Attending other schools' career fairs?

I'm fairly certain you can't physically get into one of those. My school requires you to swipe your student ID, which automatically prints out a unique nametag.

Career fairs at Penn require card swipes. Individual company presentations dont.

Do whatever it takes. Know several ppl who secured interviews this way. It really is up to you to meet the recruiters, make a favorable impression, and follow up w/ persistence and personality.

But who cares what anyone thinks. I'm sure you'll get some bad looks from the target school kids. But fuck it, how else are you going to meet the recruiters? It's up to you to make those relationships and set yourself apart.

Thanks nystateofmind.

It is really difficult since I come from a school that is traditionally accounting based. I managed to receive an interview from a BB through networking, but I also want to try attending other schools' career fairs.

Has anyone else ever taken this uncommon approach to networking before?

Done this before at UVA. Basically, about 1 out of 3 of the banks you speak to won't talk to you because you essentially snuck in. However, the other 2 out of 3 don't really give a shit as long as you're a decent candidate. I found these banks to be the ones more open to non-target candidates. Summed up, as long as the school you go to doesn't have some sort of ID system, there's not harm in giving it a shot.

For those who have this knowledge, do the following schools tag for ID:

-Amherst College
-Mount Holyoke
-Smith College
-MIT
-Babson
-BU
-Harvard
-BC

thats really something that I have not thought of doing... i wish i went to school a little closer somewhere BBs and even some of the higher end boutiques recruited. i guess i should do some research on this and try making it out to a target... thanks for the idea! and good luck. unless your trying to go for the same thing i am. then i hope you fail :) jk

hey fzjgdk,

haha, i hope this works out for the both of us. i know of some people who tried this but they were never able to elaborate on their experiences. i just don't want to waste time attending other schools' career fairs only to have them toss out my resume.

...hopefully that does not occur.

i think this is a great idea and shows initiative, good luck dude

gomi,

so you mean that they were unable to talk more about their resume and their experiences? if i understand you correctly, that is a very stupid way to get your resume thrown out. i hope that is not a common problem.

what types of other issues do you think/know arise in this situation? i mean besides issues that can come up at our own school's career fair. i think that anyone at their own career fair can not have anything to talk about (seen it happen). its quite embarrasing, but sad too. i would think that going to a career fair, one would be prepared.

thanks and i will let ya know if i hear anything!

if anyone attends, or recruits, or just knows, do any of these schools check for IDs at their career fairs?

-U of Michigan
-Northwestern
-U of Chicago

any other top schools in the Midwest?

appreciate it!

I am in Consulting and was in BB banking before..and I got both my jobs attending events at other schools which I did not attend...Employers like the fact that you are making the extra effort for the job..the only problem is the students in the school give you dirty stares..but who cares...

Weird, my comment was moved from the top to the bottom, so it seems out of place. Ignore.

If you can swing it, go for it. If you make a good impression they probably won't care, and may even be more impressed (I know I would). Good luck man!

thanks Indeed!

Two of the schools I will be attending are women's colleges. Should be an interesting adventure.

lmao. tell me when your going, i might join ya... but probably to find a different job.

oh god, am i turning douche? but i havnt even got into the industry yet.

i actually went to those schools' career websites and noted their career fair dates.

hilarious. but good luck!

Note: I went to a target at which nearly all banks recruited, and we always had lots of people from non-target schools in the area attending. As a job seeker at the time, I really didn't care... most people don't even make much of an impression at those unless you specifically set out to do so.

Now that I go to these fairs to meet people and recruit, I actually admire people from non-targets who come out anyway and try to get their resumes submitted... we don't always look at them (depends on school/recruiting system etc.) but whenever someone goes out of their way to show their interest/get in, I'm impressed.

http://www.mergersandinquisitions.com/
Mergers & Inquisitions

I've been meaning to ask this.

I transferred from a target school to a certain rival non-target (think ACC basketball) for personal reasons. For some reason instead of erasing me from their student database, my old school lists me as 'staff,' meaning I can probably swipe in to their Career Fairs. I was afraid employers attached some of stigma attached to students who did this. Thanks for the responses.

I'm not sure where in Mass you're coming from, but if you're looking at Babson, I'd look at Wellesley as well. It's about a mile away from Babson and more of a (diversity..) target than the other two women's colleges.

Again, depending on which part of Massachusetts you're coming from.. have you considered Brown or Dartmouth?

I didn't consider those schools since they are out of my range. There's always a possibility however.

has anyoone ever heard of this investment bank located in Boston? Reputable?

hehe, I've heard of them but only cos I made a typo when trying to type Dresdner... :)

I say you go and do it. I mean, what do you really have to lose anyway other than maybe some dirty stares? Plus it shows you have some balls (unless its one of those Harvard/Wharton only elitist firm).

I guess you got to do what you got to do, but if I went to a target I'd be personally annoyed with someone coming to my school's campus and taking job offers from students who actually attended the school and deserved a sport there.

I guess you got to do what you got to do, but if I went to a target I'd be personally annoyed with someone coming to my school's campus and taking job offers from students who actually attended the school and deserved a sport there.

why would this even be a concern? if i were looking for a job, i wouldn't give two shits about whether another student was annoyed by my presence.

Glad I found this thread. I will be attending another schools career fair soon and wasn't sure if it was a moral thing to do ---- who cares though, I am determined.

As said previously, do whatever it takes but understand very clearly that companies:
1)tend to send alumni to their schools so it will limit your discussions/impact
2)go to specific schools it's because they want to hire from this pool of people.

Try everything but don't be surprised if it doesn't work

So, I am currently in the recruiting process. So far, I have attended three information sessions at this target school (Citi, RBS IBD and Rothschild US). I think I can offer some simple insight:

1. Always make sure you can get in beforehand. Call the career center and pretend to be a student so you can find out exactly where it will be, whether it is a general session, and/or whether it is a general session or a pre-interview night. Most schools actually post this information on their public calendars on their career websites. For others, find a friend at the school and get them to give you the schedule.

2. Dress to kill. That is, a good conservative blue suit or dark grey/charcoal with a light blue/white shirt, and a decent tie. Duh advice perhaps? You'd be amazed at how many supposedly "refined" and "polished" kids I've seen at these events who look like they are either dressed to hit the clubs right after or...are vampires (see: kid walks in with stunner shades, a black suit on black shirt, blood red tie, and carries around a montblanc pen. One of the analysts even called him out on it...haha). Dress like you want the job, not a douchebag.

3. Listen very carefully to the names of people from the company and their background. When they introduce themselves, figure out: did they go to this school? If they did, they might not be as receptive. But those that are from non-targets, small schools, etc.? They don't give a shit about the target status, they just want bodies to hire who make their lives easier. If they don't say during the intros, always preface and ask beforehand, "So, are you a Harvton/Stanale/Princeuke, etc. alum?" IF the answer is no, fire away. I've had decent success with doing this with VPs/MDs after the event.

"Hey, Henry. Thank you for holding the event. Did you say you went to Georgia Tech?"

"Yes, sure did."

"That's great. You see, I go to ____". Maybe I've been lucky, but every MD I do this too has smiled. Part of their job is to analyze things: they get that you snuck in/weren't invited to this event and came anyways to show your interest. While many people might talk of doing this, I think few follow through. Then explain that you can't apply through the target's website. The general advice I've had is to:

1. (when it's a small bank): e-mail our recruiter your application. CC me on the e-mail.

2. Get in touch with me and I can give you a list of analysts who are from non-targets. Of course, follow up with them and set up phone calls/meet for coffee (go up to NYC for a day or two if you must).

Boom. Not as good as having Harvard on your resume(whatever the fuck THAT is...some community college?), but it helps. And I think they will remember you for it...at least when you e-mail them again.

4. Please do not be a d-bag. Even some of the brilliant minds of these schools lose themselves in the douchebaggery and fakeness that so many other hopefuls fall into. You can see it in the analyst's faces that have come to the event from NYC, etc. They came to this event thinking it would be a break from the stress and mundane atmosphere of the bank in the evening, but no...it can be worse (judging from their faces)

"So, what do you think of the culture?"

"That's really cool that you worked on the XYZ deal. Do you think the premium justified the acquisition price?"

"So why don't you also provide balance sheet financing to your clients?" (this at the Rothschild session

Holy fuck. I am blown away by these kids. These were all actual questions. Proof that going to an intellectual school does not make you an intellectual. One analyst actually rolled his eyes to one of these questions. I can't imagine what they were thinking of these greenhorns, but it must have been something like "I could never sit in a bullpen and do work at 3:00am with this kid".

Be yourself. Smile. Ask engaging questions: the kind that only an insider would know. Don't ask questions that make it seem like you don't know anything about all the nuances of banking (see: third question about financing deals). Ask them how they deal with the stress and pressure. Ask them about what THEY did on XYZ deal. Don't ask nerdy finance questions (save that star to shine when you interview). Do ask them questions that make them feel important. But don't be fake. Again, this is all from a prospective, but I get the sense for all those countless hours circular referencing and WACC projecting in Excel, Jr. bankers have a good eye for seeing and calling out bullshit. So don't be fake. Ask good questions, impress them by being a decent human being. You'd be amazed at how far ahead that alone puts you. Now you'll also find the brilliant kids (of course, that's why the bank is there). Just be weary, and don't be afraid to step into a group of cog'd out kids surrounding an analyst and chime into a conversation. When they start only looking at you and talking while ignoring everyone else, you've got a good sense that they might like your style.

5. Ask for a business card. Always. And if it's a bigger bank or their is a recruiter, find them and explain your story. NEVER make it seem like the school you went to is a lesser place or you are apologizing for going there. But make it clear you would like to do whatever it takes to just get that interview (from there it's all on you). If nothing else, ask the recruiter if you can get a list of non-target analysts from her...or...him? Are there male recruiters? I haven't found one yet.

Again, let me preface by saying I am a prospective, but I hope that rant offers someone some solid advice for attending these things. It's risky and a little disheartening, but when an MD offers to help you out, or an analyst who went to a college in the Mid-West smiles and gets how tough it is to break in, they seem open to helping you how they can. Just be a decent person, smile, and come off as warm (see: not a robot). Trust me, you'll see it when you go. But confidence and being humble about things go a long way. After all, what's the worse that can happen? You're exactly where you were 4 hours ago when you got in the car and drove up to that target school three hours away. I imagine the effect is much better in a good market, where the banks are have more slots to fill and seem to tend to overhire.

Would be great if current/previous analysts could chime in. It's just as likely all this could ruin you as well, haha. Good luck.

Good write up above

excellent write-up Alphaholic. I, too, am in the process of attending some info sessions really soon at target schools. Good luck!

Good thread.

Damn how long did it take you to write that? lol

Couple questions:
What kind of a target school did you go to? Harvard/Wharton class or UTexas class?

How has your career search been in general so far? It must suck looking for finance jobs in this shitty market.

Did you get any interviews, or better yet, job offers from your networking?

I don't want to toot my own horn...I dunno, man.

The career search is good. Considering the facts, I've gotten to meet some great teams (think Quattrone, Moelis himself), as well as a few phone interviews this and next week. Whether they convert into interviews is up in the air. We'll see. People love the initiative, but at the end of the day if you haven't been serious about everything else, you're screwed.

To be honest, I wouldn't still be searching if I didn't believe I was competitive. You have to be if you're from a non-target. That means mainly: difficult major (engineering, sciences, physics, etc.), top GPA (3.8 plus, because unfortunately in the eyes of someone who has 200 more resumes to go: a 3.4 from Wharton is light years ahead of a 3.6 from State University), hell even better if you have a 4.0 major GPA. If it's early in your career, see if you can get into a study abroad program at a top school abroad. I studied abroad at Oxford through a program my lowly state school has with one of the colleges there. If you're a minority, SEO or even better, Harvard's SVMP program (spelling?) are great ways to show you can hang. Taking the GMAT and scoring above a 690 helps, too. Shoot for a 700. Do this if you're good at taking standardized tests and could do it without taking away much from your job search/grades. It's not a big factor, but it is another bullet point. You're competing at the margin here. A reviewer will already have doubts when they don't see some top school that Korean kids slave over in Hogwons for 10 years to attend, so you have to quell those doubts with all the bullets above. You want as many of them in your gun as possible.

I hope that helps. I honestly don't feel comfortable giving any more advice than that based on credibility. Trust me, when I have a baller offer, I'll wax quixotic and write a big book with a witty title like "How To Break The Bank" or something. But until then, I'm as much a perspective as anyone on the job hunt here.

A 3.4 from Wharton is light years ahead of a 4.0 from state school.

This probably comes from the fact that the value of attending prestigious schools in the eyes of Ibanks is from the Wow factor rather than the intelligence that the kids have. After all I heard that the job isn't that intellectually challenging, especially in the beginning.

You have to admit that when a MD introduces his team to a client, the client is more impressed by "this new guy is from Wharton" than "this guy is from (insert state school)." Just has more credibility.

Sadly, I have to agree with the post above mine. Target schools hold a prestige no other academic institution can hold - it's all about the name. You can relate this to anything really, brand name is what your paying for. Based on the brands you own, people make assumptions about the person you are. Wharton graduate? Woah, that guy must be stellar. BMW driver? Woah, he must be a wealthy prick. That's life, learn to deal with it.

Now, regarding the OP's original post, I have attended other colleges career fairs. Yes, it's not my place to be but I can give two shits. Now one is going to kick you out or question you because your from a different school - in fact, it shows initiative and determination. Your like the seal in shark waters, but your bright enough to somehow escape with a few contacts. DO IT DO IT DO IT.

As mentioned above, most schools require an ID to get in. Try to network with a group/club hosting the event. That's how I got in.