Wall Street Oasis Review

StryfeDSP:

It's all about how you spin things. You can definitely make your Asst. to Controller position sound relevant - your exposure to cash flows and financial statements in a working environment in general can work in your favor.

Why do you think your resume doesn't list any qualities that are hirable? What's your goal in finance? If you think you needed to already be putting together DCFs and LBOs or something like that that's not at all the case.

Your resume is what gets you in the door to the interview. After that it's all about how you can sell yourself.

First, thank you for the feedback. I'm not sure, really. I guess my disposition of being where I am, i.e. my school, rough first semester and consequentially bad GPA kind of left me with a chip on my shoulder. The ONLY option would be a transfer to Baruch. To enhance prospects for both finance and accounting.

FCP4:

How much will an employer look into the job though? Can I 'spin' too much?? Do they call who I worked with and ask? Or will they not give a s***? I guess I need to know my margins of spin lol

I mean, don't flat out lie about what you did, but for example, I interned at a boutique IM firm over last winter and one of the portfolio managers asked me to read the news every morning and report back to him with what I thought would affect the market. Which do you think would sound better on a resume?

-Spent 30 minutes every morning reading the news searching for events which could affect the market for my portfolio manager.

or

-Tracked and analyzed industry related news sources such as Bloomberg, Dealbook, and CNBC to keep senior portfolio managers abreast of global macroeconomic conditions which could potentially affect current and future market conditions.

Get the idea?

Don't stress about your GPA. Shoot for above a 3.4, but I landed my current ER SA internship at a MM firm after getting a 2.66 (A+, B+, D-) this past semester.

With regard to anyone calling your past employers, they might ask for a contact at the last job you worked, but whether or not they actually call is hard to say. Usually they'll only call if there's an issue with some previous employment documents or something, and that's just HR calling HR.

But don't forget to have fun dude. I can't tell you how many hours I spent networking this past freshman year. While it did land me my first SA gig, I missed out on some things. Remember, school comes first. Sign up for the BIWS or WSP modeling courses and treat them like a class you're enrolled in. Spend what time you need going to class and doing your homework, but then just set aside an hour a day to go through the modeling lessons.

MRR:

You just finished your Freshmen year of college, and you're depressed about your lack of hardcore financial experience?? First off, relax a little - you have all the time in the world...

A little advise, for what it's worth, from someone who wasn't remotely as concerned as you are when I was in those shoes (to a fault)...

1. Get the GPA up. A 3.1 is not going to get you where you want to go (which I am assuming is BB SA or BB FA --> PE/HF based on your intent interest at such a young age)... The good new is you most likely still have 90+ hours to make this happen.

2. Start networking now. You work in a country club!! Last time I checked (and I never did, but I'm guessing) that most country club members use local wealth managers/asset managers. This is a golden opportunity to leverage your relationships with the country club members into introductions that will lead to an internship next summer in a WM/AM role. You're not going to be applying for IB internships for a couple years, but experience in WM/AM will help you tremendously when that time comes.

3. If you really want to pursue a career in IB/PE/HF make it a priority now. Pick up the WSO self-study modeling guides (or Argus if you're considering REIB or REPE), and learn that shit like the back of your hand. This will not only help you during the interview/resume process, but assuming you eventually land an IB gig it will make your first 6+ months a lot more tolerable.

4. Have some fun, and keep the afore mentioned points in perspective (namely #3). Read through some of the post written on this site by burned out analyst regretting the lack of fun they had in college. Make your grades, and goals in general a priority, but let's be honest - undergrad is not tremendously difficult. The last thing you want is to be desk in February at 2:00 am revising some pitch book, and think back to your sophomore year when you didn't go to the tri delt mixer because you wanted to put in a little extra work on the WSO study guide...

Ah, how I wish I took this advise after my freshman year...

Huge, huge thank you, MRR. #1 HAS to happen, and will. During some down time this summer I will definitely look through some of the material, leaning towards BIWS guides. Fun I will have regardless, no matter what I'm doing. Families lost loved ones and their possessions in the matter of an hour in OK..a little perspective can go a long way....not being at a target and 4.0 become minuscule issues. Again, thank you. I have another question but I'd PM you.