Hey guys, so we have a new project in the works and I was hoping to get your feedback. Basically, we have the WSO Job board where recruiters and companies post jobs for the community, but we thought to supplement this, what if we could offer them a huge database of relevant applicants that they could actively reach out to with advanced filters?
With this in mind, within 1-2 weeks (in time for WSO Conference!) we will be releasing a WSO Applicant Profile form that allows members to fill in detailed information about their current status, target job and other details (all anonymously and not tied to their username). The goal here is that for those members not willing / able to spend the $ on a job board subscription, they can still enter in their profile information and have companies and/or recruiters reach out to them.
So the reason for this post is I'd like your feedback....below is the list of fields we will be asking the Applicants (you) and what the recruiters/HR will be able to filter by...ARE WE MISSING ANY?
1. Current Status:
First Name
Last Name
E-mail
Current City (Office or School)
Available to Interview Immediately? Yes/No
I started working: (month) (year) [option "NA" for students in drop downs]
Current Company
Current Job Title / Status
Current Industry
Current Group/Division
Profile Picture
Attached Resume
2. Education & Scores:
Undergrad School
Undergrad GPA
Undergrad Class Year (or expected)
Grad School
Grad GPA
Grad Class Year (or expected)
Major/s
Degree/s
Certifications
Varsity Athlete? Yes/No
Military Program? Yes/No
Sex: Male/Female
Math SAT
Verbal SAT
Writing SAT
GMAT
ACT
3. Target & Preferences:
Desired Industry (check all that apply)
Desired Group (check all that apply)
Desired Position Title (check all that apply)
Location Preferences (Cities):
Firm and Fund Size Preferences (check all that apply): [need to add in these options..."boutique / small firm", "middle market / medium sized firm", "bulge bracket / large firm"
I want to be contacted for/by: [ ] All relevant opportunities [ ] Recruiters Only [ ] Direct from companies only
4. Skills:
Language 1, Level 1 (Basic, Intermediate, Fluent, Native)
Language 2, Level 2....[4 languages...search will have to look across all 4 of these language fields to filter for the right applicants]
Overall Financial Modeling (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
LBO Modeling (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Discounted Cash Flow (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Other valuation Analysis (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Mergers & Acquisitions (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Restructuring / Complex Capitalization Tables (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Overall Excel Skills (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Excel - Data Tables (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Excel - Macros (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Excel - Formatting (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Excel - Advanced Functions (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Overall Investing Skills (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Long Ideas (Equities): (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Short Ideas (Equities): (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Derivatives: (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Investing Ideas (Fixed Income / Credit): (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Overall PowerPoint Skills (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Overall Microsoft Word Skills (Expert, High Proficiency, Intermediate, Beginner)
Other Skills (please put level in parenthesis), Programs and Interests:
[free form paragraph field for applicants to put other interests and skills in certain programs...like real estate people would put "Argus" as a program]...this way, recruiters can search for more specific skills here...
---------------------------------------
anything else? Thoughts on this idea?
Few random ideas:
-Give the ability to upload pitches/presentations to show recruiters example work -Have ability to link LinkedIn account (or at least post link) -Add a star or something to Certified User's profiles. Not post the screename, but just something that lets the recruiters know that WSO has essentially checked to make sure this person is real.
This is an awesome idea! The only other thing I could think of would be a free form text box asking "What about xxx industry interests you?" or something along those lines. Mostly because I have had that question asked in all of my interviews anyway.
Agree with @"HFer_wannabe" as well.
When you say profile picture, that's a totally separate profile picture than what's on here right? Kind of like uploading a picture for LinkedIn? Because mine on here is of my dog looking like he's smoking a cigar.
In the end instead of a free form paragraph to search for people that would say have Argus skills, would it be possible to just create a list of software that you could just use a checkbox for so this way the employer could just use that as a filter as well instead of having to dive deep into the candidate to finally figure out they don't know how to use the software they use.
The free form paragraph could still be there but the check boxes could supplement it.
This is a great idea. However, my concern with the "skills" section is that it's totally subjective and filled out by the applicant. Anyone can put in that they are an expert LBO modeler and there's no benchmark for what makes them expert vs. good, adequate, etc. People are going to be inclined to embellish their skills to try and make themselves more attractive as a candidate, at which point the objective of that section is completely eroded.
Instead, I'd echo another commenter's suggestion that you include some form of Certified User tag. Then perhaps change the skills to years experience in specific fields (i.e. instead of personally saying that I'm a good LBO modeler, I just enter that I've worked in [M&A] in group [XYZ industry] for [4 years] and perhaps provide me the option to check that I've worked on LBOs during that time (although I'd assume this is the case for most M&A bankers).
Same goes for Excel, PPT, etc. If I've worked in banking for a number of years, then I'm probably a lot more adept with Excel, PPT, etc. than someone who's still an undergrad. However, if the undergrad says they are an Excel expert and I only say that I'm good, then a recruiter either has to assume I have a better skill set because of my experience (at which point they are ignoring whatever the candidates entered for their level of expertise) or I may not make the cut when the undergrad does.
Again, to echo someone else's point, either allow candidates to upload models, decks, etc. or just allow us to enter our experience and let the recruiters determine how adept we are (most firms are going to give you a model test and/or ask for prior examples of work anyway).
Thanks for the feedback guys! we are very close.
@"HFer_wannabe", great idea on the LinkedIn...added that. also adding in a "Work Samples (Optional)" section that allows the applicant to upload 3 files of anything they want.
As for the Certified User star, not sure it is necessary if we have the LinkedIn profile there (easy to see if they are professionals or not there). We could do it, but maybe we could highlight the Certified Users on WSO as a way to give them more visibility in the search results and encourage others to get certified?
@"monkeypoo" - while that is asked in almost any interview, I think you'd get generic answers in this form and not sure how useful it would be when filtering candidates...other thoughts on this?
@"milehigh" - good point. On top of the subjective self-assessment, we are adding a "Years of Experience" field next to each of these skill fields so that there is some objective measure as well.
@"Skinnayyy", yes, this profile photo field will be completely different from your WSO user profile. In other words, we want to encourage users to upload professional / real photos (that won't be tied to usernames, just to their applicant profiles). I am all for doing checkboxes, but just checking a software doesn't give us much info, so I think it's better to have the primary ones like Excel, PPT and financial modeling skills most needed for financial careers and then leave the free form is someone wants to dig for a very niche skillset...rather than make the form huge and list out 30+ programs.
Other thoughts?
Thanks guys, Patrick
Dolorum at tenetur praesentium atque quia tempora qui. Debitis et architecto totam consequatur non nisi.
Voluptatem ut amet non recusandae. Consequatur enim totam est at quo voluptas non aut.
At sint iure deleniti. Architecto quo aliquam in culpa. Aliquid ea eius inventore aliquam voluptas perspiciatis. Consequatur dolorum quam pariatur vero aut tenetur ipsam. Qui praesentium eius tenetur quae debitis. Non natus in voluptas sit illo non id. Natus ipsam pariatur et.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...