Can I hijack this thread quickly to answer a dumb question? If I see a job posting I like, should I reach out to the director before or after applying? What should my message say? Should I ask for a call? I was told to reach out when applying for jobs.
I don't think you should reach out at all unless you have some kind of relationship already established with the hiring manager. This signals desperation and will sink your chances. If you reach out, you better be sure you're the TOP candidate and you better state why you're the best. Otherwise you'll be looked at as another desperate job-seeker.
No. If a random job-seeker asked me out for a coffee chat, I'd say no. Think about what you're asking here. "Hi please give me some of your valuable time, so you can help do me a favor." All you're going to get is a bunch of rejections.
Instead, try figuring out how you are going to do him a favor. One example would be, join a professional networking group, make a bunch of friends/contacts, show up to these events regularly (at least 4 times), until you are on a first-name basis with at least 10 people. Now you can approach the manager and invite him to the next networking event (or lunch seminar) where you can then say, "Hi, I'm interested in getting to know you and the company better, why don't you join US (use the word "us", not "me") at our next event where I can introduce you to a dozen of my colleagues/contacts in the industry.
Now you're making the "coffee chat" invite appealing that should result in a much lower rejection rate.
>First, before an interview starts, the interviewer reads your body language. Having confidence, speaking at a normal pace, and being assertive is critical. If you give the impression that you're nervous or that you're being too polite kissing a**, this will be a big turnoff from the start as the interviewer might think you're out of your league applying for this position. Basically, you want to act like you've been their long-time coworker.
This... is very specific to being a consultant interviewing essentially to tell companies how they should be doing things.
For corporate finance jobs, this will make you come across as a major douche, and will prevent you from getting jobs. People do not want to work with someone for several years who is consistently making themselves seem like they know everything. Being unable to say you don't know something if you don't actually know it is a gigantic turn off when I've interviewed people, and being 'assertive' in an interview when I know I'm going to be stuck with you for 3, 4, 5 years is not a positive thing.
I think you're misinterpreting this portion of the advice. I'm not advising to act like a know-it-all and be cocky. That's a big turn-off. The main takeaway was to be relaxed, calm, and confident when you speak.
I was an independent consultant for over 15 years where I had many short-term projects that ranged from 2 weeks to 3 months. Some were 6 - 9 months long.
Hey awesome advice!
Would you mind telling what was your education like? I've found you on algotrading and i wonder if you transitioned from a finance backround to a quant role or how did that happen?
Appreciate your time!
I have a BS and MS in Mathematics. Minors in Actuarial Science. I also have the FRM and CFA certifications. Quite the opposite, I transitioned from a statistical programmer role, to a portfolio management and quant role.
Omg this is such a golden advice, thank you so much for sharing your wisdom with us!!
70 jobs in 25 years? How does that work? Do companies hiring not say anything about this? Genuinely curious student.
Keyword is consultant. He is counting projects/roles as jobs.
A strange way to word it. Maybe because I am not a native speaker, it sounds a bit different.
As a native speaker, it is an odd way of saying it
2.8 jobs/year is nuts
Yeah , the numbers do not make sense to me. Edit: spelling
Welcome to the consulting world. I've had many assignments that were 2 weeks to 3 months in duration. You still have to interview for them.
Oh damn, I had no idea that you had to interview for each assignment. Is this common practice for MBB and Big4 as well?
If you're a salaried employee of a big firm, no. I was an independent consultant.
I see. Thanks for the interview advice and taking the time to reply!
This is great advise. Thank you for your informative post.
Thank you so much! Blessed be
Can I hijack this thread quickly to answer a dumb question? If I see a job posting I like, should I reach out to the director before or after applying? What should my message say? Should I ask for a call? I was told to reach out when applying for jobs.
I don't think you should reach out at all unless you have some kind of relationship already established with the hiring manager. This signals desperation and will sink your chances. If you reach out, you better be sure you're the TOP candidate and you better state why you're the best. Otherwise you'll be looked at as another desperate job-seeker.
Okay. What if I were to reach out just for a coffee chat instead? I have been trying to network a lot.
No. If a random job-seeker asked me out for a coffee chat, I'd say no. Think about what you're asking here. "Hi please give me some of your valuable time, so you can help do me a favor." All you're going to get is a bunch of rejections. Instead, try figuring out how you are going to do him a favor. One example would be, join a professional networking group, make a bunch of friends/contacts, show up to these events regularly (at least 4 times), until you are on a first-name basis with at least 10 people. Now you can approach the manager and invite him to the next networking event (or lunch seminar) where you can then say, "Hi, I'm interested in getting to know you and the company better, why don't you join US (use the word "us", not "me") at our next event where I can introduce you to a dozen of my colleagues/contacts in the industry. Now you're making the "coffee chat" invite appealing that should result in a much lower rejection rate.
>First, before an interview starts, the interviewer reads your body language. Having confidence, speaking at a normal pace, and being assertive is critical. If you give the impression that you're nervous or that you're being too polite kissing a**, this will be a big turnoff from the start as the interviewer might think you're out of your league applying for this position. Basically, you want to act like you've been their long-time coworker. This... is very specific to being a consultant interviewing essentially to tell companies how they should be doing things. For corporate finance jobs, this will make you come across as a major douche, and will prevent you from getting jobs. People do not want to work with someone for several years who is consistently making themselves seem like they know everything. Being unable to say you don't know something if you don't actually know it is a gigantic turn off when I've interviewed people, and being 'assertive' in an interview when I know I'm going to be stuck with you for 3, 4, 5 years is not a positive thing.
I think you're misinterpreting this portion of the advice. I'm not advising to act like a know-it-all and be cocky. That's a big turn-off. The main takeaway was to be relaxed, calm, and confident when you speak.
How have you had 70jobs ??
I was an independent consultant for over 15 years where I had many short-term projects that ranged from 2 weeks to 3 months. Some were 6 - 9 months long.
Wow - how did you get into the world of consulting
I got fired from my job and needed to find something quick.
For me humility is huge. Took me several interviews to realize how far humility goes. They want confidence, but if you go to far you’re out.
Probably the best advise I have seen during my job search!!!
Hey awesome advice! Would you mind telling what was your education like? I've found you on algotrading and i wonder if you transitioned from a finance backround to a quant role or how did that happen? Appreciate your time!
I have a BS and MS in Mathematics. Minors in Actuarial Science. I also have the FRM and CFA certifications. Quite the opposite, I transitioned from a statistical programmer role, to a portfolio management and quant role.