FAQ
- I am a freshman – how do I start?
- Am I too late?
- Regardless of what period you are asking this, it is never too late.
- Does GPA matter?
- Yes, especially when experience is limited. Many firms have minimum GPA requirements set at 3.2-3.4. Preferably, the higher the better. If life gets in the way, strengthen other assets.
- What is the best major or minor at Baruch?
- Despite popular claims, there is none. There are history and sociology majors in private equity and there are finance majors in childcare. Carl Icahn was a philosophy major and many would define him as the embodiment of capitalism. With the case of most business majors, one doesn’t necessarily need the major to break in; this is especially the case for finance, which requires students to self-learn the material early on anyway.
- Certain career paths, such as trading, may require or prefer more quantitative skillsets and, in those cases, students with backgrounds in mathematics, statistics, and computer science will gain an upper hand – one must do their due diligence prior to pursuit. Keep in mind that your GPA does matter, so make sure you major in something you believe you can excel in.
- What will make me the most money?
- Big tech CEO, supreme overlord of darkness, managing director of capitalism, and oil baron are all very profitable career pathways. However, remember to consider more than just compensation on your journey to fulfillment.
- Why should I listen to you?
- You don’t have to. This is a resource hub that exists primarily because there wasn’t one before when there should have been. (I’m not sure why it didn’t. In an ideal world, this would’ve been made by a school and not some random undergrad stats student.) My word is not the end-all-be-all, but there’s nowhere else on the internet where the information is as centralized as Recruiting From Lexington. Taking the first step and finding all of these answers on your own would likely take one to three months; many students never do.
- Is Baruch a good school?
- It is a good value school when considering its affordability and location. Think of attending a target school as paying a substantial premium to suffer less, have more fun, and maybe work a little less for opportunities. Your school’s prestige isn’t everything, but it does help tremendously. To save those thousands of dollars, you might have to give up some sweat and tears (but hopefully not blood). The bright side is that the pressure can bring out an unmatched work ethic.
- Why did you create this?
- CUNY is a system made up of many first- and second-generation immigrants, as well as those who come from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. At schools like our own, there is a distinct lack of exposure and knowledge on recruiting and the financial services industry; I wanted to do anything I could to help as a poor boy from a poor family.
External Resources
General
- How to Search on Google: Google’s guide on how to use their famous search engine
- CFI Career Map: Interactive career map to help you plan your career path and find a potential fit
- Vault Guides: E-books that offer comprehensive overviews on different industries and their respective recruiting processes; free with a New York Public Library membership or LinkedIn connection
- Networking 101: 4-part series of newsletters on effective networking
- Wall Street Oasis: Forum to discuss the financial services industry. While there is a lot of great information on this forum, remember, people can post anything without proof (take everything with a grain of salt)
- r/FinancialCareers Discord Server: Amazing community of helpful professionals and place to be set straight in mannerisms