I'm a junior from a semi-target/target looking to find an SA position. I'm also an econ major taking 4 regular classes this semester. I know it doesn't sound that tough but I'm trying to get a 4.0 and I've been getting only ~4 hours of sleep trying to fit in all my projects. So I haven't even written my resume yet, let alone practice interview questions.
How do you guys find the time to do all this preparation like read WSJ etc?
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Wow...
I don't mean to be a dick, but the reality is that some people are inevitably going to be more productive and efficient than you are. I know a guy with a bottomless memory who can speed read and still recite entire passages from textbooks. He did absolutely jack in college and graduated with high honors (from an ultra-target).
Admittedly, he's an Extreme case, but you get the idea. Some people don't need to study (much or at all) to maintain a 4.0. Some people can read the WSJ 4x faster than the average SA hopeful. You'll probably meet some people like this and a lot of people in between when you land your SA spot.
I averaged four hours of sleep my junior year taking 3 upper-level econ classes and 1 upper level finance course. The whole SA application phase will probably just have to be a grueling march for you. It's worth it, though. Good luck.
Writing up a job-specific resume shouldn't take long at all. Not more than a page for that and 3 paragraphs for a cover letter.
If you're qualified and can be succint, then it should come together easily.
You don't find time, you make time.
there's still time before the majority of SA recruiting. you're right, 4 classes as an econ nmajor doesn't seem too difficult though....
have SA resume drop deadlines even started yet? don't think so.
Seriously you are messing up somewhere along the line.
Time to make a decent first draft of your resume: 1 hour Time to skim WSJ and market headlines: 15 min. Time to do basic research on a firm, recent deals etc.: 30 min. Time to go over Vault finance interview guide for the first time: 2 hours Time to review "" "" "" "": 20 min.
Unless you are working every waking minute that you are not in class, there is NO way you can't complete the basic steps to preparing for an interview. Do a draft of your resume, shoot it off to your career center.
And I hate to be mean so early in the morning, but if 4 econ classes are eating up all your time, you may want to reconsider your career choice. This is coming from an econ major from a very tough school who did 2 grad level courses and 2 400s senior year.
Just a thought.
You have time, at the worst do it all over winter break. If you can't spend a little time with the journal and resume then you've got a serious problem.
Instead of coming to Wall Street Oasis and asking questions and waiting for replies, and probably browsing through the website reading recent posts you should pick up the WSJ and read that. Or read it while you are waiting for a class to start, or as you are walking to class... There is always a way to find time. Everyone is trying to get straight 4.0's, but the reality is that if you have an interview the day before none of your school work is going to matter. You do what you have to do to get the job because in the end a straight 4.0 isnt going to mean jack if you dont perform in your interviews and land a job.
My God...
I wish that was all I had to say. I will be honest I never had to study much and things kind of always came to me, but shit dude 4 classes and you're getting 4 hours of sleep and NO interview prep done? Seriously, are they 4 PhD courses? Are you writing a dissertation? Working 50 hours a weel on top of school?
I took 5 classes (1 of which was a PhD Macro Econ course) my junior semester, was a double major of Econ and Math from an "ultra"-target, worked on campus, did community service, got all A's and still had time to prepare and land a BB SA.
Seriously if school is ALL that is on your plate just get it done and learn how ot manage time better. There is NO way all you are doing is school work and goign to class anf it is taking 20 hours of your day EVERY day. \
I would not even tell people who know you that school is taking you that long. They will think you are not too bright.
PS - If you are having time management skills ask a professor because maybe you are just doing one thing wrong in every class which is adding like 1-2 hours per class per day.
They live on 28-hour days. Jk
I clicked on this thinking it was someone asking about how 1st year analysts had time to study for their PE interviews. I laughed when I saw it was from an undergrad...
I took five classes a semester, fell asleep in most of them or doodled in most of them, yet still managed to make honor roll. I figured out what the teacher wanted from us (writing was my major- I know, liberal but I still had to take other classes) and wrote papers that sucked up to that. You think I knew anything about medieval medicine? Nope. But I knew how to write some damn good papers.
I would also title them accordingly. "Long irritating paper" was one. My teacher thought that was hilarious.
********"Babies don't cost money, they MAKE money." - Jerri Blank********
Oh yeah, that medicine class? Got an "a". Plus I was working throughout the school year as well.
********"Babies don't cost money, they MAKE money." - Jerri Blank********
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