GUEST COMMENT: I am channelling Ayn Rand to help determine my career path

The Russian-American novelist and philosopher Ayn Rand argues that all of us have a philosophy of life. Likewise, when it comes to investing, I think it’s really good to know what you believe and how you know it to be true. Successful investing requires a unique blend of attributes and ideas. A humble spirit, for [...]

By anonymous anonymous, 4 November 2011 • 21 comments

GUEST COMMENT: I am merely a headhunter, but I believe I have solved the financial crisis

Wouldn’t it be great if… -The national debt was repaid – The interest and capital repayments on the national debt were now spent on lowering taxes and raising public spending instead – The private sector expanded and employed more people – The unemployment numbers reduced and so did the social security bill – The public [...]

By Johnny Walker, 2 November 2011 • 23 comments

GUEST COMMENT: It makes a big difference if you’ve got a first class degree when you work in financial services

I can still remember the anger of my fellow rates traders as they poured over the CVs. We barely recognised any of the candidates’ universities, and those we did could hardly be called impressive. We were one of the most profitable desks inside our bulge bracket bank, how then was it possible for HR to [...]

By anonymous anonymous, 1 November 2011 • 32 comments

GUEST COMMENT: Don’t make my mistake – only apply to MBAs which will get you a finance job and won’t turn you into a consultant

It’s autumn. Thousands of prospective MBA students are out there canvassing campuses, studying for their graduate management admission tests, and asking former colleagues to write them recommendations that could possibly change the direction of their lives. They are in pursuit of the dream embedded in glossy brochures that a MBA degree will lead to better [...]

By anonymous anonymous, 28 October 2011 • 9 comments

GUEST COMMENT: The four genres of internal recruiter

As middle men (and women) we recruiters often feel like ping pong balls; bouncing all over the glorious Square Mile between arrogant coffee slurping candidates and two dimensional internal recruiters/’hiring managers’ who never look up from their Blackberries. As Freddie Mercury once sang, “it’s a hard life”. Candidates complain about the poor quality service we [...]

By Fred Bayr, 27 October 2011 • 10 comments

GUEST COMMENT: I left banking because it was like working on a high end supermarket checkout; now am I am unsure what to do

“C.B.R EMERGENCY RATE HIKE 300BPS.” The big red letters flashed over my Reuters screen as I pondered the consequences for my book. Wasn’t I long in both the 1mth and 3mth buckets? A quick check of my risk confirmed that not only was I long the 1mth and 3mth buckets, but that I was long [...]

By anonymous anonymous, 24 October 2011 • 12 comments

GUEST COMMENT: I’m studying the CFA and have found it unsurpassed by all other qualifications

I’ve already passed the first two levels of the CFA and, contrary to some other people, am finding it far superior to other qualifications taken by financial services professionals. The truth is that the CFA imbues its students with something rarely found elsewhere in the education system: broad knowledge of financial markets. In my experience, [...]

By anonymous anonymous, 21 October 2011 • 23 comments

GUEST COMMENT: I am being cold called by recruiters trying to place other people in my job

Things are clearly getting desperate. In recent weeks, I’ve received several calls from ‘headhunters’ who, thinking they’re speaking to my boss, want to place a candidate in my very own job. How can this be? Well, we’re a small but reasonably high profile firm and our website only lists our switchboard number. I answer the [...]

By anonymous anonymous, 19 October 2011 • 26 comments

GUEST COMMENT: We have formed a virtual investment bank, staffed by freelancers

Back in 2007, as an Associate at Credit Suisse Investment Bank, I was asked to travel to India and train a group of off-shoring / outsourcing analysts on financial modeling, valuation and other financial skills. What I discovered there made a strong impression on me: a group of highly qualified and motivated financial analysts hungry [...]

By Edmond Sassine, 18 October 2011 • 17 comments

GUEST COMMENT: Your first year in M&A will be filled with aborted deals

If you’re starting out in M&A, you’re probably excited about all the deals you’ll be working on. Everyone wants deals. Everyone needs deals: you need deal experience for your buy-side interviews and for your CV. The only problem? You’re not going to get any (deal experience). What people don’t tell you is that most M&A [...]

By Mergers & Inquisitions, 11 October 2011 • 4 comments