Almost Graduating: Weak CV, Big Ambitions

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DeadCat

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I started off down the DE Shaw route and was not very impressed with them. It seemed like the kinda process you would expect bunch a maths geeks would come up with.

I applied for a role in the UK and then they kept hassling me for GPA's, Zip Codes and the like.

I'm like, 'i dont have any of that stuff' and she's like 'I know, but I need to put something in the box' and i'm like <woah> 'with that kinda mentallity, i'm not sure i would be a good fit for your firm...'
 
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at Tuesday, August 29, 2006 at 08:27AM by DeadCat.
 
"Ahahah-

Do you know what types of positions they hire for out of undergrad, or have a link to the article? I'm sitting on a 1600 SAT and would love to work at a place like D.E. Shaw...but I don't have any contacts in the firm, and I don't see them on our campus ercruiting website."

Do the other firms that typically select students with 1500-1590 SAT scores not have standards that are exacting enough for you? Anyway, just wondering why you are so intrigued by them. It should also be noted that there are many different groups at that firm and not all of them are heavily quant...not to mention that SAT math is a cakewalk compared to some of the stuff they do there. Also, I thought I would point out that SAT score isn't really much of a dealmaker (so much as it is a dealbreaker if you have an unimpressive score), being somewhat familiar with their recruiting process on the undergrad level.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at Tuesday, August 29, 2006 at 08:39AM by numi.
 
I think there's a quant research track and a trading track you can get hired into. Numi is probably right about the other requirements, I just gathered that extremely strong SAT scores could get your foot in the door from guys I've talked to at a few broker events... to find them your best shot is probably online like most other undergrad jobs if they don't recruit at your school and you don't know anyone...
 
Yeah, I guess my point is that while 1600 is impressive (at least while you were still in high school), it won't set you anywhere near the math, stats, CS, or EE majors from top universities, unless of course you were one of them yourself.
 
Numi, my apologies if my post was unclear...I was simply interested in the types of positions open for undergrads at a place like DE Shaw, because naturally when ahahah mentioned that they focus on SAT scores my ears perked up because those scores are a strength of mine. I'm not targeting DE Shaw because I see myself as some kind of elite; quite the opposite, in fact. I turned down several Ivies to go to UNC - CH because I didn't like the atmosphere and didn't think I wanted to go into finance; finance is one of the only career tracks where the pedigree of your undergrad school is very important when looking for a first job. Now that I am getting ready to start looking for jobs on the street I know that I am at a bit of a disadvantage in comparison to my peers at Harvard, Yale, etc...so if Shaw places importance on SAT scores I was hoping that maybe my resume will get a closer look. Again, my intention was not to come off as arrogant or elitist.
 
Random thoughts:

I have friends that are on Wall St. now that had @#$%& grades like you. They had to suffer big time to make up for it.

Several fought their ways onto the BOT and the Merc in Chicago as runners or some other crap-tacular barely paying job and then, after maybe a year, were able to move to actually trading (one for a firm, one for himelf). Again the pay wasn't great. But it allowed one to move into energy trading, where he does now make good $, and the other into grad school (but he, literally, made a nearly perfect score on his GMAT to make up for the fact his grades sucked). Now he runs a muni bond fund.

Another went to law school, again, worked his butt off to graduate near the top of his class, went to work as a transaction lawyer/slave on Wall St., never slept, lost about 15lbs., but eventually made the switch to IBanking, and now is a VP at a big firm.

Another got a shite job at a regional bank--some entry level position--then got into a second-tier b school where he finished literally top 3 in his class. He was able to get an ibanking job, and actually is now the CFO of very large company.

The point being, these guys were all willing to suffer for a very long time, and work extremely hard to make up for a) poor grades b) little/no network.

How willing are you to put in the work?
 
"I am at a bit of a disadvantage in comparison to my peers at Harvard, Yale..."

How dare you call students at Harvard, Yale... your peers? Don't you know your place?

j/k;-)
 
Mr. Feelgood wrote:

<<Another went to law school, again, worked his butt off to graduate near the top of his class, went to work as a transaction lawyer/slave on Wall St., never slept, lost about 15lbs., but eventually made the switch to IBanking, and now is a VP at a big firm. >>

Pretty good that he didn't sleep and actually managed to slim down. Most people put on weight rampantly when they don't sleep sufficiently.

But back to the crux of your message -- I definitely agree that those who don't have solid credentials out of undergrad have to spin their tires that much more in order to make it. Is it possible? Of course it is -- most things are possible if you try hard enough and if you catch enough lucky breaks. Is it worth it? That's a decision one needs to make for oneself.
 
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