Junior Job Hunter: help! I'm forgetting all I learned at uni

23 October 2009

4 minute read

Junior Job Hunter: help! I'm forgetting all I learned at uni

In the latest of his "Junior Job Hunter" series, our columnist tells us how working in the wrong job means his equity-markets knowledge is rapidly disappearing.

If you haven't read his other articles, click here,

here and here.

Go back to early 2009 and ask me a question about snowboarding and I could almost certainly give you a knowledgeable answer. Only six months after my first real snow experience I had immersed myself in the sport. I could tell you the top-10 American resorts, parks, riders, videos...you name it, I could give you an answer, and more importantly, sound like I knew what I was talking about!

Fast forward to today, and after six months living in the driest state on the driest continent, my knowledge is waning. I can't easily go snowboarding, people around me aren't interested in it, and I no longer watch tricks with the same enthusiasm. If you asked me a question now, well, I might just...stutter.

My point? Having graduated four years ago and not having a job that is definitively on my desired career path, nor being around people who have knowledge in equity/investment analysis, I've forgotten most of what I learned at university. It's still there somewhere but it needs to be refreshed. My desire to learn and absorb needs to be rekindled.

This is a problem faced by many young finance professionals with limited experience. Because of the financial crisis and the subsequent retrenchments - particularly at the bottom end of the banking sector - many now people work in positions that don't match their career goals.

University learning is important but a "hands-on" approach always seems to sink in better. Speak to anyone doing an MBA and they always place the most value on studying alongside like-minded individuals.

Back to snowboarding: you watch a friend/instructor; they take you through the process of finding your edges and your balance; you practice to get the feel, watching and learning; and voila! you improve!

I recently applied for an investment banking analyst position and was rejected almost immediately. This knock-back made me realise that it's time to go back to the drawing board. So how do I convince an employer that I know what I'm talking about in order to get that all important interview?

So what should I do?

If "knowledge is power" then surely a refresher of basic portfolio theory/fundamental analysis techniques from university would help? But I'm not going back to the classroom, so what can I do privately? What skills do I need to demonstrate to show that I have, or can attain, specific asset knowledge?

Should I write a mock equity analysis for an ASX-200 company, looking at PE ratios and forecasted earnings, and email it to HR? Should I check Bloomberg or visit ASX.com and go through their online learning tools. What do people value doing outside of working hours to improve their interview prospects?

I've spent the last six months immersed in looking for a course to study to make myself more marketable for the future but I feel like a victim of "paralysis by analysis." Despite all the time I've spent checking countless courses, websites, info sessions etc, I still feel that I'm missing the point.

What about marketing myself? What do employers want to hear from less experienced candidates that would put them ahead of the pack? Is there a specific software package people recommend to learn? SQL? Will it help to take an online course or even just read the help section in Excel? Should I download a list of broking firms and cold call them to try to get my foot in the door? What information do people recommend immersing themselves in?

For now, until I return to my snowboard and hang around with similar people in oversized fluro snowpants, I'll put my dwindling knowledge of the snow on the backburner and see if I can't rekindle some of that knowledge I learned during five years at uni.

If you are an Australian-based candidate (no consultants or recruiters please) and have an interesting story to share with eFinancialCareers readers, please email: apac.editor@efinancialcareers.com

AUTHORAnonymous

Insider Comment

st
steatoda
12 November 2009
Merges and inquisitions has lots of good articles on this. But basically it boils down to network (alumni, former professional, random people off the street , jk), excel skills and an interesting story (save kids from burning buildings etc., to get the interview). Maybe you can get microsoft certified in excel. Because it will help you a lot more than the CFA.
Best of luck!
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so
sorur
3 November 2009
I would say the best way is net working in this country .who cares what you have done,.....
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YY
YY
31 October 2009
It is too bad that uni does not really teach us the means to survive in society, nevertheless, it does teach you the skills to be employable. I believe you are worried about your depreciating value of the employable skills that you had invested 5 years or more in. Here is what you would need.
This is what i think the current applicants lack:
Humility - Don't brag about your knowledge unless you have PHD. Almost everyone has a qualification on the street, some even masters, thus know your place and where you stand.
Genuine work ethnics - we Gen Y often got it easy, almost everything. We often forget we need to work hard to get what we want. We bank on sickies. Selfishly doing what is required only. If you don't give, you are not going to get anything.
Genuine interest to work in the organisation - if you intend to work for us for a short period of time, and say bye bye. I would not like to hire someone like that.
The right attitude - there was a saying " it is not what you know, but who you know that matters" Don't know anyone, then start low and work your way up. Show them how badly you want something and what lengths you will do to get them. Learn from Michael
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JX
JX
31 October 2009
I am on the same boat here. For me, the key for continous eduction is to have a clear goal. Know what I want to do and concentrate on that. I agree with sjhenebry "read, read and read..." There are so many online free sources. Books and professional magazines are not as expensive as these courses.
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sj
sjhenebry
29 October 2009
University is just the start of a life long educational process. Everyone forgets all the BS they learned at university anyway. Read, read, read and read some more and become a true expert in something. Write articles about your new expertize, start a blog based on that knowledge. Millions of business educated people out there think university is the end time of thier education. Stand out with something no one else has. Employeers will see you as not a one dimensional candidate. Me, MBA age 39, MA International relations at 55, starting an MA International Military History (on line) next year. I am down to the final two for jobs as an Global Economic Analyst because I show added value. If none of that works get international experience for the global economy.
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