Monkeys,
I am in need of a little advice. I'm playing golf with the CEO/President of one of the largest buy side shops in my area tomorrow. I had an informational interview with him about a year ago and we discussed the potential opportunity for me to come work at his firm. This discussion was left at the "maybe/possibly" stage and it's been stuck in that gear. Anyway, fast forward twelve months and he calls me today inviting me to play golf with him and two members of the research staff.
I don't want to make our round of golf awkward, but let's just say I wouldn't mind losing a toe to work for his firm. Beating him by 20 strokes probably wouldn't help. How can I tactfully position myself to have that "getting hired" conversation"?
Thanks
Demonstrate how passionate you are by throwing your sand wedge into the lake.
If only it were that easy...
Two options here:
1.) Be yourself, be up on the markets, be personable, be ready to talk about what's going on in the world / their sectors, etc.
2.) Assuming you are a great golfer, crush them completely and then taunt them mercilessly.
Best way to throw a round of golf is too much club. Assuming he isn't awful, sailing a couple over the green should be enough to let him win and isn't too obvious. Lets you show you can stroke the ball too.
You're going to be with these guys for, what, 4-5 hours? It's impossible to predict what's going to happen in that time - what do you want to do? Plan what you're going to say every hour??? Just be chill, don't be a bad guest (I'm assuming a CC) and look for opportunities to show off knowledge throughout the day. If it doesn't happen, you can always follow up with a 'thank you' and start the conversation then.
Bring an airhorn and let it rip everytime he's putting.
Don't hold back on the course - beat him, badly. Then take piss in the 18th hole and beat your chest - to establish dominance. All that's left is negotiate your base.
right here.....
http://www.youtube.com/embed/aAyZZoalEaE
Let him beat you, but not by much....
Beat him, but keep it close. If he thinks he can beat you next time you play, he'll make sure there's a next time to be had.
Also, did he call you out of the blue to ask you out for golf? If this was him reaching out after a year of radio silence, it sounds like you might already be "in."
Yes, totally out of the blue. I'm a decent golfer, high 70s/low 80s, so keeping it close shouldn't be a problem.
rofl, decent is high 70's eh? I'm ready to erect a statue in my honor if I break 90.
be good fun and likeable. Turn it into a recruitment session and they will instantly ding you. If they wanted to talk to you about a job interview, they'd book a job interview. If they wanted fun and see how you are outside of a suit, they'd invite you to play golf.
Play hard, dont throw the game, do your best to win, keep it competitive, but dont demolish them, lose as you would win, graciously. Suggest a matchplay or stableford,(otherwise one bad hole can ruin a game for someone and make it miserable) or a fourball if you're keen to get around quick plus has the teamwork element.
Make sure everyone is enjoying themselves, have some quick golf one liners (original ones...) in your head. and some conversation topics (NOT WORK).
If they have fun with you, they'll want to be around you, at worst they'll keep you in mind when talking to friends/contacts. Be fun, don't fleece them for questions, and if it were me, dont mention the job ever, at all. Other random tips
have a good selection of drinks and snacks in your bag, enough to share (but not for 4 - be prepared, not tryhard)
plenty of replacement balls, a few decent ones if they're out, and junk ones for you (unless you're good). a range of tees and some decent ball markers/divot repairer.
have the usual ball cleaners, club heads, clean set of golf shoes, and a range of club house attire (semi formal or really formal, just in case - unless you know the club really well).
Clean your car (get someone else to do it), inside and out, full tank of fuel.
have a decent amount of cash on you, in useful amounts, change for random stuff, and a few notes for your round afterwards.
Bring along an ethnic caddy, and refer to your clubs as bats. Walk straight across their putting lines, look at your divots and laugh while leaving them, play with an ipod on and explain it helps your concentration and its how you roll, take a ridiculous number of practise swings at the tee, do warm up stretches, for 20 minutes, tell them what they're doing wrong while losing, wear bright coloured plus fours. Trainers as shoes, you didnt realise you needed spikes, keep clone balls in your pockets to get favourable lies and have a hip flask with something strong in, and burgers are completely acceptable snacks to have with you, and obviously the wrapper goes on the floor, its probably biodegradeable, bring some toilet paper and explain sometimes you just have to go and its good to be prepared (like in buyside) and obviously, miscount your shots (too few) and theirs (too many), all their good shots are lucky, all their bad ones are hilarious, challenge their scorecards, regularly and hi five them when you play a good shot.
That's about it, sorry for the lengthy list. one is a do list, the other is a do not and is intended to provide amusement to random clickers on this thread, If you cant tell the difference, video this day and send it to me.
Best of luck, it's a bloody tough environment out there.
T
Make a bet that you can out drive him for the position...
Or win, but keep it close like NR said...
youtube has a button that says "share" - choose the embed option and copy and paste
If you want the position, be sure to bring one of these. There's nothing more embarrassing than having to take a piss on the 8th hole and having nowhere to do it
Actually I wouldn't even try to talk about jobs at his firm, the markets, or anything else work-related if he/the other guys don't start talking about that. Just be a nice guy and follow up afterwards. He already knows that you want a job at his firm, so impress him/them with your good behaviour and being a nice guy - someone they want to work with.
Just my 2 cents
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