ocupational interviews
Mark Kirkpatrick
4432-XXXX
Mark Kirkpatrick
4432-XXXX
Occupational Interviews
Career Coach: Chris Smith
Occupational Interview #1
Name of Interviewee: Jake Ganderson
Position Title: First-year Foreign Exchange Analyst at Templeton Bank
Occupational Interview #2
Name of Interviewee: Saul Lemoston
Position Title: First-year Foreign Exchange Analyst at Templeton Bank
Occupational Interview #3
Name of Interviewee: Clark Cameron
Position Title: Second-year Foreign Exchange Analyst at Templeton Bank
Occupational Interview #4
Name of Interviewee: Pam Cooker
Position Title: Summer Analyst at Templeton Bank (Accepted offer for Full-time
position)
Occupational Interview #5
Name of Interviewee: Kep Chang
Position Title: Second-year Commodities Trading Analyst at SunTrust Securities
Mark Kirkpatrick
4432-XXXX
Occupational Interview #1
Name of Interviewee: Jake Ganderson
Position Title: First-year Foreign Exchange Analyst at Templeton Bank
Type of Employing Organization: Investment Bank
Date of Interview: 11/2/2010
1. What was your career path to arrive to your current position? Does it differ from the typical
career path of someone in your position? If so, how?
I would say that my career path was very atypical with respect to my colleagues who are in
similar positions. I was very blessed in college to be able to participate in multiple internships
with my current employer. Over the course of these internships, I gained exposure to nearly the
full spectrum of clients that we service from individual retail customers all the way to large
publicly-traded corporate clients. In addition, I was able to view the bank’s capabilities from
many different angles including credit risk, retail client-facing, corporate sales, and capital
markets trading. All in all, I was able to gain a breadth of experience before arriving at my
current role in foreign exchange and I firmly believe that the broad base and the in-depth
knowledge that I was fortunate enough to establish allows me to be markedly more effective
today.
2. What kinds of tasks do you do on a typical day or in a typical week?
My specific role is an analyst supporting the sales portion of the foreign exchange sales and
trading group. In this role, my tasks are broken down into two broad categories: prospecting
new FX clients and maintaining and servicing existing FX client relationships. On the prospecting
side, I partner with senior marketers to develop pitch materials which typically include FX group
overviews, currency market updates, and specifically tailored hedging strategies. Existing client
maintenance and servicing include executing derivative and spot transactions, providing
pertinent currency and geopolitical updates, and maintaining necessary compliance records.
3. What excites you most about this job?
The most exciting thing about my position here at my current employer is definitely the thrill of
sitting on a capital markets trading floor. There is never a dull moment on the trading floor and
having the privilege to participate in live trades is without a doubt one of the most enjoyable
aspects of my job.
4. Do you feel that you have succeeded due to chance or hard work? Please explain?
I would say that my early career success has been a product of both assistance from others and
my own personal hard work. My first internship was during the summer following my freshman
year at UF which is not very typical. This internship was definitely a product of leveraging family
contacts to get my foot in the door at my current employer so I clearly have to acknowledge this
contribution to getting my start with the bank. In addition however, I did not let this fortunate
Mark Kirkpatrick
4432-XXXX
break go to waste. I worked diligently over the course of both of internships to make it clear
that I was serious about pursuing a career at my current employer and was fortunately awarded
with a full-time position accordingly.
5. What types of advancement opportunities are available for an entry-level worker in this career?
At the analyst level in which I am currently working, the advancement opportunities vary widely
depending heavily upon which group an analyst is in. In my specific role as analyst on the
trading floor, there is relatively promising room for advancement due to the highly specialized
nature of the work I am doing. The next position level for me would be an associate with this
promotion taking approximately two to four years from starting with the bank. Analysts in more
traditional investment banking roles are typically advised to return to business school or pursue
other opportunities after two to three years in their roles.
6. What are some skills that are crucial to possess in order to succeed in your occupation?
Communication is probably one of the most important skills that I use on a day-to-day basis on
the trading floor. Both with clients and colleagues, communication is a key component in
delivering excellence in servicing our clients and achieving flawless transaction execution. In
addition, strong mathematical and financial analytical skills are crucial as far as completing
typical tasks incurred on a daily basis.
7. What training programs are offered by your company to prepare you for working in your
occupation?
My current employer prides itself on a very comprehensive and extensive online training course
offering. Coupling this with the outside vendors that my current employer brought in during the
initial training process for my position, all-in-all I benefited significantly from the multi-faceted
training approach that my current employer utilizes.
8. How would you describe your corporate culture? If there was one thing you could change about
your organizational culture, what would it be?
I particularly enjoy the level of respect and kindness that is exhibited by employees at my
current employer. Perhaps a product of its headquarters’ location being in the Southeastern US,
it goes without saying that you will feel warmly welcomed as either an employee or client of the
bank. If I could change one thing about my specific area of the bank relating to our culture, I
would move a larger majority of investment banking teammates to a central location as we are
currently somewhat spread out. Fortunately, it was just announced that this very change will be
occurring in the next 6-8 months.
9. Are those hours typical for most jobs in this occupation, or do some types of jobs have different
hours?
I am definitely very blessed with respect to the hours that I put in here on the trading floor. On
a typical day, I usually arrive around 7:15 in the morning and leave around 6:30 in the evening
and I do not work weekends. So on average, I work between 55-60 hours per week. This is
Mark Kirkpatrick
4432-XXXX
really not that bad compared to more traditional investment banking analysts who typically
work between 70-90 hours per week.
10. Do you have any advice for someone interested in this field/job? Are there any written materials
you suggest I read? Which professional journals and organizations would help me learn more
about this field?
I would advise anyone interested in entering the field of banking or finance to make an effort to
always stay updated on current market trends via various media outlets. Watching CNBC,
reading the Wall Street Journal, and tracking specific securities through various online media
offerings is probably the best way to gain knowledge and insight into the world of
finance. Don’t take your college coursework lightly because several employers in this field rely
heavily on academic performance as an indicator of potential future success. In addition, it’s
important to exhibit diversity of interests by participating in extra-curricular activities as well as
excelling academically. When you are able to secure an interview, the best advice I can give is to
be yourself and don’t try to fit a mold that isn’t you. This is the easiest way to eliminate yourself
from the recruiting process because employers know most candidates are intellectually qualified
but really differentiate by observing character and behavioral traits.
My Reactions:
My conversation with Jake Ganderson was very interesting. I decided to interview him because
being on the Capital Markets side of Investment Banking was always something that I considered.
However, after this interview, I’ve realized that I’m more tailored towards the traditional corporate
investment banking route. This route would entail becoming specialized in an industry or product and
helping corporations or other clients with the services offered by those groups. Capital Markets does
seem like a great place to work if hours are a major concern to someone, however, currently, to set
myself up for future exit opportunities, I don’t mind putting in the immense hours that are necessary to
move up the corporate ladder. There are a few things however, that make Foreign Exchange seem very
intriguing. The opportunities for advancement seem to be a little bit more certain. Unlike the traditional
route that I’ve currently signed myself up for, after two or three years, you still have the opportunity get
promoted and to continue working with the bank, whereas in my situation, I would have to perform
exceptionally well to be given a promotion to the associate level. Another important distinction that I
learned was that being on the Capital Markets desk, such as Foreign Exchange, kind of forces you to stay
in tune with the market. Fluctuations in market sentiment or just headlines coming out can really affect
the kind of work that Jake does. Allow this does posses an exciting aspect to the job, I think I would
prefer to be more involved with corporations and helping them find capital and expansion opportunities
by studying their industry. (This is not to say being in tune with the market is not important, but I would
say that it’s not as imperative to be successful.) One final topic that John talked about as being
important was the power of leveraging your contacts to break in. Breaking into investment banking is
very difficult as I’ve just recently witnessed this past fall recruiting season. A lot of good friends of mine
were not fortunate enough to make the cut, and I feel that was hindered them is the fact that they
didn’t have contacts in the industry, or didn’t network enough to make the necessary ones.
Mark Kirkpatrick
4432-XXXX
Occupational Interview #2
Name of Interviewee: Saul Lemoston
Position Title: First-year Foreign Exchange Analyst at Templeton Bank
Type of Employing Organization: Investment Bank
Date of Interview: 11/4/2011
1. What was your career path to arrive to your current position? Does it differ from the typical
career path of someone in your position? If so, how?
I would definitely say that my path was atypical. I received my B.S. in Economics from Vanderbilt
University. Immediately after graduation, I worked in retail banking for two years while
attending a two year bible college program. I really enjoyed banking and finance but wasn't sure
what form that would take. I ended up working as the executive director of a non-profit for five
years, before deciding to get my MBA. I wanted to get back into banking and pursue finance full-
time.
2. What kinds of tasks do you do on a typical day or in a typical week?
As an associate in investment banking, I am largely responsible for running a process. Running
the process successfully entails a number of quantitative and qualitative responsibilities
including financial analysis, modeling, writing, editing, and managing junior bankers within the
deal team. I would be in charge of delegating certain tasks to the analyst, while putting together
and overseeing that the marketing materials that go out to clients are ready and include all the
necessary information. Although the tasks might be somewhat similar to those of the analyst,
more responsibility is placed on an associate, and the margin for error shrinks considerably.
3. What excites you most about this job?
This job represents a great challenge. You have to be proficient in a number of skills and
transition between them seamlessly at a high level. It is a fast-paced, high intensity environment
that provides significant responsibility early on in your career.
4. Do you feel that you have succeeded due to chance or hard work? Please explain?
I think it is probably a bit of both, but I wouldn't call it "chance." I have definitely worked hard
and endeavored to position myself for success. However, there is a large element of opportunity
involved for which I cannot claim full credit. There are a lot of people that are intelligent and
hard-working, but often the difference seems to come down to receiving and capitalizing on a
few important opportunities.
5. What types of advancement opportunities are available for an entry-level worker in this
Mark Kirkpatrick
4432-XXXX
career?
I think this career is probably one of the very best in regards to creating future career
opportunities. You often have the ability to move up within the company, attend top business
schools, or transition to industry within an excellent resume and high credibility in your
analytical skills.
6. What are some skills that are crucial to possess in order to succeed in your occupation?
Good attitude, strong work ethic, humility, strong analytical skills as well as excellent verbal and
written communication skills.
8. How would you describe your corporate culture? If there was one thing you could change
about your organizational culture, what would it be?
I think Templeton has a very collegial culture. People are very friendly and willing to help in
order to achieve team goals. I would like to see the bank be more conscious of developing a
recognizable brand within the broader investment community.
10. Do you have any advice for someone interested in this field/job? Are there any written
materials you suggest I read? Which professional journals and organizations would help me
learn more about this field?
Learn as much as you can about the position. Invest the time in doing a personal inventory of
your skills and interests to determine if this is something you really want to do. There are
significant tradeoffs, so you want to be sure. Research firms thoroughly, because they vary
widely in a number of ways, and you want to find the right fit for you, because that will provide
you the greatest opportunity to be successful. The Vault has some pretty helpful guides, but
talking to industry professionals and people that are currently doing the job you are considering
is probably the best way to learn.
My Reactions:
Right from the get go of this interview I knew that it would provide me with a different outlook
view as to how people decided to get into banking and what is considered a “typical” route. I thought it
was incredible that, after being out of college for so many years, doing various things such as private
banking and bible school, Saul was still able to break into investment banking. This really resonated in
me the power of perseverance and hard work. If someone truly wants to make a career out of
something, they have to pursue it with tremendous work ethic. Another thing that Saul mentioned was
his take on Templeton’s corporate culture. I witnessed firsthand this culture, and couldn’t agree more.
Templeton employees really do their best to provide a working environment that promotes a “one-
team” feel. Everyone looks out for each other and is willing to help with whatever they can. Because of
this, I’m very glad I chose to accept my full-time offer with Templeton, and couldn’t see a better place to
kick off my investment banking career. Another very valid statement that I really didn’t consider was
Mark Kirkpatrick
4432-XXXX
when Saul said to do a personal inventory of your skills and interests to determine if this is something
you really want to do. I liked this in particular because it’s something that has resonated throughout this
entire course. It’s imperative to really find a career that you will enjoy to be a part of. If you can’t
stomach the long hours, or the intense stress that comes with dealing with multi-million dollar
transactions, then investment banking is probably not for you. It can be very easily interpreted that a lot
of work will go into preparing yourself for a successful career in investment banking.
Mark Kirkpatrick
4432-XXXX
Occupational Interview #3
Name of Interviewee: Clark Cameron
Position Title: Second-year Foreign Exchange Analyst at Templeton Bank
Type of Employing Organization: Investment Bank
Date of Interview: 11/13/2011
1. What was your career path to arrive to your current position? Does it differ from the typical
career path of someone in your position? If so, how?
When I graduated from UF I first went to work for an asset manager, who managed assets
for Pension Funds and Endowments. I worked there for a little over a year and then came
over to the STRH Leveraged Finance group as a lateral hire. This is slightly different than
most undergraduates that go into investment banking, but in the year I graduated the job
market was pretty rough so I took what I could get with the idea that I would go into
investment banking once the job market improved
2. What kinds of tasks do you do on a typical day or in a typical week?
Every week is pretty different, but some of the more typical tasks that you’ll find analysts
doing, particularly in the syndicated and leveraged finance group are screening potential
transactions, preparing pitch materials, working on offering materials for High Yield
offerings or Leveraged Loans, executing transactions, answering investor questions, and
performing due diligence on potential underwriting transactions. You’ll also be responsible
for putting together the financial models, which can take up a lot of the time since they have
to be meticulously accurate.
3. What excites you most about this job?
I like that every day is different. I also like that this job is very challenging and not for
everybody. I also like that if you are very good at your job you will be rewarded for the hard
work. People definitely need to take a very long and hard look at themselves before they get
into this industry. This industry will break people down, especially in the analyst role. A lot
of people end up leaving investment banking after their 2 year stint because of the
demanding hours and high pressure environment. I personally like that about investment
banking.
4. Do you feel that you have succeeded due to chance or hard work? Please explain?
Both – I am lucky to have the job I have, but I have also tried to work hard every day, which I
think has helped me be successful within my group. I’m hoping to get promoted very soon,
which will put a little bit more responsibility on my plate, and I’ll be able to have marginally
better hours.
Mark Kirkpatrick
4432-XXXX
5. What types of advancement opportunities are available for an entry-level worker in this
career?
If you are very good you can get promoted to associate, which tends to be something
people would like to happen, unless they want to go back and get their MBA to transition
into another industry. However, in this economy, having an offer for a promotion is very
exciting and rewarding. You can always go get your MBA later on.
6. What are some skills that are crucial to possess in order to succeed in your occupation?
You have to be very passionate and enjoy the work we do. Additionally, you need to be able
to handle high levels of stress. I’ve witnessed many colleagues of mine quit and transition
into another industry because they weren’t able to handle the pressure and stress of the
job.
7. What training programs are offered by your company to prepare you for working in your
occupation?
When the new analysts start, they spend the first couple of months going through a training
program. Additionally, the bank offers continuing education on a regular basis, almost
monthly, through an online platform. Also, after going through some regular training, each
specific group within the bank will train the new analyst, teaching them group specific
knowledge.
8. How would you describe your corporate culture? If there was one thing you could change
about your organizational culture, what would it be?
The culture on our floor is not the same throughout the bank, but the culture on our floor is
very intense, yet also very collegial. One thing that I would change would be the level of
communication from the more senior people. It seems at times that things are very “hush-
hush” as it relates to staffing and salaries / bonuses. I would rather the environment be
very open and straight forward.
9. Are those hours typical for most jobs in this occupation, or do some types of jobs have
different hours?
Our group has very typical LevFin hours, averaging probably 90-100 hours a week for
analysts and associates. Different groups will work different hours, in particular, the people
whose jobs revolved around market hours.
10. Do you have any advice for someone interested in this field/job? Are there any written
materials you suggest I read? Which professional journals and organizations would help me
learn more about this field?
Mark Kirkpatrick
4432-XXXX
I would suggest working as hard as you can while you are young with the idea of reaping the
benefits later on in life. There is a trade off that many people will have to take into
consideration. You can enjoy your early 20’s and find a job that works significantly less
hours, or you can push through the demanding hours of investment banking and hope to
reap the rewards that come from moving up the corporate ladder. I would also suggest
reading the WSJ, Bloomberg, and The Economist, as these tend to be crucial for
understanding the finance industry and having a pulse of the market.
My Reactions:
I really enjoyed speaking with Clark. He’s actually an analyst in the group that I will be working in
once I start full time, so getting a better understanding of what he felt the culture and banking life was
like was very interesting. Understanding that the group that I’ll be joining is very intense but also
collegial is something I’m looking forward to. I really like being put into high pressure situations where
my skills and abilities are put to the test. I feel that the sense of accomplishment that comes from
succeeding in those situations is going to be more rewarding than not. After speaking with Clark I really
believe that I’ll be able to succeed in investment banking and in the Syndicated and Leveraged Finance
group in particular. I think that my skills and personalities match up very well. I can honestly say that I
cannot wait to move up to New York and begin this next phase of my career. I think the only negative
aspect of the job that I was able to get from the interview was that there seems to be lack of
communication between the ranks. Of course, as an analyst you’re not supposed to complain, as you are
the lowest on the totem pole, however, being able to have an open lane of communication between the
managing directors and yourself is very important. However, besides that little drawback, the type of
work that Clark described seems like something I’d really enjoy doing. I’ll be screening possible
transactions that will be bringing in revenue for the bank. That kind of responsibility is beyond exciting
for me.
Mark Kirkpatrick
4432-XXXX
Occupational Interview #4
Name of Interviewee: Pam Cooker
Position Title: Summer Analyst at Templeton Bank (Accepted offer for Full-time position)
Type of Employing Organization: Investment Bank
Date of Interview: 11/7/2011
1. What was your career path to arrive to your current position? Does it differ from the typical
career path of someone in your position? If so, how?
I was somewhat unique in obtaining my current analyst role at Templeton Bank in that I had no
previous work experience in the financial services industry. My academic path in contrast was
very typical or standard, if such a thing exists in the investment banking sphere, working
towards both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in finance currently. I interviewed at three
competing investment banks last spring in the hopes of obtaining a summer analyst internship
and received one from Templeton, directly leading to my offer to come back and work full-time
this coming summer.
2. What kinds of tasks do you do on a typical day or in a typical week?
The role of an investment banking analyst is to assist the senior bankers above them in
executing financing decisions for a corporate client of the investment bank. Daily tasks for the
job include developing slide decks and other presentation materials, either internal or external.
An analyst is also responsible for developing cash flow models and current financing
considerations.
3. What excites you most about this job?
Investment banking is exciting because of the size of the deals in contention. An average deal
size for STRH would be in the neighborhood of $500MM USD and some of Templeton's
competitors would likely average approximately $500-1000MM USD. This makes every decision
that much more critical and valuable, leading to unmatched intensity and perfection throughout
the industry.
4. Do you feel that you have succeeded due to chance or hard work? Please explain?
I believe that I've earned my success up to this point. In that I've been fortunate and blessed to
have the opportunities but have successfully enacted and worked to earn these opportunities.
5. What types of advancement opportunities are available for an entry-level worker in this
career?
The contract at STRH stipulates a two-year contract with the option for a third-year of analyst
work if both parties agree. After the duration of the analyst position, the bank may extend an
offer to come on as a full-time associate and so on through vice president, director, managing
director, and group head.
Mark Kirkpatrick
4432-XXXX
6. What are some skills that are crucial to possess in order to succeed in your occupation?
Critical skills of an investment banker are common to most entry-level business positions:
attention to detail, desire to go above and beyond, strong analytic and independent thinking.
Investment banking is renowned for the brutally long hours and is considered a gateway to most
upper level business positions, from buy side corporate, venture capital, or senior investment
banking.
7. What training programs are offered by your company to prepare you for working in your
occupation?
The two-year program begins with a 2 to 3 month training program ranging from accounting
standards to modeling practice.
8. How would you describe your corporate culture? If there was one thing you could change
about your organizational culture, what would it be?
Templeton is a balanced organization that focuses on competing at the highest level while still
maintaining a work-life balance. Templeton also emphasizes service to the community through
multiple philanthropic opportunities. Templeton is known as the "investment bank of the
North," and personifies these ideals through and through.
9. Are those hours typical for most jobs in this occupation, or do some types of jobs have
different hours?
80-100 hours a week for a high level investment bank is pretty standard. Templeton tends to be
on the lower end of hours worked as compared to other Wall Street I-Banking firms. 130 hour
weeks are not uncommon.
10. Do you have any advice for someone interested in this field/job? Are there any written
materials you suggest I read? Which professional journals and organizations would help me
learn more about this field?
Becoming an investment banker is a huge commitment; however, the residual benefits after
your analyst tenure are seemingly unmatched. The financial times, the mergers and inquisition's
website, the Wall Street Journal, basically anything that is finance related is critical in learning
and comprehending the industry.
My Reactions:
I choose to interview a friend of mine that actually participated in the same internship program
that I did. I wanted to get out of her key take away, as well as learn about some different aspects of
investment banking that I didn’t consider. I also wanted to see her reasoning for wanting to go into
investment banking. What really stuck out for me was her list of skills to possess to be successful in this
career. When she was done listing them, I couldn’t help to think that she essentially covered every skill
there was. This was kind of eye opening and scary to think about. Entering into this industry I really want
Mark Kirkpatrick
4432-XXXX
to be as successful as possible, and being able to possess all of the skills that Pam mentioned will be very
difficult. What I liked about this though, was that it implies room for improvement. Either I will be able
to possess all those skills to the necessary standards that investment banking entails, or I will ultimately
fail and have to find a different career. After speaking with Pam, all I could think about was how am I
going to ensure that I succeed, and what is it that I can do now to start preparing myself.
Mark Kirkpatrick
4432-XXXX
Occupational Interview #5
Name of Interviewee: Kep Chang
Position Title: Second-year Commodities Trading Analyst at SunTrust Securities
Type of Employing Organization: Investment Bank
Date of Interview: 11/10/2011
1. What was your career path to arrive to your current position? Does it differ from the typical
career path of someone in your position? If so, how?
During college, I managed to get an internship with an institutional brokerage firm in New York
where I learned about commodities trading. My internship really got me interested in becoming
a commodities trader and helped me learn a lot about the industry. During my final year at
school, I successfully applied for the analyst program at my current firm, and that’s where I am
today. This sort of path is pretty typical among those who work in my role.
2. What kinds of tasks do you do on a typical day or in a typical week?
In a typical day I price and trade commodity derivative products, which provide risk
management solutions for our clients. I also manage risk exposures in my book and hedge
undesirable exposures in the market. I also assist other members of my team with trade entry
into our software systems, reporting profit/loss, and miscellaneous task on the desk.
3. What excites you most about this job?
I have the opportunity to work in a fast paced and very challenging environment. I also get to
work alongside very bright and motivated people.
4. Do you feel that you have succeeded due to chance or hard work? Please explain?
It takes both hard work and opportunity to succeed in the financial industry. You need to be
capable and willing to seize the opportunity available to you.
5. What types of advancement opportunities are available for an entry-level worker in this career?
Successful entry level traders can work their way to trading books with more complex risk. They
can also advance into managerial roles leading teams of traders. There are also many attractive
exit opportunities for successful traders should they want to leave the bank.
6. What are some skills that are crucial to possess in order to succeed in your occupation?
Some skills that help traders succeed are strong communication skills, attention to detail,
analytical and mathematical skills, patience, the ability to multi-task, great time management
and stress management skills, as well as the ability to grasp and understand abstract concepts.
Being on a trading desk and working market hours means you have to think extremely fast and
go with your gut a lot of times.
Mark Kirkpatrick
4432-XXXX
7. What training programs are offered by your company to prepare you for working in your
occupation?
Most large firms provide a course in finance and excel training to new hires, there is additional
training available for specialized products and responsibilities.
8. How would you describe your corporate culture? If there was one thing you could change about
your organizational culture, what would it be?
Corporate culture at our firm is pretty professional and conservative. If I had the opportunity to
change anything I would like for there to me more open communication between employees
firm-wide.
9. Are those hours typical for most jobs in this occupation, or do some types of jobs have different
hours?
My days generally start at 6am and end around 5-6pm on average. Those hours are pretty
typical for people working as junior commodities traders. Traders in other markets have
different hours some longer and some shorter.
10. Do you have any advice for someone interested in this field/job? Are there any written materials
you suggest I read? Which professional journals and organizations would help me learn more
about this field?
Getting a job at an investment bank is a lot of hard work. I would suggest pursuing internships
and studying financial products on your own. There are plenty of television programs,
magazines, and internet sources that provide insight into what traders do. I would suggest
reading books such as Liar’s Poker by Michael Lewis and reading financial news such as the Wall
Street Journal. There’s also a podcast by American Public Media called “Marketplace” that I like
to listen to after work sometimes. http://marketplace.publicradio.org/
My Reactions:
Interviewing Kep was insightful because he was able to offer relatively similar information;
however he clearly works in a different bank, in a different location, and a different group. This just goes
to show that the industry is relatively similar across the board in terms of expectations, advancement
opportunities, and rewards. Based off of the interview with Keene, it seems that trading commodities
definitely involves more quantitative skills, as well as quick thinking and execution. Not to say I’m not
capable of doing those things, but I see myself being more comfortable in the product group
environment that I’m going to be working in. Working in his group definitely has its perks, for example,
the shorter hours and somewhat better work-life-balance, but being in his group doesn’t open up the
exit opportunities that I’m looking for. As it seems is the industry norm, communication with upper
management is very difficult. If this is something that is of great importance to a person, they can voice
their concerns, however based off of the interviews conducted, it seems like it’s just the way the
industry works at the lower levels.
Mark Kirkpatrick
4432-XXXX
Overall Reaction:
It became abundantly clear to me through these interviews that a person has to do research,
but industry specific as well as research on oneself, to see if this is something they’d want to do. The
resonating theme from these interviews is that you have to have a passion for this kind of work or you
will get burned out. This job is not for everyone; however, if you are capable of progressing forward,
moving up the corporate ladder, and keeping your eye on the prize, this industry is very rewarding and
not just monetarily. Exit opportunities such as private equity, hedge funds, business schools, venture
capital, and essentially anything else, open up for your because of the skills you acquire, the work ethic
that is instilled in you, and the perseverance to push through the downs and turn them into successes.