What is something you wish you knew about the finance world at 18?

So I'm only in my freshman year of college and still have literally everything to learn, but what are some things you wish you knew about the finance world (more specifically breaking in as a grad) when you were in your first few years of college?

13 Comments
 

I would say I wish I had known to start prepping earlier than I did.

Some people in this business(particularly interviewers) will not be nice to you, just gotta take that in stride and keep moving forward.

Focus on your health, fitness, routine now.

Develop skills that translate to becoming more efficient.

Sow your wild oats and explore new stuff. Make friends, go on trips, try new shit etc. Do not let breaking into IB become the end all be all of your existence. Knowing how to socialize well, be charismatic, and cultured will 100% help in your career.

College is the one time in your life where you have near boundless freedom if you do it right. Don't forget that. 

Array 8.5.2
 

How much legal reading (at least in real estate and certain lending groups) the job would involve, and also how much seemingly worse I feel like my overall writing has become since all I write is credit memos and emails. Not like I’m trying to write a novel but still.

Quant (ˈkwänt) n: An expert, someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing.
 

How important networking truly is. I did not pay enough attention to this for my first year and half, also go to a non target so not much info on timelines and recruiting, also kids around me didn’t know much about “high finance” or in my case RE development. So couldn’t learn that way either. Literally heard one other student mention investment banking lol. 

 

Prep time, would've started in business instead of STEM. 

"If you don't have any enemies in life you have never stood up for anything" - Winston Churchill | "It's a testament to the sheer belligerence of the profession that people would rather argue about the 'risk-adjusted returns' of using inferior tooth cleaning methods." - kellycriterion
 
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A few thoughts: 

1) How difficult it is, to truly make it you need to put all your effort into your career (throughout it) and be lucky. 

2) How some ppl have a natural edge you will never have, i.e. rich connected parents or right place/right time.

3) How much prep is needed, for everything. From interviews to work to running a deal process, there is always more work to be done.

4) Prioritize,  you can't do it all and there's always more to do, but you must prioritize the most important items. 

5) Networking is key and you can never stop doing it at all levels. 

6) Fitness, sound mind / sound body. 

7) Friends - surround yourself w/ likeminded ambitious people.

8) Know who to avoid - stay away from self-destructive people at all points in your life, they will blow themselves up and take you down with them. 

9) Positively goes a long way - no one wants to hire or work with the negative Nancy. 

10) Teammates - pick / hire those who are of likeminded and hungry.

11) Intrinsic motivation is something that can't be taught and is priceless.  

 

Get a perfect GPA, get good internships.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

That I should’ve studied Computer Science

“The three most harmful addictions are heroin, carbohydrates, and a monthly salary.” - Nassim Taleb
 

Most important thing is going to a good school. After that, you can basically fuck around with friends, assuming you maintain a decent GPA, and graduate with a nice job.

 

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