The following is advice from a wonderful person and a great friend. We have been debating and discussing topics a great deal over the last several weeks. I have taken great advantage of his time in town. He is here helping his mother open a great new restaurant, Gingko, just before he heads off to Colombia (the country, not the school) to join his entire entering Stanford MBA class. They are going there to learn about one of the best places in the world to invest. And one of the best places to visit I have to add. Despite what most people around the world think, the country is full of beauty, incredible people, and is a lot safer than many cities in the US or elsewhere.
After that they head to Palo Alto where they will begin an integrated curriculum that more universities should follow if they hope to remain relevant in the world today.
His advice includes something at least of few people will not agree with. I hope anyone who thinks differently than he does will post a comment. We need vigorous debate.
******************************************************************************
Beyond 4.0
As a former Chinese student at a major research university, I used to think that the key to break into investment banking was to get the best GPA at all cost, and to sound smart in general. Fast forward, I just left investment banking at the end of June, having finished my analyst program at a New York-based investment bank. I now realize that I had some misunderstandings of what it takes to break into Wall Street. I think some of these lessons are generically applicable to international students seeking employment in business.
First, academics are important...to some extent. Wanting to understand the mysterious i-banking hiring process, I participated in almost every recruiting meeting at my old firm. GPA is very important since it is an easy predictor of someone's diligence and competence. However, after a certain threshold, a higher GPA would not automatically translate into a better chance of getting hired. In fact, it's not infrequent that students with ultra-high GPAs are closely scrutinized because some people believe that a high GPA (unless you are a true genius) usually means this student spends a lot of time in libraries. Thus, his/her social skills are automatically being questioned. This brings me to the second point.
Second, emotional intelligence is as important (if not more) important than your raw intellect when it comes to recruitment in investment banking. Having interacted with a few successful men and women in business, the common denominator among them does not seem to be great intellect (you really don't need to be a rocket scientist to succeed in business), but high social/emotional intelligence. Someone with high emotional intelligence is self-aware (knowing the impact of your words and actions on others), is able to read other people's emotions when no word is spoken (people almost always hide their true feelings), and knows how to respond smartly to achieve optimal social outcome. Believe or not, the most common verse that people use to describe a promising candidate is..."I like him/her."
On the point of emotional intelligence, I want to encourage international students to participate in activities that help them understand American social etiquette and develop good teamwork. Joining a fraternity/sorority is a natural way to improve both. Frankly speaking, I was struck by the similarities between fraternity rush and corporate networking. In both situations, you are trying to make a positive impression on people whose mission is to JUDGE you, whether as a potential brother or an investment banking analyst. The numerous conversations you will experience in the Greek rush process will teach you invaluable lessons on social intelligence. You will be surprised by how much more positively people will think of you generally if they like you socially.
Third, I know that many international students gravitate toward spending a lot of time on academics because their parents pressure them to do so. After all, having spent over US$200,000 on a child's college education, a parent naturally would cringe if he/she hears that the child is drinking beer with some of his fraternity brothers, instead of studying, on a Friday night. But, my point is that, to get a job in business, having good grades is NOT enough. People need to like you socially. Thus, spending time with friends and developing social competence suddenly help one's employment prospect.
Last, the Yin and the Yang need to be balanced. By emphasizing the importance of social skills, I am not downplaying the importance of academics. Like I said, grades are important...to some extent.
Born and raised in Chengdu, China, Paul Chen graduated from UVA in 2010. He then worked for two years in New York. He is currently helping his mother with her restaurant on the Corner (Ginkgo) in Charlottesville. He is attending Stanford's MBA this fall.
No comments:
Post a Comment