GUEST COMMENT: I asked the CEO to help me move out of the middle office
I'm a recent graduate. I have stellar academic qualifications and am passionate about becoming a trader. Unfortunately, however, I currently reside in the darkest shadows of the middle office.
Even worse, I am located in a non-front office building, making it extremely difficult to network, and almost impossible to meet anyone not doing something very similar to me.
It was cause for excitement, therefore, when four months into this role, I was invited to a middle office meeting in the front office building. Knowing that our CEO also happens to be based in that building, I decided to take a shot on meeting him.
Wearing my best French-collared shirt, and with my hair slicked back, I entered the trading floor as someone else swiped in. I quickly located his office; he had just come off the phone. I walked speedily past the secretary, knocked on the door (feeling quite confident), and enquired politely if I could have a moment of his time.
I then described my qualifications, my aptitude and passion for trading, the market views I had at the time relating to the strength of the dollar based on risk aversion and a slowdown in Europe, my returns from trading my own money etc.
What else could they want?
He was straight to the point with his response, stating that my qualifications sounded quite average compared to what's on the floor. He also emphasised the merits of the bank's graduate recruitment process.
At this point I was in trouble. I had the sensation that I was in the headmaster's office, and wasn't entirely welcome.
I asked if a Masters in finance from Oxbridge would help? Bemused, he asked if I was here for a job or advice. Both, I stated. I was going have to do it the hard way, and go back to school. His advice was to go get an MBA, from a top school. This would virtually guarantee me a place in an investment bank. And not to worry about the money, it will be worth it in the end. I thanked him for his time, and quickly departed.
In a way, I am still pleased with the encounter. Let me tell you why. There are people, who have worked there, 5-6 years, even on the trading floor, who have never spoken to the CEO, he doesn't know who they are, probably never will. And like Wayne Gretzky says, "you miss 100% of the shots you don't take".
