Hypothetical Situation - Meeting with Paulson

Suppose I am able to grab Paulson's attention for 10 minutes and suppose he is willing to listen, what can I--a college student (NYU level but not NYU)--do to impress the fuck out of him to land a job at his fund?

 

Unless you've been researching an idea for months and its got an edge of the size of his short from '08, than he probably doesn't give fk. Just wants to feel like he's giving back somehow. If anything, just use it as an opportunity to start getting to know him and send him updates/pitches every know and then. He's not going to hire you on the spot.

 

Dick, what would you do in this situation if you were this college student?

"I do not think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature."
 

Why would you not pitch a stock though? And how will it help if you are memorable. That won't get you the job.

"I do not think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature."
 
Best Response
Ambani:

Why would you not pitch a stock though? And how will it help if you are memorable. That won't get you the job.

The odds of getting a job are virtually zero, which is why I say to do something memorable. Yes, being memorable probably won't get you the job, but being forgettable will definitely not get you the job. This is all a little pointless, because there is no real job to be had. This isn't an interview. People like Paulson get begged for jobs all the time. Just because you 'want it' doesn't mean anything.

Pay a model with huge boobs to walk in the meeting with you wearing nothing but a pair of Nikes and make your pitch on Nike's stock (or insert favorite company here). Or, bring in a kid who was cured from cancer from some product from a company you are pitching. Do something interesting. You probably won't get the job anyway, but you'll at least distinguish yourself from every other kid that made a stock pitch to him.

 

My current employer and John Paulson's hedge fund actually share the same Midtown Manhattan office building. I have seen him in the lobby on a number of occasions. What's interesting about Mr. Paulson is that he doesn't seem to have a chauffeur driven car (at least, not that I have ever seen) and he actually takes the subway to and from work... No matter how much money this guy makes, the guy doesn't forget his roots as a working/middle class kid from Queens.

First, let me preface this by saying that most people, regardless of who they are, do not like it when complete strangers approach them in public. But let's continue with this suspension of disbelief. Let's say, for the sake of argument, that you successfully manufacture a "chance" encounter with Mr. Paulson (either waiting for him to come out of the elevator in the lobby, or maybe following him onto the subway as he leaves the office, etc.)

Then, despite the overwhelming odds that are against you, you manage to have a brief but pleasant conversation with him. Not only that, but the guy is so impressed with you that in true Hollywood storyline fashion, the guy then says to you, "Hey, you know what, kid? You are all right. Here's my business card. Call me anytime."

Now, let's be realistic here. Stuff like that simply doesn't happen in real life. Sure, occasionally you hear of stories of unconventional guys getting their lucky break due to a chance encounter with a hedge fund investor (Bill Ackman comes to mind), but these guys are the exception. In fact, they are the exception to the exceptions.

 

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