After a risk management internship with a local bank, I knew what I want do in my future job and that is to be an investment/equities research analyst (do analysis of stocks and pick those that would give the highest returns). Despite knowing what I want, I knew it was extremely difficult for me to get such a job as I do not have any prior experience in the field and companies are known to hire only from the brightest in academics. But I wanted to try anyway.
So when banks started their hiring season (last year Aug - Oct) , I applied to various banks for mainly either Management Associate/ Equities Research Analyst positions. However, I wasn't good enough for the bulge bracket (BB, meaning the world's largest and most profitable) banks or even boutique investment firms, so I got zero interviews. I received rejections after rejections and I felt so depressed. I didn't try for Operations (which is easier to get in) at all because I thought I still had a bit of time. As time started to run out (Feb - Mar ) this year, I started applying for random positions just to try to get a job. I guess the competition was still too stiff then and it didn't work out. I went for 2 - 3 interviews and didn't get selected to the next round.
Then it was time to go on my graduation trips. I had a great time but I dreaded coming back because my job search experience sucked and I hated the feeling of rejection.
I came back and began job search full time. I would wake up, have a cup of milo and start sending out CVs in reply to finance/bank related job listings on the major job portals. I was giving up hope then, so I was okay with any operations job. CUS I WANTED A JOB SO DESPERATELY AND I JUST FELT SO MISERABLE. My life was starting to lose its meaning.
Then, my friend from a foreign bank recommended me for a back office position so I got an interview a week after I came back. I started doing research on that area and there were people online who didn't think there were much prospects as it is a very routine and back-end job. Then before the interview, I started tearing (omg I am so ashamed to admit this) cus I realized I didn't want to do this job. I was seriously doubting myself at that time and I felt like even though I didn't like the job I will have to do it cus I don't freaking have a job. So I went for the interview anyway... and I failed.
Then, my friend from a foreign bank recommended me for a back office position so I got an interview a week after I came back. I started doing research on that area and there were people online who didn't think there were much prospects as it is a very routine and back-end job. Then before the interview, I started tearing (omg I am so ashamed to admit this) cus I realized I didn't want to do this job. I was seriously doubting myself at that time and I felt like even though I didn't like the job I will have to do it cus I don't freaking have a job. So I went for the interview anyway... and I failed.
Why did I fail the interview? I feel like I was too straightforward. The two managers saw my resume and asked "You seem to like to do analytics and research based on what you did previously. If there are three types of job: analytics, research and ____ (their area), which job would you prefer to do and why?" I stupidly answered research. Sighhh, so maybe they thought I wasn't keen and rejected me.
That experience just served to make my life more miserable. I continued applying and before long I had 4 interviews in like 2 weeks. I was a little sad that I applied for soooo many investment/equities research job but only got 2 replies. As usual, I was quite slack in preparing for the interview. Normally, I would only prepare for an interview the day before, but my friend R was shocked that I spent so little time preparing. I bucked up and spent 2-3 days preparing for each interview.
I was selected to proceed to the next round by two companies and then came the third round. I think I was quite unlucky in that I had to go through three rounds of interview per company. I was getting a little sick of interviews and wearing the same thing! I only had like a nice blue long sleeve blouse. I do have other blouses but they weren't as new as the blue one so I just kept wearing that blouse. Hope the interviewers didn't notice. WHY 3 ROUNDS ANYWAY? SO MAFAN.
So after going through three rounds of interview for the two companies, I got two offers! Company X is a stock brokerage firm while Company Y is a foreign bank. X offered me a position in their Equities Sales and Trading Desk while Y offered me a trade support job. I took up the offer from X without letting Y know. I only informed Y after I signed the contract and they tried to persuade me to join them instead. 我心里暗爽, especially when the manager said "we interviewed 5-6 people for the job and we think you're the best and hope you would join us." I guess the manager's persuasion tactics worked cus I was so swayed.
Previously I have already made up the decision to take up the offer from X after speaking to my parents and friends and yesterday I had second thoughts again. What I like about the offer from X is that it is a role in the Front Office (profit generating hence generally higher bonuses). Even though, it is still not something I want, it would be relatively easier for me to move to research from there (cus research is also Front Office). Meanwhile it would be a herculean effort for me to move from trade support to research (Middle Office to Front Office is quite rare). Furthermore, the role in X is pretty rare and I think I only got it cus the competition got lesser and X is a stock brokerage firm (not so sought after). And also it made sense from what I have read in the forums, Front Office in small firm/boutique > operations in foreign banks.
Yayyy so I am really happy that after all this while, I managed to get a job!! I really thought all hope was lost. Now, my next worry is if I would be able to perform? From what I understand, my job scope is to give institutions advice, sell them trading ideas then help them execute (I might be wrong). I have never done this type of sales before... so I am afraid I can't perform when I start.
So so worried and sian that my holiday is going to end this week x_x
p/s: It's such a long story, I will understand if you got bored halfway and closed the tab lolol.
That experience just served to make my life more miserable. I continued applying and before long I had 4 interviews in like 2 weeks. I was a little sad that I applied for soooo many investment/equities research job but only got 2 replies. As usual, I was quite slack in preparing for the interview. Normally, I would only prepare for an interview the day before, but my friend R was shocked that I spent so little time preparing. I bucked up and spent 2-3 days preparing for each interview.
I was selected to proceed to the next round by two companies and then came the third round. I think I was quite unlucky in that I had to go through three rounds of interview per company. I was getting a little sick of interviews and wearing the same thing! I only had like a nice blue long sleeve blouse. I do have other blouses but they weren't as new as the blue one so I just kept wearing that blouse. Hope the interviewers didn't notice. WHY 3 ROUNDS ANYWAY? SO MAFAN.
So after going through three rounds of interview for the two companies, I got two offers! Company X is a stock brokerage firm while Company Y is a foreign bank. X offered me a position in their Equities Sales and Trading Desk while Y offered me a trade support job. I took up the offer from X without letting Y know. I only informed Y after I signed the contract and they tried to persuade me to join them instead. 我心里暗爽, especially when the manager said "we interviewed 5-6 people for the job and we think you're the best and hope you would join us." I guess the manager's persuasion tactics worked cus I was so swayed.
Previously I have already made up the decision to take up the offer from X after speaking to my parents and friends and yesterday I had second thoughts again. What I like about the offer from X is that it is a role in the Front Office (profit generating hence generally higher bonuses). Even though, it is still not something I want, it would be relatively easier for me to move to research from there (cus research is also Front Office). Meanwhile it would be a herculean effort for me to move from trade support to research (Middle Office to Front Office is quite rare). Furthermore, the role in X is pretty rare and I think I only got it cus the competition got lesser and X is a stock brokerage firm (not so sought after). And also it made sense from what I have read in the forums, Front Office in small firm/boutique > operations in foreign banks.
Yayyy so I am really happy that after all this while, I managed to get a job!! I really thought all hope was lost. Now, my next worry is if I would be able to perform? From what I understand, my job scope is to give institutions advice, sell them trading ideas then help them execute (I might be wrong). I have never done this type of sales before... so I am afraid I can't perform when I start.
So so worried and sian that my holiday is going to end this week x_x
p/s: It's such a long story, I will understand if you got bored halfway and closed the tab lolol.
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