Ask BBallers: Ten Hut!

By BankersBall on Sep 27, 2007 in Ask BBallers, Cube Life, Job Hunting

Another banker in the making wonders how best to spend his summer: taking verbal abuse from Marines, taking verbal abuse from MDs, or taking verbal abuse in China. We don’t know either. But an undergrad needs YOUR advice!

Dear BBall:

I’m a third year econ major at Columbia who wants to get into finance after graduating, but doesn’t necessarily want to work as a summer analyst this summer. Obviously a position at a bulge bracket in NY would be the ideal thing to get on my resume, but I’m interesting in spending the summer at the Marine Corps’ Officer Candidates School (www.ocs.usmc.mil/), an 8-week program where, among other things, you develop your abilities of leadership and tolerating verbal abuse. What would finance types looking at my resume think of this? Are there lots of ex-military bankers who would be impressed by this, or would they rather see me spend this summer as an excel monkey?

Barring that option, would it be possible to find a summer position at a major bank in China (I’m taking Advanced Chinese, and have passable Mandarin, but not fluent enough to do serious work with people who don’t speak English)? If I really ought to find a summer position, I’d rather spend it in Shanghai than stay in New York…

Thanks very much in advance,
-D

8 Comment(s)

On Sep 28, 2007, RoarLionsRoar said:

Why would you go to Officer Candidates School if you’re not going to join the Marines eventually? You can get all the practice fielding verbal abuse that you need with a summer internship. And you’ll be hard-pressed to explain why you’re interested in finance and why you’re NOT joining the Marines once you start interviewing for full-time positions.

If you’re going to work at a bank in China, you might as well apply for a US bank (one you might want to work for after graduating) with a branch in China. Put your Chinese qualifications on your resume.

I was on the Columbia recruiting team last year; we didn’t really take anyone for full time without an internship.
On Sep 28, 2007, Sr. Excel monkey said:

I’d recommend either the Chinese position or Marine OCS. I do a lot of work with former military and they have superb leadership skills, I think that is recognized throughout business. It’s an increasingly global economy, so China is a great idea, especially given that you can speak the language.
On Sep 28, 2007, marine said:

OCS is 11 weeks. 8 weeks, is that because you are in ROTC?

It also isn’t a walk in the park… to say the least.

The course is designed to train future Officers of the United States Marine Corps. I can’t help but feel insulted that you will simply use this as a stepping stone to get into finance.

But it’s your life. Goodluck.
On Sep 28, 2007, M said:

What is the name of the program? I am interested.
On Sep 28, 2007, Poseidon said:

Go to OCS. I was a banker with Morgan Stanley before going to a private shop. Prior to B-school (which was paid for), I was enlisted, did undergrad (which was paid for), and received my commission. My service background and experience has differentiated myself from others, given me a stronger sense of self, and allows for a different kind of credibility (especially with older c-level types who may have served as well). In addition, you have a different benchmark with which to measure yourself by. You are calm and chill when everyone else is panicking. Why? Because no matter the MD or deal timeline, no one is shooting at you. China, there is always time for China. You can only go to OCS when your young. Best of luck. Fair winds and following seas.
On Sep 28, 2007, MD said:

If you get through OCS, it certainly wouldn’t be a bad thing… if a bank wants leadership skills, there’s not much better you can say that the corps trusts you enough to put a squad under your control
On Sep 30, 2007, Anonymous said:

OCS will look good on any resume to any bank. The main question would be…why didn’t you continue with it?

Per China, it’s hard to find a summer position there without a contact, talk to a prof. of yours, he/she may be able to help.
On Oct 30, 2007, AspiringIBanker said:

I have an inverse situation. I want to work as a summer analyst or year around part time internship. I’m above no entry level duties. I separated from the military three years ago. However, I, too, am attending Columbia and learning Chinese.

I was enlisted in the Air Force Force for four years and worked for the Department of State for two years. During my career, I engineered computer systems to protect over 100k users and prevent the infiltration of hackers from all over the world. I won Airman of the Year in my career field specialty and worked on network security projects at the headquarters and federal agency level. I had Directors, and Colonels yelling at me under stressful situations with critical deadlines and demanding project presentations go flawlessly.

I felt unchallenged and read every recently published Economics book during my commute to work. I immediately became obsessed with working the financial industry because I love a challenging work environment; I’m a workaholic, and my attraction for numbers and money is overwhelming. The attraction become so strong that I quit my six figure job and moved to NYC find a way into Columbia University. I was admitted and am currently a second year Economics full time student and full time worker. However, I’m torn between leaving my full time job, which pays my tuition. Obviously, a simple cost benefit analysis would say a 100k in private loans is a drop in the bucket for an investment banker so my foot is out of the door in six months.

Will the bulk bracket give a 29 year old (age at graduation) a chance? Or has my time passed? Based upon readings about the IB environment, I assume employers want to mold their employees at a young age. I’m adaptable, but I fear my age will adversely affect me during the consideration for summer internships and post graduation positions. Should I continue for my MBA to equate my education level with my age?

I’d like to hear feedback and advisement from the horses’ mouths. I have thick skin so ANYthing constructive is encouraged and welcomed.

Good luck Original Poster!

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On Sep 28, 2007, RoarLionsRoar said:

Why would you go to Officer Candidates School if you’re not going to join the Marines eventually? You can get all the practice fielding verbal abuse that you need with a summer internship. And you’ll be hard-pressed to explain why you’re interested in finance and why you’re NOT joining the Marines once you start interviewing for full-time positions.

If you’re going to work at a bank in China, you might as well apply for a US bank (one you might want to work for after graduating) with a branch in China. Put your Chinese qualifications on your resume.

I was on the Columbia recruiting team last year; we didn’t really take anyone for full time without an internship.

On Sep 28, 2007, Sr. Excel monkey said:

I’d recommend either the Chinese position or Marine OCS. I do a lot of work with former military and they have superb leadership skills, I think that is recognized throughout business. It’s an increasingly global economy, so China is a great idea, especially given that you can speak the language.

On Sep 28, 2007, marine said:

OCS is 11 weeks. 8 weeks, is that because you are in ROTC?

It also isn’t a walk in the park… to say the least.

The course is designed to train future Officers of the United States Marine Corps. I can’t help but feel insulted that you will simply use this as a stepping stone to get into finance.

But it’s your life. Goodluck.

On Sep 28, 2007, M said:

What is the name of the program? I am interested.

On Sep 28, 2007, Poseidon said:

Go to OCS. I was a banker with Morgan Stanley before going to a private shop. Prior to B-school (which was paid for), I was enlisted, did undergrad (which was paid for), and received my commission. My service background and experience has differentiated myself from others, given me a stronger sense of self, and allows for a different kind of credibility (especially with older c-level types who may have served as well). In addition, you have a different benchmark with which to measure yourself by. You are calm and chill when everyone else is panicking. Why? Because no matter the MD or deal timeline, no one is shooting at you. China, there is always time for China. You can only go to OCS when your young. Best of luck. Fair winds and following seas.

On Sep 28, 2007, MD said:

If you get through OCS, it certainly wouldn’t be a bad thing… if a bank wants leadership skills, there’s not much better you can say that the corps trusts you enough to put a squad under your control

On Sep 30, 2007, Anonymous said:

OCS will look good on any resume to any bank. The main question would be…why didn’t you continue with it?

Per China, it’s hard to find a summer position there without a contact, talk to a prof. of yours, he/she may be able to help.

On Oct 30, 2007, AspiringIBanker said:

I have an inverse situation. I want to work as a summer analyst or year around part time internship. I’m above no entry level duties. I separated from the military three years ago. However, I, too, am attending Columbia and learning Chinese.

I was enlisted in the Air Force Force for four years and worked for the Department of State for two years. During my career, I engineered computer systems to protect over 100k users and prevent the infiltration of hackers from all over the world. I won Airman of the Year in my career field specialty and worked on network security projects at the headquarters and federal agency level. I had Directors, and Colonels yelling at me under stressful situations with critical deadlines and demanding project presentations go flawlessly.

I felt unchallenged and read every recently published Economics book during my commute to work. I immediately became obsessed with working the financial industry because I love a challenging work environment; I’m a workaholic, and my attraction for numbers and money is overwhelming. The attraction become so strong that I quit my six figure job and moved to NYC find a way into Columbia University. I was admitted and am currently a second year Economics full time student and full time worker. However, I’m torn between leaving my full time job, which pays my tuition. Obviously, a simple cost benefit analysis would say a 100k in private loans is a drop in the bucket for an investment banker so my foot is out of the door in six months.

Will the bulk bracket give a 29 year old (age at graduation) a chance? Or has my time passed? Based upon readings about the IB environment, I assume employers want to mold their employees at a young age. I’m adaptable, but I fear my age will adversely affect me during the consideration for summer internships and post graduation positions. Should I continue for my MBA to equate my education level with my age?

I’d like to hear feedback and advisement from the horses’ mouths. I have thick skin so ANYthing constructive is encouraged and welcomed.

Good luck Original Poster!