In this series, recent Yale SOM graduates break down the recruiting process that led them to their current roles.
What SOM classes best prepared you for your current role?
Renewable Energy Project Finance with Dan Gross is great for learning how to build a model efficiently and think systematically, as well as for brushing up on your Excel skills. I found out about that class through word of mouth, because people love it. I also took Entrepreneurial Finance with Song Ma; the class is aimed at startup founders, but it taught me about different ways of valuing a company, which is critical for banking. It’s also good to take a law class, because you’ll probably encounter lots of legal documents in a banking role. I took Secured Transactions, which was cross-listed with Yale Law School; I found it really beneficial for learning legal jargon and understanding the nuances of collateralized lending.
Which SOM resources helped you the most during the recruiting process?
I used the CDO during the summer before my first year to prepare and review my résumé. The CDO, in collaboration with the Finance Club, also organizes trips to Wall Street, which gave me an opportunity to visit the offices of a few different banks. It’s helpful to get a better sense of what each firm is really like.
Because the recruiting process is so structured, students are encouraged to wait until recruiting kicks off in the fall to reach out to alums for coffee chats. SOM alums are really helpful in that they’re usually the first point of contact with each bank; you can build rapport with them early on, and it’s a friendly way to start the process. Later, if you run into problems like scheduling issues, they can be a great resource.
Also, all the people you meet during coffee chats end up becoming your network once you start working full-time. I didn’t fully appreciate it at the time, but it’s been really helpful to know a couple people at various firms across Wall Street.
The Finance Club was the main resource I used while recruiting. They put together the schedule for employer presentations, run a lot of training, and give guidance on dos and don’ts throughout the process. They also pair you with mentors to help you learn how to be successful in coffee chats and interviews.
What advice would you give to current students recruiting in finance?
Because the process kicks off so quickly, it’s important to come to campus prepared. For me, that looked like heeding the advice of the CDO and getting my résumé together. I also made sure I had a suit ready to go for interviews and used the summer to get plugged into current events through news and business podcasts.
The rules of recruiting seemed arbitrary at first. However, as soon as I was able to conceptualize that the process is a microcosm of what it’s like to work in banking, I was able to view recruiting as a training ground and get to the finish line.
