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News Local News What banks are REALLY looking for?!
| What banks are REALLY looking for?! |
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| Written by Mun Ghaleb |
| Thursday, 18 December 2008 21:37 |
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Source: efinancialcareers.co.uk There are now tens of thousands of candidates chasing a couple of hundred graduate positions. So what will differentiate you from the throng? After a career in capital markets, here are my observations - Academic excellence: Having a first or a 2:1 from a top university is assumed. Most candidates will also have a relevant Masters degree. The will also be studying for professional qualifications (SII, CFA), will work part-time, captain sports clubs, have substantial international travel experience and actively engage in campus life. If your CV doesn’t contain all these points you are unlikely to enjoy a great deal of success. The human factor: The most common problem in interviews is the ‘human’ factor. Banks aren’t looking for Gordon Gecko. They are looking for ambitious, confident, mature, technically-able and above all personable candidates they would like to work with. Arguably this human element is more important than your technical ability - technical knowledge can be taught; relationship skills can’t. Commitment and interest: If you make it through to interview you will need to demonstrate your commitment to a career in finance (professional qualifications, membership of University Finance Societies, solid grasp of current financial news).
Demonstrate during the interview that you’re comfortable discussing recent financial events. Put forward informed opinions and ask plenty of questions about how your interviewers are finding the current market, how the bank is dealing with the current crisis, and where they see the markets heading in the future. A lively debate or thought-provoking opinion will remain in the minds of bankers when they come to select who will progress to the next stage of the recruitment process.
Overall therefore, get busy. Your CV should be crammed with recent positions of responsibility and membership of clubs and societies - as well as excellent academic results. Whilst a ‘solid 2:1 from a solid University’ may have been good enough in recent years, current market conditions are pushing candidates to achieve a lot more before their application is even considered for a second look. The author is a senior capital markets professional at a European bank in London. |
KCLCS
The Computing Society (CS) is a group of students composed of full-time Undergraduate and Postgraduate Computer Science students dedicated to education and professional development in the area of computer science, as well as providing academic and social activities to its members.
King's College London Computing Society (KCLCS) is a new established society and was founded in March 2008 by Mun Ghaleb and a number of first year students. Over the duration of planning and discussions with department the Society gained other key committee members (Max and Rani) as well as many other members. (Please check out Committee Members ).
Mission Statement
Aims & Objectives
- Present more opportunities to broaden knowledge and interests of members with topics related to Computer Science.
Provide external sources of knowledge through events such as having guest speakers, professors, workshops and representatives from different companies in the industry of technology speak to students about interesting and relevant information to Computer Science.
Promote socialisation amongst the society members, including the University lecturers and staff in a more informal environment than in lectures.
Provide opportunities and activities that will develop members as a part of a group in and outside the context of Computer Science
