<p>So... if we're talking finance... the general mood has been only back-office work.
But what about the very top students? How is their recruitment? Does anybody know?</p>
<p>My circle only includes people who are “good” students…that is 3.5+…and very involved on campus…I am not sure where they fall in terms of being at “top or middle or bottom” of class though. Surely there are students with higher GPAs, especially in the business school. But I feel my friends are on the stronger side when it comes to involvement.</p>
<p>That said, companies are pulling their resumes off the Hire Smith site and inviting them to do interviews both on and off campus for more than back office jobs. In fact I do not know anyone interviewing for HR/IT/operations positions.</p>
<p>I don’t have any friends that are particularly interested in the whole trading stocks thing, but one got a job offer to do equity research for UBS at the end of his junior year. He declined. Other jobs that he was offered include risk management, corporate treasury type jobs. Typically considered “middle office” I suppose. He’s more interested in going for those. Starting salaries around 60K with some nice signing bonuses and opportunities for advancement/pay raises within a year.</p>
<p>I think it’s a range and if you’re a strong student you’re not going to get recruited for only back office positions. I think you’ll get your shot at whatever you want to do, but you do have to work really hard to get good grades and make your resume stand out. There’s kinda this atmosphere in the business school that there isn’t in other schools, a kind of high school like mentality where everyone is obsessing over their marks and whatnot. A 3.5 and good on campus involvement at UPenn or something is probably going to result in a lot more job offers unfortunately than they would at MD it seems. I think it is because recruitment could definitely be better…so it’s a bit of a race for the top in that sense. But “Back office only unless you’re #1 in the class” is a total exaggeration.</p>
<p>Are there <em>any</em> front office positions though? Is it possible to go… sorry for the stereotype… Wallstreet?</p>
<p>Wellll equity research is considered front office I thought. </p>
<p>If you mean “trading stocks”, unfortunately I just don’t have any friends or acquaintances interested in the stereotypical Wall Street job. You are spot on that the majority of the recruitment is for those middle office type positions. </p>
<p>I would say anything is possible for top of class type people though…if a 3.5 is getting a front office job offer I don’t see why someone with a top of class type GPA (easily 3.9-4.0 in the business school though), wouldn’t be a good candidate for Wall Street.</p>
<p>I think the difference between MD and more prestigious schools isn’t that there’s NO recruiting going on for front office jobs at MD, but you really have to stand out. It’s not like you can get below a 3.5 and still be a viable candidate, like I bet you could if you went to UPenn or something. And it’s more likely you should be shooting for way higher.</p>
<p>UMD was ranked 8th best universities were companies like to recruit by WSJ. They like the high standards and the size of the college. Recruiting at a large uni gives the greatest exposure for the dollar. </p>
<p>I know a couple of people making a ton of money in finance before the economy tanked. One had average grades from average school. The other was a top student from UVA. It helps to network with students, teachers, counselors, and co-workers. They were making $150k+ a few years after school.</p>
<p>When you get a job after school in any degree, you are most likely going to be competing with other new graduates doing entry level work (weed out period). The students who move on to the next level will have good people skills, have an enthusiasm for their work, and hard working. Most people come into work tired, nonchalant, and want to leave early. You need a positive attitude and your peers need to like you. The hiring managers love being around employees like that. This is based on what I hear from my friends, mom, and my own personal experiences.</p>
<p>
That’s a BS ranking… of course public universities are gonna be on the top… they’re the largest!</p>
<p>What is wrong with their poll? Companies like to recruit schools with a lot of students, b/c they want to save time and money. I would hardly call information from WSJ BS. They are one of the Big Three newspapers, with a history of award winning reporting. A quote on WSJ, “In 2007 the paper won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, considered the most prestigious of the newspaper Pulitzers”</p>
<p>The poll captures the employers experiences with the college recruits. They also added that some employers felt that hiring students from elite school’s can be a disadvantage, b/c the recruits thought they should be climbing up the corporate ladder quicker. So, those students ended up looking for another job.</p>
<p>I am talking about overall average. If you want to be hired by a specific set of companies, I cannot answer your question since it was not included in your OP.</p>
<p>What I’m saying is sure… companies hire… but the hiring can be for very low back-office postitions…</p>
<p>You should ask people that you trust. But, the people that I have spoken too always started at the bottom. Companies do not want to invest in expensive training if you are going to wash out. This includes a son of a director at IBM. They also want to give you exposure to the overall business. The only exception that I have heard came from students who interned and proved themselves already. They want to see your work ethic and how your personality fits in with others. </p>
<p>What do you mean by front office? By my definition, I think it would be hard to get a job with an office that has a window and a door w/ an undergrad degree with no experience at a big company . This might be easier at a small business. </p>
<p>FYI, I have contacted prospective employers and asked them what things they are looking for, what schools they hire from, and what I classes I can take to improve my chances of getting hired. You could try getting the answer directly from the source.</p>
<p>I will add one more exception. You do some incredible research that is published, or you create some exceptional product at the school’s incubator. Then maybe you will get start to start at some high-level position.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Please refrain from answering business-related questions… lol… you are not qualified to say the least… :p</p>
<p>Euro, I admit I have been wrong a few times. Everyone should take my responses with a grain of salt. </p>
<p>I really should be doing homework. So, this will be my last post until Thanksgiving or Xmas. GL.</p>