So, I've been interviewing all over. Mostly ibd jobs (Sr Assoc to Jr VP) and some buyside roles (mainly BDC on the debt side).
My resume is all NYC (2 major BBs, a couple boutiques) and any time I apply outside of Manhattan/Westchester/Fairfield county I get the same question, 'Why X city'. I give answers about friends/family/business colleagues where appropriate, but nothing seems to land with hiring managers.
Anyone have any insight here? Just seems weird. If I were hiring in LA or Philly for example, I'd kill for someone with New York experience. Now I don't know.
Thanks
As someone who has lived, worked and/or grown in up all of the metro areas, first off, don't act like you're the shit because you have NYC experience. Especially in Boston and Philly: they don't like to be thought of or treated as if they're second rate cities and they're always in NYC's shadows. Most people in LA think every stereotype of NYC is true: rude, weird Brooklyn accents, you think your shit smells like perfume, etc. If you're letting that feeling out at all you're going to have a strike against you before they even rate you on more job specific things.
Also, don't go for the generic responses of why such as I family (unless it's nuclear family, saying you have a cousin who lives there is generic) or friends (unless it's a big group of friends, like "I went to Penn State and everyone I know from college is in Philly or Pittsburgh). If it's Philly, for example, say that you really like the manageability and affordability of the city compared to NYC and think the Main Line suburbs are top rate and would like to settle long term in the area and raise a family because the schools are great and it's a quick commute into the city (guarantee you that nearly every banker or buyside guy lives on the Main Line if they're not in the city). If it's LA, say that you love the lifestyle, the weather, and really like to live near the water because you surf, sail, SUP, deep sea fish, etc and you've spent significant time in Santa Monica (or wherever) and are very purposefully trying to move there. Pick specific things for Boston or Chicago also. Interviewers get the generic answer all the time. You'll stand out if you say something unique.
But most importantly don't act like you're the shit and anyone should be lucky to have you because you're from or have NYC experience.
Yea I work and do hiring in one of the cities you mention in your post and really wouldn't give much of a shit about a candidate just because they worked in NYC. If all education and experience is fairly equal then I'm going to hire the local person every time.
You'd think they would kill for NYC experience, but in reality NYC sets the salary expectation too high for most. I look around the finance scene in my 2nd tier city and it's barely any NYC transplants. Usually organic people or from other cities on the same tier level.
If you're only applying to Boston and Philly I'd suggest a couple tangible reasons why. both are pretty unique cities with a distinct culture. Talk about being tired of the NYC grind, looking to put down roots, wanting to get away from the douchebags, whatever.
Wow lots of anger on the 'I'm from NYC and I'm better than everyone'. Not really what I meant. More implying that the training you get there is most likely very advanced. So if you go to a non-wall street firm or whatever, that they'd value someone that can hit the ground running as opposed to hand holding someone through the process.
Thanks for the insight though
No anger meant on my part. Just advice. I've lived there and London but I've also done Philly, Boston, SF, my dad lived in LA when I was growing up and I've spent a lot of time in nearly every major and a lot of not so major city in the US. Experience at a good firm(s) is definitely a big plus, just don't come across as "I've played in the Big Leagues and you're a bunch of small town pikers" in any way whatsoever. People from Boston and Philly generally don't like New Yorkers so coming across like you're taking a step down or that because you're from NYC you're instantly qualified and they'd be lucky to have you is bad. I'm not saying you're walking in with a Jeter jersey and slapping your nuts on the table but get rid of the thought completely. I don't have quite the inferiority complex other Bostonian or Philadelphians do but I've interviewed people who have come across like this and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. People in SF or LA don't have quite the disdain for New Yorkers because they're further away but they don't want that feeling either.
For a fair amount of people not from the East Coast or Chicago, NYC is a completely different planet and they think everyone from back east is an asshole and that New Yorkers are just the kings of Assholeland. We bought a majority, but not 100%, of a company located in Bumblefuckton out West where the seller was staying as the CEO and we needed to do the dog and pony bank road show with him. He was like that bad stereotype tourist where he thought he was going to get mugged the second he got out of the car (and he flew into Teterboro and took a car to the Mandarin at Columbus Circle-not exactly many opps for muggers), thought people were walking and talking too fast and he even started asking things like "do you think that guy's Jewish?" as if he'd never met a Jew before because there are no Jewish people in Bumblefuckton. In his mind he basically had just traveled to Venus. And this guy was worth a few hundred million and had a private jet. That's not going to be the SF or LA banker but it's amusing what some people in other parts of the country think of NYC and the northeast overall.
I actually laughed out loud over the Bumblefuckton story. Before WTI took a dip, we dealt with a lot of E&P guys. They had the same idea of New Yorkers and some of their comments regarding race/religion were definitely more suited for the 1800s as opposed to 2000s.
Basically, I'm just looking to exit NYC firms. I've gone to top 30 school for undergrad, top 5 for my first masters, and top 15 for my MBA, but I'm tired of hearing people in their 30s and up talk about what school they went to. I'm more of the athlete mentality, you're only as good as your last game. Figure outside of NYC, people are judged on quality of work over quality of background.
In any event, this is helpful.
This thread is funny because if I was in the OP's situation, I would walk into these offices and be like 'you need to hire me because I'm from the big leagues and I'm coming to play AAA ball simply because I like the lifestyle better.' The drop my dick on the table and ask 'any questions?'.
Apparently, this is frowned upon.
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