Hey, i'm a junior at a target school. I had planned on going to law school after undergrad but have recently decided not to do that, for now, at least. So, I have already finished all but one class needed for a political science degree and decided to pick up a finance major in hopes of having a possibility of getting a well paying job in consulting, trading, M&A, etc after undergrad. Unfortunately, I don't know a whole lot about trading and I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction of some good things to read to get a better grasp on what goes on/prepare me for interviews this upcoming fall. Thanks,
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http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/blog/gekkos-guidance-part-2-st-interview…
After that check out the WSO guides (need to pay but worth it) and lurk around the forums.
those can help get you started and you'll really have a lot of fun reading them too
I would throw in The Quants too...great read.
Also buy the interview guides
I would say that interview guides are better than books at this point. The guides will give you a base of knowledge so that when you read the books, you can actually understand them. I can't tell how much knowledge you have about finance in general, but for example if you don't know what a MBS is then read the guides.
Also, start reading the WSJ and taking notes while doing it (on the relevant articles). That will definitely help- but make sure you look up things you don't understand.
Yeah, the books are a decent read and should be read before you start working/interning, but focus on guides for interviewing. The books should be at the bottom of your list.
Thanks for all the info guys. I have a better than the average persons understanding of the market and I usually listen to squawk box/squawk on the street every morning at work. I know what an MBS is because I've taken a few overview business classes and one intro finance class. But, often, I find myself lost when reading some of the more detailed books. My current internship is with the Department of Justice and it seems a little late to get a finance internship that would really be better than this. But, I figure I have eight months or so before I start interiewing and I should be able to get familiar and comfortable with everything I need in that time. I think my long term goals might actually be in industry instead of finance but i'm trying to cover all my bases now and get the best job I can to set me up for a top MBA. Thanks so much, everyone.
What topics are you interested in/applying for? For example, if you like Forex there are some specific books that people have recommended. Try searching first. If that doesn't pull anything up, then post back here or start a new post (but please search first).
Hope this helps.
Oh and even if you have some knowledge, reading over (skimming) the guides can be useful.
Honestly, at this point, i'm not sure about a particular topic or product. Is this something I need to try and narrow down before I begin applications?
Plenty of people go into interviews without knowing what they want to do within finance. That's why rotational programs are used.
That being said, if you can say equities over FI (or vice versa) then that will help.
To be honest, from your original post it does not seem like you are that dedicated/interested in finance (or trading in this case). A good interviewer will see that and ding you in two seconds. Just a heads up..
Thank you for all the information, everyone. I get what you are saying koho, honestly, I am pretty interested in finance. But, at this point, it's just hard to really know what I am passionate about or really interested in. I can read about the industry or talk to people in the industry but, when it comes down to it, I have no idea what it will be like to be a consultant, trader, lawyers, salesman, etc. It's almost impossible for any 21 year old to say, with no doubt, that they understand what exactly they are passionate about with lifelong goals. And, the ones that do, are often doing it for other reasons. We are all attracted to a fast pace lifestyle, money, prestige, etc but no one in my position really knows how passionate they are about a specific job. They are just passionate about the lifestyle that the job can bring. But, I think with hard work, some good knowledge, aptitude, and decent interviewing skills, I can come across in a sincere manner that expresses this without looking disinterested.
Thanks again.
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