrounds, never had to struggle, parents paid for their private school, undegrad, have been socialized to the values of the upper or upper middle class etc. You the reader know this is 100% true. Please don't argue it. Anyway, i want to know depsite being very tenacious, having a really shitty upbringing, and not being socialized to the values of people at this level of the work force which is out of my control, will i be given a chance being good looking, and willing to make as much money for my boss or the firm as possible? Will hiring managers understand that it took me this long to get on this level and could not be further ahead as most of my peers are because i did not have the advantages they did? Thoughts?
Those are attributes which may contribute to ones effectiveness as a networker. If you can leverage these traits by networking you can make the transition. If not you may consider going into acting or applying to your local Chippendales (you may be too old for entry into modelling)
2/10
First thing you should do is drop the chip on your shoulder and obvious disdain for the people you apparently want to work with/for. Lots of people got into finance because they were smart and hardworking, not because their dad is an MD at the bank.
Hear hear. OP sounds like he has the required skill set to get where he wants to but with that obvious fountain of bile he is likely to be a spectacular fail.
OP, congratulations on being the recipient of the first bit of monkey shit I've thrown at a post in over 3 years. It is obvious you've never worked on WS, and your view of the industry seems to have been informed by the Bernie Sanders / Elizabeth Warren media crusade. Either that, or you're trolling.
Of all the professions out there, finance is likely the most meritorious. Coming from an affluent background with tons of grooming is obviously a huge advantage, but to generalize and say that this is the reason most people are there is beyond ignorant. Competition for IB is intense, and only truly hard working individuals make it. People on WS actually respect minorities and people of non-traditional backgrounds who work their asses off to break in. In fact, the only reason I made it was because of white, affluent mentors who took me under their wings when they saw how hungry I was (despite my lack of polish). I've seen silver spoon kids get pushed out for being shitty workers while their brown skinned peers get promoted - the only difference was willingness to grind.
Please understand this - people on WS respect grit and loathe whining. Finance is one of the last places in society where individual responsibility still counts, and we can smell victimization from a mile away. If you lose this attitude before you interview, however, you just might make it.
if you are tall AND good looking, be sure to list your height on your resume, probably your weight too, and it is okay to indulge a little about your weight.. The reason being is no one likes working with a stick figure.
Additionally, if I were you, I would put a picture of myself on my resume, most likely standing next to roller coaster ride height requirement sign. This will show that you are actually as tall as you say you are, and it will make them less likely to confirm your weight when it is time for a background check (I had a buddy get burnt for this when he was recruiting for SA roles).
Make sure it's a full body shot too so they know you're not just standing on a box or something. Probably also take a shirtless pic (with jacket still on of course you barbarian) so they know you're not one of those skinny fat beer belly losers.
'nana for you
Well you certainly haven't been socialized properly, I can confirm that.
Blow me.
On second thought, I'd like to offer you a job young man!
Please see my response in the following thread. All of your questions will be answered.
http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/what-traits-are-important-to-domi…
I'm sure you can hustle your way in
Is there particular type of work on Wall Street where you can make alot of money not giving a fuck about anyone?
Partner on the buyside, might be difficult to start there but not for a go-getter. Try sending your profile to headhunters.
Partner on the buyside, might be difficult to start there but not for a go-getter. Try sending your profile to headhunters.
hey man, you set yourself up; it was too easy...
Seriously, if you hustle and want things for the right reasons, you can break in. There are plenty of threads and blogs with advice on this and similar success stories.
But you really have to flush the notion that you are the only one who has been through bullshit in their life. Over the last few days I have read 2-3 success stories about people who were homeless prior to breaking-in. Do some digging, find some inspiration and try not to antagonize the people you want to hire you.
Haha you suck if you're anything like this in real life
the most concerning thing about this post in the fact that u go to Harvard extension school. It is concerning because that program accepts everyone who applies, and if u truly have this stigma for the upper middle class family who had a great upbringing, then ur a hypocrite.
A hypocrite because u, without any doubt, chose ur school because of the name. do not argue this as we both know its true.
If u want to b.s and state that u go for free, or have a great scholarship, thats a lie because i can easily name three schools, that are actually university programs that offer great scholarships in the same area.
Its evident that u went to Harvard extension, thought u could get a great job because of the name, and now that people realize that ur totally full of a shit ur starting to sound like a liberal bernie sanders and pointing the finger at everyone because ur not where u want to be. as Rocky said- ur pointing ur finger at everyone because ur not where u want to be because of him, or her, or anybody. cowards do that and that isn't u. u should be better than that.
I usually wouldn't write that much to someone who clearly has the wrong view of life, but i just had a triple shot of espresso and am feeling good. alright, alright, alright..
Can you at least make an attempt at proper grammar.
People need to stop throwing monkey shit at the OP.
I just did before I read this comment. haha!
so, i doubt you being good looking will have anything to do with you getting a job. Because there are some ugly, acne faced ass mf on wall street making bank. I hope you have a plan B lol
Be honest with us, you were smashed when you wrote this...
I think you watch too much tv.
Tip: you don't fit in here. If your grades aren't a joke, apply to a Macc program and go into accounting. You'll be 31 starting at the big 4, on your way to the upper middle class. Last until manager in audit, jump to a company, you'll be pulling down $120k living a fine life. Good luck.
How good looking are you though......... Asking for a friend
Ford model height/weight proportionate.
Street
THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!
Everyone knows that height and attractiveness don't matter, base pressed penis length does!
I
Am
Congrats on having the first negative rank I have ever seen jackass
You're not going to make it on the Street not because you come from a low-income background but because you don't go to a target school.
Academically, Harvard Extension is a great program for the price at one of the best universities in the world, but at the end of the day it is a Continuing Education program and is treated as such.
If you want to go to Wall Street, you'd be better off going to a traditional accredited business school.
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