Don't Make My Mistakes

Hey Monkeys,

I was speaking with a friend of mine, and they were disappointed about their job prospects. As I have recently started a new position, I reflected on how I got to the position I am in and what I would have done differently so here is a list of my unsolicited advice.

1. Preaching to the choir but NETWORKING EARLY AND OFTEN IS KEY. Cold call/email, ask family members if they know anyone in your respective field, use LinkedIn, find alumni, etc. Get creative. I was very hesitant to network at first, and I wish I was more proactive.

2. When networking, BE PREPARED. Know a little about the person you're talking to, the industry you're discussing, current events, and even non-finance events like sports. I used to research a little about the company and person and wasn't having any success. I had a phone call with a banker and knew that he liked his Alma maters basketball team from one of his LinkedIn posts, so I researched what was going on with the team and talked to him about it (he loved it). Didn't get the job but got to the first round of interviews.

3. Getting someone to like you is sometimes all it takes to get your resume in the right hands. Often times, I would just come in talking about the company. I saw more success when I started making it more personal.

4. BE STRATEGIC when applying for jobs. I don't know how much time I wasted just blasting my resume to every finance job I could find.

5. Last, the world doesn't end just because you didn't get that job at the BB bank or a megafund. There are plenty of successful, intelligent, and amazing people in all fields. Find your fit and be the best at it.

Good luck and keep grinding