For some financial professionals, a job in financial consulting can be the first job out of college and one that is considered a stepping-stone to a full-time career. For others who have worked in the finance field for a long time, consulting can be a career in itself.

First Time Consultants
The career path for financial consulting jobs is fairly structured, especially in larger firms. They may start off as a junior analyst, and gradually progress to consultant, team leader, or manager. Less-experienced consultants might be partnered with senior consultants and are part of a team that works together for a period of time ranging from several weeks to a year or more. New consultants can gain valuable experience by working on a variety of projects such as regulatory issues, risk management, or technology improvements. They may be exposed to assignments that will expand their skill set and knowledge base. Based on their background and experience with the company’s technology and business practices, new consultants who gain experience working on an important project for a firm are often considered good candidates for a permanent position that may open up in the future. Working as a new consultant can be the proverbial “foot in the door.”

Experienced Consultants
This is a category of professionals that have previous experience working in the same field and have chosen to the role of consultant as a full-time career. They could be assigned to more complex projects involving process improvement, data mapping, or technology solutions. Financial professionals may have dealt with being unemployed for a period of time, and have decided to work as a consultant. Others may have already retired and wish to pursue part-time employment as a consultant to bring in extra income and utilize their skills. A former full-time employee in a large firm might like the flexibility of consulting work and being exposed to new projects that test their level of expertise.

Whether you’re looking to get a job as a newly-minted consultant or a seasoned pro with years of experience, great opportunities in the financial consulting field are available for anyone with analytical and communication skills and a talent for teamwork.

By Wall Street Services Staff

We live in the digital age where competition is fierce and to be successful, it is imperative to get noticed by developing a personal brand that will establish yourself as an expert. The internet offers many great tools to create and develop your personal brand as one of the top financial professionals and one of these great tools is a BLOG. A blog is a website that allows you to spread your ideas and showcase your expertise with the main goal of inspiring, educating, or entertaining your audience. If you are a finance professional who wants to get noticed and offer another reason to superiors for promotion, we encourage you to consider blogging for the following reasons:

1.       Create exposure as a finance professional.

Providing your audience with latest trends in the finance industry and any finance related content will allow you to position yourself as an expert in your specific niche and will expose your brand in the social media world as people is likely to share your content with their friends across different social media platforms. This will result in increased number of readers and subscribers that will ultimately lead to new business partnerships and job opportunities.

2.       Generate qualified leads.

A blog is a great tool to attract the right type of people you want to work with. Developing and publishing finance related content will ultimately attract customers, recruiters, and business partners who are looking for what you have to offer.

3.       Create and hone your expertise as a finance professional.

The research and writing required to develop content for your blog will definitely increase your knowledge and establish your brand as a subject matter expert.

4.       Improve your Google search rankings.

In today’s digital age, it is expected that people who want to know more about you will definitely do a search on Google to find more information about you. Having a blog will definitely influence what Google and other search engines know about you and helps define what people will find when they search for you online.

5.       Create a network with other finance professionals and leaders.

When you develop and share content that adds value to your audience, you will generate positive feedback and open doors to network and stay in touch with industry leaders, which will ultimately develop brand awareness amongst your peers.

A blog is just one of many tools to leverage your online presence and just like anything else, it takes patience and persistence to build an audience, but it is an exceptional tool to develop and position yourself as a thought leader and expert in finance or any other niche.

What other reasons can you think of that make blogging an essential tool to brand building?

By Wall Street Services Staff

The good news for the class of 2013?  Economists agree that you’ve found the right year.  Students matriculating in June have a better chance of landing jobs than degree holding hopefuls just 9 months ago.  Better news?  From that class, finance is the top degree in demand.  The Brookings Institution reports that there are 184,312 openings for financial specialists listed online alone.  So, you’ve completed your internships, your social networking profiles are up to date, you’ve begun making contacts and your resume has been polished so many times it shines like gold, but you still aren’t sure where to begin the search for a job in finance.  Consider, first, that urban areas with high demand for educated workers are always good places to start; then, check out the list of cities below.

Pittsburgh: Time Magazine pointed to Pittsburgh, PA as one of the best cities to look for a job this year.  This city has the second highest job creation index score, and while job listings have declined by 32% nationally over the past year, Pittsburgh holds strong at only a 3% loss.  In terms of livability, Pittsburgh has been consistently ranked over the years as one of the best places to live, work and visit in the United States (and occasionally even the world).

San Francisco: When we think San Francisco in 2013, we think tech. This is where the programmers, the app developers, the game gurus go.  In truth, San Francisco’s golden age extends past computer occupations.  Out of 10, finance slides in at number 5 in a list of most wanted professionals.  With a healthy job market of 1,935,400 – 49% demand educated individuals with at least a bachelor’s degree.

Salt Lake City: Believe it. Bloomburg Businessweek listed Salt Lake City at number 8 in a list of America’s strongest job markets, and finance fits neatly into the city’s top 3 most wanted professionals.  With a population of 1,130,293, SLC’s unemployment rate still comes in at a national low of 5.1%, and as home to the University of Utah’s genetics and health science divisions, it has been recognized as a hotbed of new business creation.

Houston: They tell us not to mess with Texas, so we certainly wouldn’t dream of leaving it behind.  With a population of 5.9 million, it is one of the largest cities in America with jobless rates lower than the national average.  Let’s not forget that the energy sector has a need for financial professionals, and Houston houses both oil and gas -not to mention being the regional center for a lot of major companies’ financial departments.

New York: We couldn’t leave this classic off the list.  New York has long been considered the financial capitol of the world, and with a total area employment of 8,552,000, it is not to be forgotten.  This city is a mecca for large investment banks, housing institutions like Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs to name a few, not to mention that banks like Citigroup and JP Morgan also make their homes here. In a list of the city’s most demanded jobs, finance still finds itself at a solid number 4.  While the cost of living is higher than in other cities, so (often) are the pay rates, and the exodus of some overworked financial professionals left a slew of openings for the next generation.  Plus, the perks of life in this hub are nothing to scoff at.  For an up and coming professional, New York is still a glowing center for art, food, music and nightlife.

By Wall Street Services Staff

Whether you are a recent college graduate who just earned your MBA, or a seasoned financial services professional with years of experience on your resume, there are certain characteristics necessary to be a good fit for financial consulting jobs:

You thrive on change and understanding company cultures and processes. If you are more set in your ways and prefer to know exactly what each work day will bring, the challenge and uncertainty of consulting is probably not for you. Consulting can offer a way to explore the culture and working environment of a company before deciding to accept a position there.

You have a knack for seeing the “big picture” and can understand the impact that different decisions can have on the outcome of a financial goal. Successful financial consultants can consolidate information, suggest process improvements, and understand how all components of a financial services company work together to achieve a common goal.

You are capable of interacting effectively with a wide variety of personalities and cultures in a challenging and ever-changing global marketplace. Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential to listening to the client, documenting information, and presenting results to the management team.

You are passionate about improving your skills and learning new things. Every project or mentor or co-worker encountered in a financial consulting position is viewed as an opportunity for increasing knowledge and attaining greater personal growth.

You enjoy combining your creativity, ingenuity, people skills, and expertise to make important contributions to a cutting-edge project or an international consulting job. As a financial consultant, you can make an immediate impression and contribute to the success of any financial firm.

By Wall Street Services Staff

Careers in finance are difficult to land during the best economic times. Now, with our country’s slump and more job seeking graduates flooding the market every year, many are left wondering how to find a job in finance. Is it even possible given our current climate? With so many qualified applicants all seeking the same positions, it seems that most hopefuls are shoved into piles of unread resumes that go no further than the paper shredder. Internships used to be a way to get ahead, now even those slots have a wait list, and as they give many companies unlimited potential for unpaid labor, they are less and less frequently turning to actual, paid positions. Of course, “start early” is always wonderful advice for those who still have that choice. Freshman who are just now entering college may still use their summers and evenings to build a resume with unpaid work, but what about recent (and not so recent) graduates? What about people who need a job now?

Thousands of people in the job market have graduated with finance specific degrees from excellent programs and with a small hoard of internships and business references. Fortunately, in 2013, we are no longer limited to these traditional methods of resume building. We live in the age of the internet, and the internet is all about social networking. With sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, we have the capabilities to stretch our web of contacts beyond those within limited programs or intern experiences.

The first step in the networking process is to expand. Sites like Facebook and Twitter are filled with a lot of white noise. Most people use them primarily to connect with friends or show off pictures of home made food. It may not have occurred to you that these same sites can be used to form completely new and job specific networks. Using hashtags and participating in tweet chats, you can find others online that are searching for finance jobs or, better, already working in the field. Follow their posts. Comment on their updates. Put yourself in their consciousness, and stay positive. While forming these contacts, make your own market specific and professional updates. If you stay interesting and relevant and update consistently, who knows who will start following you. According to Bloomberg Businessweek:

Two-thirds of companies already use Facebook (FB) to find recruits using the site’s friend-finding search function, while 54 percent use Twitter to learn about potential candidates’ views and interests.

We live in the future of hiring, and companies no longer look only at the pages of people who have already applied for open positions. They send recruiters to networking sites and actively seek qualified candidates. Make sure that you are among those represented.

LinkedIn is another strong, emerging tool for job seekers. If recruiters are more actively seeking job candidates in 2013, LinkedIn represents one of the best tools in that process. With LinkedIn, potential candidates may make their own profiles, listing relevant experiences and interests and essentially creating a standing, online resume. Update this resume consistently and engage in LinkedIn’s financial community, and recruiters will find you. LinkIn’s network allows headhunters to track and keep in contact with potential job candidates. This makes it essential that every serious finance hopeful expand her online presence to include this new hybrid social networking/job site.

Many sites are emerging for the purpose of connecting employers to qualified candidates all the time. Pooldip, BeKnown, CareerBuilder, TalentBin and BranchOut are just a few names to be on the watch for. Remember, make your internet presence professional and market specific. Connect with people who share your interests or work in the financial field. Post frequently on subjects related to your field of interest, and of course, clean out those old Spring Break photos. Anywhere you are represented on the internet, be sure you are represented as a professional, knowledgeable and trustworthy new hire. You never know who might be looking for you.

By Wall Street Services Reporting Team

We are proud to introduce Garrett Robinson – a Wall Street Services financial consultant. As a Featured NYC Financial Consultant, Garrett shares his experiences in working with Wall Street Services as a consultant in the finance industry.

1. Tell us about your current position. What are your responsibilities, main job functions, etc?

My current position is with Emax Financial and Real Estate Advisory Services, LLC as a quality control analyst. As the team was preparing a report for Congress that provided cost/benefit analysis with details and modeling for the valuation of Veteran’s real estate projects throughout the country, I focused on the accuracy of the report in comparison to the proprietary financial modeling tools developed. A large aspect of the position included working with other quality control analysts and members of the executive team to deliver conclusion reports regarding the analysis and assumptions.

2. How has your role evolved from when you first began working at your current company to your role now and what steps did you take to impact the evolution?

Previously, I was a financial services audit associate with KPMG on the Credit Suisse engagement. My main process area was Secrutized Products and included valuation of cash and derivative financial instruments as well as reperforming procedures determined by the product control group when analyzing price testing methodology. While this role included evaluating the process of modeling concepts similar to my previous position, I was able to gain exposure to the function of a smaller business environment. Working with the Emax team provided the ability to collaborate hand in hand with the majority of the team including a managing member. As an accounting major, I gained an insight into areas of business that are impacted beyond just the financial statements, thus lending itself to a more rewarding general business outlook.

3. What is it like working in the Finance Industry?

Working in the Finance Industry provides an environment to combine my creativity and passion for business enterprise to contribute in an impactful way. I always find myself surrounded by other motivated and intelligent young professionals which challenges me to move forward and always look for opportunities to learn and further develop my skills.

4. What is it like working as a consultant?

As a recent graduate, I am still searching for a position that will align my personal interests and passion for business into a rewarding and challenging career. Being a consultant allows me to gain exposure to many different positions within a variety of companies ranging from the Fortune 500 to small start-ups, providing the possibility of experiences that help me to determine my ultimate career path.

5. What key experiences from your educational or career past have helped contribute to your current job success?

I think much of my success can be attributed to the knowledge and skills I have learned from mentors. On campus or in a professional environment, the knowledge gained from those seasoned in the field provide an experienced source from which information can be ascertained relating to a variety of relative and non-relative topics. Recently at KPMG, my senior invested his time to teach me how the securitized products process area I was working on contributed to the entire business operations of the client, enabling me to better understand and conceptualize my assigned tasks, thus lending to better job performance. Also, when I was a student at West Virginia University, I was a member of the Student Government Association which allowed me to work with various levels of the administration including the president of the university. This opportunity provided me insight into working as a point of contact and balancing multiple demands in an effort to achieve cohesive collaboration.

6. Why do you love your job?

The most important aspect of a job for me is to make sure that the position is challenging while working for a company that hires great people. Everyone on the Emax team was highly personable, and I enjoyed the comfortable atmosphere while knowing I was working with other bright and motivated professionals.

It seems like everybody and their mother is going back to school to get an MBA these days, and that is making it increasingly difficult for business employers to weed out the poor applicants from the most qualified ones. If you are looking for a job in the finance industry, here are three simple things you can do to make sure you stand out.

1. Check Your Credit

An intelligent HR manager hiring for a finance position is going to check an applicant’s credit. That means a prospective employer is going to know about high balances on credit cards, delinquent loans, and any other financial issues you may be having. By checking all three of your credit scores and reports, you are able to make sure that there is no false information on them. It also lets you prepare for any personal finance questions the employer might ask.

2. Learn how to make an impression

Many hiring managers say that they need less than 30 seconds of looking at a resume to know whether they want to interview someone, and about that long in an interview before they know if they will hire that person. You only get one shot at a first impression, so make it count. Make sure your resume is tailored specifically to the job you are seeking (Must Have Job Skills) and when you get called in for the interview, look and act the part. Interviewers judge you by your appearance, your attitude, and even your handshake, so don’t underestimate their importance.

3. Build your brand online

When you want to know more about someone, you Google them. When employers want to know more about you, they Google you. The more you do to get your credentials online and gain the respect of the financial community, the better your standing will be. Write a finance blog. Join online communities where finance is a topic of interest. Make social networking connections with other finance people. Do whatever you can to guarantee that when a hiring manager types your name into a search engine, they will know without a doubt that you are a valuable part of the finance industry. (Top 10 Social Media Dos and Don’ts)

With millions searching for jobs and few resources to commit to sorting through applicants, employers are eager for determined job hunters to save them the time (and money) that would be spent on a months-long search to find the right person to fill a position. That is why a large proportion of today’s job openings are filled by referral. Depending on whom you ask, anywhere from 45-80% of jobs are filled based on personal recommendations from employees or individuals otherwise connected with organizations (NYT, ABC News). Regardless of which number you believe, in today’s challenging economy, it is unwise to ignore what is widely recognized as a large source of job placements.

So—How do you tap into those openings that never make it to the “Wanted” postings?
How can you make your network work for you, whilst you look for work?

Engage your Alumni Network—Whether you’re in school still making those trips to the bursar’s office, or out of school with your degree in-hand, it is important for you to recognize that the tuition you paid was not simply the fee for your education—your dollars bought you access to graduates who can help with your job hunt. Every company has an individual, more likely several, who would love to get another member of their alma mater into their workplace. So, as you eye potential employers …

1) Contact the career services office at the institution where you earned your first degree, your second, and that certification you almost forgot you had, and ask them whether they can connect you to an alum currently, previously employed at, or in a the same field as Potential Employer Inc. Send them an email expressing your interest in their field/organization, and ask for a few minutes to speak with them. Take that conversation as an opportunity to learn more about the organization you want to get into—and to discover other key players in the field that you can look into for job opportunities. If you’re certain there’s an opening at Potential Employer Inc. that you’re qualified for, have the application ready when you reach out to your new contact (if you haven’t submitted it already), and politely ask whether they would mind forwarding it to HR for you. And request that they let you know if they hear of anything else they think would interest you. Lastly, don’t forget to send a “Thank You” note.

2) Attend Alumni Events held by your former schools and get involved. It’s a great way to make connections in a setting where everyone already has something in common—you both took that Professor and somehow managed to stay awake, or finished that thesis running on Oreos, coffee, and desperation. As you’re sharing information on what you’re currently doing, tell them your interests, where you’ve just finished working, and what field or type of job you want to transition into. They will likely know someone in a similar field, and can facilitate an introduction. Exchange contact information, and shoot them an email. And, as always, be sure to follow-up.

In the segment of Finding Jobs by Referral, I will address the utility of Linked-In, followed by the Importance of Informational Interviews.

By Xevion B., Wall Street Services Reporter

How can you find a job in finance? This question weighs on the minds of many in the finance industry, especially recent graduates with limited experience. High unemployment rates have made the job market highly competitive. The good news is, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the finance industry is predicted to grow by 23 percent between 2010 and 2020. This higher than average growth rate means more job openings. With so many seasoned workers on the market, however, how can a recent graduate with no experience compete? Consider five tips.

1. Develop a watch list. Instead of just aimlessly looking for job openings, focus on companies in your area. Read your local Business Journal to find out what companies are growing. Look at businesses whose products relate to your extracurricular activities. Regularly check their websites for openings or contact their Human Resources department directly. Many job seeker websites will let you save custom searches. Create a query that targets your company list and regularly check for openings or sign-up for automatic notifications.

2. Look for an internship. After four years of education and required internships, it may seem unnecessary to apply for another internship, especially when you want to start making money. However, offering your services for free can get your foot in the door and build much-needed experience. Those experiences can give you the competitive edge for which recruiters and hiring managers are looking.

3. Get help from your school. Many universities make their career centers available to graduates. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill continues career services for six months after graduation. The University of Florida has a similar program that connects Finance graduates with recruiters at Bank of America, Ernst & Young and Capital One.

4. Network. Start networking well in advance of your job search. Take advantage of on-campus job fairs and events. Seek out local young professional organizations or finance groups. Join their social networking pages to receive regular updates about job fairs and networking events. Chambers of Commerce are excellent sources of relationship-building and often have reduced membership fees for “individuals” not associated with a company. Offer to volunteer at their networking events and rub shoulders with executives that could at least give you a good recommendation.

5. Compile an impressive resume. You can still have a great resume even with limited work experience. Draw attention to your specific classes, internships and projects. Don’t forget to include work experience, even if you think the job is irrelevant to the finance industry. Focus on accomplishments and transferable skills during those jobs, not duties. Emphasize any projects that exhibit leadership potential, teamwork and commitment. Check out one of our pasts posts that gives great tips on how to get your resume noticed.

Above all, stay positive. Know your competitive edge. If you lack confidence in yourself, your hiring manager will too.

Today we are excited to announce that we have recently added Website and Application Policy information to our website. Applicant and website visitor rights to privacy and choice are very important to our team.

To read more information regarding our Website’s User Agreement and Privacy Policy, please visit - http://www.wallstreetservices.com/user-agreement-and-privacy-policy.

To read more information regarding our Application Policy, please visit - http://www.wallstreetservices.com/application-policy.

As we continue to improve your experience on our website and in our application policy, we may update information on these policies. Any updates will be posted on our blog and website. We appreciate all of your feedback as we work to improve and thank you in advance for your patience.

If you have any feedback or questions, please email privacy@wallstreetservices.com.

Thank you!

Wall Street Services Team

Last night we had the opportunity to attend a Social Media Week event that focused on using social media for your job search. Presented by The Daily Muse, The 140 Character Resume Event hosted a panel of hiring managers from NPR, Mashable, NBC and AppNexus to share insights on how to use social media, and twitter in particular, for your job search.

Here are the top 10 Do’s and Don’ts of the discussion:

- Do tailor your Social Media presence to who you want to be professionally
- Do not ask hiring managers or oragnizations if they received your resume
- Do share point of view of topics and highlight interests/skills in context
- Do start a conversation with someone you do not know
- Do not ask for a favor from someone you do not know
- Do tweet your resume and include the hashtag #twesume!
- Do put keywords in your bio – Hiring managers have a way to search these!
- Do create and curate content
- Do maintain a consistent voice and use proper grammar
- Do not thank or followup after an interview via Social Media

To check out more insights from the event, search #SMW140Resume on Twitter and stay tuned to the DailyMuse for an event recap and photos.

(Photo courtesy of @Guestofaguest)

Slimy, sales-y, and impersonal. Recruiters generally have a really bad rap. But not all of us are like that! Our team recently came across an active discussion on Quora regarding this topic and thought to share our opinion. Let’s explore some of the key differences and qualities we see between good and bad recruiters

• Good recruiters are aware they they have two clients: (1) the corporations or teams they fill positions for and (2) the candidates they are working to secure opportunities for. They maintain balance in both these relationships, never favoring one or the other because they realize that they can’t succeed without buy-in from both parties. Bad recruiters favor one – the client – and make decisions without regard for the other.
• Good recruiters only recognize that candidates are people with aspirations and personal needs and have their best interests at heart. Good recruiters take time to consider what will further their candidates’ career goals before pitching opportunities. Bad recruiters try to sell candidates on positions that aren’t right for them. They care only for the numbers.
• Good recruiters take pride in matching the right people to the right positions. They weigh lots of criteria, from candidate interest to skill sets, when making a decision on whom to submit. Bad recruiters submit sub-par candidates to open positions because they’re available and willing to do the job.
• Good recruiters screen candidates thoroughly before submitting them to opportunities. A good recruiter is selective and doesn’t work with just anyone. They care about building a strong reputation based on top-tier candidates. Bad recruiters work with anyone who wants to work with them. They think nothing of allowing candidates they haven’t met or even spoken to represent their firm.
• Good recruiters are readily available to help or just chat. They love to hear from candidates and clients all the time, not just when they need something. Bad recruiters are only around when they need something.

Our team at Wall Street Services battles the negative connotations of “recruiting” on a daily basis and we live by the standards of what a “good recruiter” is. We truly feel that we are making a difference in peoples lives for the better. We believe that everyone has the right to find a job that meets their career goals and personal needs. As recruiters we live this belief every day when we help secure great opportunities at some of the top investment banks, hedge funds, and private equity firms in the world for the financial consultants we represent. We are good recruiters: working every day to innovate and offer resources and new programs for not just the consultants we represent but for job seekers as a whole.

By Suzanne Havranek, Fullfilment Manager at Wall Street Services

Common activities for operational roles in the trade support:

• Reconciliations
• Executing, clearing, and settling trades
• Data entry
• Monitoring and controlling processes and payments
• Investigating “exceptions” or system failed trades
• Ensure all internal and industry standards are upheld on a daily basis

Common activities for operational roles in client services support:

• Communicating directly with clients
• Investigating inquiries
• Responding to client requests
• Gathering information from clients
• Data entry
• Monitoring document processing
• Ensure all internal and industry standards are upheld on a daily basis
• Client onboarding activities

Qualifications & Skills: Professionals interested in a role as an operations specialist in financial services must hold a Bachelors Degree typically in Finance, Accounting, Economics or similar fields of study. All operations professionals should be computer savvy as most processes will require use of internal systems to manage information in and creating reports or models. Exceptional operations professionals have advanced skills using MS Office applications Access and Excel – particularly Macros, Lookups, and Pivot Tables. Following instructions, analytical thinking, and organization are key traits for those interested in operations.

Specialities: Operations professionals typically deal with one specific area of trade processing or client support. As such, specialities can include various types of asset classes (Currency, Fixed Income, Commodities, Derivatives, etc.), settlement systems (SWIFT), specific activities (reporting, database management, etc.), or even industry/geography.

Expected Compensation: Entry level operations positions typically pay between $19 – $25 per hour. Experienced positions pay between $30 – $45 per hour. Senior or highly specialized operational professional can pay up to $65 per hour.

Locations: As more regulations are created in the industry, there is a greater need for operations professionals to ensure processes are being followed and standards are being upheld. Typically institutions hire operations professionals for each of their locations, however more organizations are beginning to centralize all operations processing into one facility. Recently we have seen locations growing outside of the New York City financial area and a significant increase in operational units and positions opening in Purchase – New York, Salt Lake City – Utah, and Pittsburgh – Pennsylvania area.

View current job opportunities for Financial Consultants in Operations

As a writer for Wall Street Services, I’ve spent this past year combining employment and economic news research along with interviews and my own observations of the recruiting industry in order to offer the best advice possible to financial job seekers in New York.

In this same spirit of sharing the best, following are of some of the most important takeaways of my 2012 blogs:

On Parties: “In my experience, what most of us think is an ultra-simplified, party-friendly description of what we do, is actually pretty long winded once our audience is a few drinks in. “

—A JobSeeker’s Guide to Navigating Holiday Parties

On Networking: “If you make a connection, [follow up]! What is the point of going through all the trouble of breaking the ice, chatting with like-minded professionals, and having meaningful interactions if you don’t continue your communication past that initial meet-up? ”

—#1 Networking Mistake People Make

On the Improving Economy: “Remember when the pervasive complaint of GOP presidential candidates was that the Obama administration wasn’t doing enough to improve the plummeted job situation? When was the last time you heard those complaints from them? October 2011? November?”

—Telltale Signs the Job Market is Improving

On Surviving Interviews: “Once it’s surfaced that you don’t know something major, it’s hard to make a comeback.  Simple solution? Know your stuff.“

—Common Questions in Finance Interviews and What They’re REALLY Asking For

On the MBA: “no, you don’t NEED an MBA to have a successful financial services career…But there are lots of pros…”

—Do I really need the MBA for a career in Financial Services?

On Social-Networking Your Boss: “Your boss is on LinkedIn? Great!  Ignore the butterflies in your stomach and connect.”

— Should I connect with my boss on LinkedIn?

On Choosing a Career: “Along with all the perks, Investment Banking comes with long hours, high stress, and a serious struggle to the top.”

—Is A Career in Investment Banking Worth the Investment?

 “more than half of financial services companies are opting to strengthen their risk management this year by adding risk employees to their roster.”

—Risk Management

On Meeting New People

“Before the event, offer to take photos of what’s going on…Not only does it give you an excuse to approach and schmooze with everyone, it gives them a really good and tangible reason to contact you—after all, they’ll want to see how the photos turned out.”

— Shy? Try these Ice-Breaking Tips at Your Next Business Networking Event

On Snagging a Wall Street Job: “The skills and experience now required for some of these [Wall Street] jobs is way higher than it was before. Which means candidates have to be competitive, bring their A-game and be way more impressive than may have been necessary before.”

—Wall Street Pay Creeps Up

On Stubborn NY unemployment: “With news of unemployment rates slowly declining and job creation rising all around the country, one region has remained stubbornly above average…the US Northeast.  Could Wall Street be the cause?”

— Unemployment is falling everywhere except the northeast. What gives?

On Building a Good Salary History: “Research shows that two thirds of wage growth happens during the first 10 years of a person’s professional life. “

—Twenty-Somethings, You Will Land a Stable Job. I Promise.

On Project Cameos: “In general, contract workers receive a higher pay rate than full time workers would for the same time frame”

—The Benefits of Consulting and Contract Work

On Rocking a Resume: “[Recruiters] spent 80% of their time looking at 6 main resume features: Name, Current title/company, Previous title/company, Previous position’s start and end dates, Current position’s start and end dates, and Education. The remaining 20% was spent scanning for relevant keywords—a gift in disguise since companies give you the keywords they’re looking for in their job posting…”

—Resume Tips for Young Job Applicants—Turn Weaknesses into Strengths

On Standing Out in a Sea of Applicants:  “It’s all about who you know.”

—Recruiting Agencies–Your First Choice for Landing Financial Services Jobs

On Mood: “Stay Positive”

—How to stay positive and motivated during your job search

By Abena G., Wall Street Services Reporter

The Bloomberg Assessment Test (BAT) is a global, standardized online exam that the Bloomberg Institute has developed in collaboration with financial professionals, recruiters and academics. Designed for undergraduates and recent graduates, the BAT tests both financial knowledge and job-related skills and abilities.

Available at over 750+ universities and testing locations, the BAT is FREE to take and is a great addition to any financial professionals resume. 

Your boss is on LinkedIn? Great!  Ignore the butterflies in your stomach and connect. LinkedIn is an enormously popular business communication tool that is essentially a network of professionals all trying to meet the right people and make the right relationships. You want valuable professional relationships? Don’t pass up opportunities to connect on Linkedin.

You’ll see and be seen. It’s all about figuring out who knows who, and who’s had what experiences (I use it all the time, especially when prepping for an interview). The way LinkedIn works, the closer a connection you have to a person (ex. 2^nd degree is closer than 3^rd) the more info they can see about you. Connecting to your boss will make your page and your info more visible to his connections, which, if they’re higher ups, could be beneficial to you career-wise.  At the same time, you have increased access to his connections’ profiles.

You’ll skirt water cooler awkwardness. If your boss is the one who sent you the request to connect, hell yeah you accept! This is true of any size employer, but especially true if you work for a small company. You don’t want to step on relationship-building toes, especially if someone as strategically important as a supervisor reached out to you.

You’ll get shout outs. So your page is tricked out with in demand skills and experience. Who better to offer instant confirmation of your claims than your supervisor? Your 1^st degree connections can give you recommendations, endorse your skills, and even suggest skills you forgot to list, so everyone knows what an amazing job you do.

BUT, they can see what you’re up to. Be careful when you’re looking for a job. Unless you change your privacy settings on your profile (remember, it’s public by default), your boss will get regular updates on your activity in his news feed. You wouldn’t want him to know that you’re following the competitor’s company or connecting with their staff now would you? To avoid this situation… update your profile regularly! This way your boss will be used to seeing ‘frequent’ updates in his news feed regarding your activity and it won’t seem uncommon.

By Abena G., Wall Street Services Reporter

While the article detailed the importance of having these skills, there was little information on how to acquire them.  There are reams of information on personal branding and communication so I will leave them to those better suited to elaborate.  Being more flexible and productive on the other hand is not as well covered, so I thought I would take a moment to discuss here.

Flexibility

• Through the Eyes of Others – One of the keys to maintaining a flexible mindset is being able to see the world through the eyes of others.  Frequently our first reaction when we hear something we disagree with is to debase it.  Instead, ask yourself: “Why would they want to do that this way?”  Honestly explore the answer and look for everything of merit in that method, and look to incorporate the items of value into your plan.
• Flash Brainstorming – When you are looking to do something quickly, write 10 OTHER ways to do it.  Don’t let reason, viability, or logic hold you back – just write down what comes to mind.  Most of what you write will be preposterous junk, but chances are in time you will stumble on something of pure genius.
• Look for the Change – For all the talk about change being the only constant, the fact is that we are all a little afraid of getting out of our comfort zone and tend to resist change.  But we know that things change all the time. One way to prepare is to look for things that you rely on and assume that they will not be there next week.  Each week take one or two of your processes and imagine the changes that are possible; take some time imagining what you would do and how you could respond quickly. Obviously you shouldn’t spend too much time on hypothetical scenarios, but doing this exercise for 10 minutes every week will get you into the habit of anticipating change so when it comes you will be in the right mindset.  Who knows, by doing the exercise you might even have anticipated your next big workplace shift.

Productivity Improvement

• What’s working? – The easiest way to improve your productivity is get better at what you are already good at.  When I was in school, getting a B in Statistics would take a mountain of effort but squeezing out an A in Anthropology was no problem.  Identify what is working well and look at how to make it run a little smoother.  You will pick up some fast gains there.
• You improve what you measure – The key to improving productivity is to keep score and record it.  When you are conscious of what you are doing (and measuring it) you will start to be conscious of what factors contribute to increases or decreases in productivity.  Measure, record, and chart your results.
• Make it a game – Keeping things light and fun will make improving productivity interesting.  Work with your coworkers and challenge them.  Working alone? Give yourself rewards for completing work early or on time.  Celebrate your results.
• Identify the Experts – Look at your team and find out who is good at what.  Interview people who have certain talents and find out what makes them good.  Emulate their behavior and in return share what it is that makes you good at what you excel in.

What are your thoughts? Let us know if you have found other successful ways to become more flexible and productive.

By Peter Laughter, CEO at Wall Street Services

• Candidate Experience – Consulting at the top banks in Finance means you have to be at the top of your game and the ‘best of the best’.  We are very exclusive here at Wall Street Services and our consultants are the top 2% of all applicants.  The candidates we were not able to represent were left with a bad taste and as online review sites became more popular they became very vocal.  It hurt us and caused us to take a hard look at our practices.  This year we took several steps to ensure that we were managing expectations, informing our applicants where they stood at all times and created a #JobSeeker Workshops series open to all applicants where we share knowledge of interviewing, tips on improving your resume, and strategies for succeeding on the job.  Our efforts have paid off and in October we were honored to receive a 2012 North American Candidate Experience Award. The lesson was clear – if Wall Street Services is to thrive we must provide value to all of our constituents.
• Internal Systems – Providing consistent results has always been a focus at Wall Street Services – our Consultant Assessments  allows us to identify those candidates most likely to succeed on project-based assignments and our clients have enjoyed one on the lowest turnover rates in the industry.  To consistently provide our clients with more and more consultants we have had to introduce a number of new processes to increase the number of applicants and refined our systems to allow our Fulfillment Team to be more effective.  This has resulted in dramatic improvements in our Key Performance Indicators.
• Team – I am very proud of the team here at Wall Street Services and am honored to work beside such dedicated individuals.  We are all committed to making a difference in people’s lives by providing professional opportunities that are fulfilling and a match for our consultants dreams.  We know that when people are fulfilled by what they do for a living, lives are impacted. It affects families, neighbors, and communities.  very day the staff here gets to find people their dream job and they love it.

So as the year draws to a close we are very excited by what 2013 has in store.  We are aggressively adding new clients – Companies that see value in expanding their scope with vetted professionals on a project basis. They are looking for talent that sees the big picture, knows how to solve problems and can hit the ground running.

In the years to come project-based consulting positions will have a mounting role in Finance.  In 2013 we intend to refine our recruiting and placement systems to better respond to the growing needs of our clients  – expanding our geographic reach and refining the methods that allow us to be more effective and impact more lives. To further enhance the Candidate’s Experience, we are excited to be developing a new Entry Level Finance program, offering more workshop events and webinars, and engaging our consultants to get involved with us in the community. We are so blessed to have come this far and can’t wait for the coming year.

By Peter Laughter, CEO at Wall Street Services

Holiday parties tend to be tough for everyone, but especially for those who have been looking for a job.

Questions about work seem inescapable.  First come greetings from folks you know, a simple “how are you?” that always manages to elbow a response related to family welfare, that ex they don’t yet know is an ex, and employment. Always.  Then there are intros to people you don’t yet know, which are usually followed by what’s meant to be innocuous, “so what do you do?” small talk.

As a result, I’ve seen out-of-work friends steer clear of these gatherings just to avoid having to explain their employment situation.  But there’s really no need to miss out on festivities (or the networking opportunities).  All you need is a party plan.

Set Down Your Dukes—Don’t Get Defensive

Some people are going to assume that if you’ve been jobless for a while, it’s because you’re not doing something right. If you know how much you’ve been pavement pounding, fight the urge to argue with them (what do they know anyway?). You can acknowledge that it’s been a little tough and that it’s taken longer than you’d expected to find new employment, but exude a positive attitude and keep an optimistic outlook. Parties are supposed to be lighthearted, after all.

Know Your Role

It’s good to have a target industry or job function in mind, even if not a specific job title, because even if they know you’re unemployed, people are likely to ask what you’re looking to do. Relax—they just want to get a sense of who you are. But if you can speak intelligently about current events in your desired field or its job situation, you can leave a pretty strong impression that you’re serious about your job search. And hey, you never know who that person is you’ve left an impression on—they may be able to help you in the future.

Keep it 3-Drink Simple

Now, speak intelligently doesn’t mean swarm with details.  So you always want to put your best foot forward without seeming like a complete wonk. If you’re proud of the professional experience you’ve had thus far, it’s totally okay to talk about it. It just has to be brief and simple. The last thing anyone wants is to be cornered at a party by a guy giving them esoteric details about accounting or stocks. In my experience, what most of us think is an ultra-simplified, party-friendly description of what they do, is actually pretty long winded once our audience is a few drinks in.  It’s a good idea to practice this one.

Make Connections and Keep Them

The worst mistake I’ve seen people make is making great connections with others, but then not following up.  If you don’t keep in contact, you’re wasting an opportunity.  Take down names on napkins, business cards, whatever…and follow up(either by email or through a social network like LinkedIn or Facebook)! Just do it.

Look Pretty

Finally, if nothing else, in the words of Dr Marie McIntyre (she’s a career coach from Georgia), “dress well, don’t drink too much, and keep the conversation positive.”

By Abena G., Wall Street Services Reporter

Photo credits

In the past few years, economic uncertainty has triggered a downsize of Wall Street jobs and wages (perhaps rightfully so) to a fraction of what they used to be in their pre-2008 heyday.  But a recent report of a survey conducted by Johnson Associates, a privately held New York based firm, shows that year-end pay in 2012 will actually recover a bit from last year’s lower levels. Overall, bonuses could see as much as a 0% to 10% increase, a major finding considering the lingering insecurity felt throughout investment banking firms.

It’s no secret that since 2008, Wall Street has taken a more conservative approach to hiring and remuneration. In fact, Investment Bankers’ income has been on a consistent downtick for a while now, with little indication of change in the near future.  But let’s look at the positive:

• Investment bankers are, in general, still paid pretty darn well.
• Demand for other Financial Services Professionals like Accountants is reportedly on the rise), and…
• Across the board, pay is actually increasing, even if it’s only slightly.

“It has been a slow recovery, just like the economy,” said Alan Johnson, Managing Director of Johnson Associates in the New York Times last month. “Following a year when year-end incentives declined by as much as 30 percent, the fact that many firms are able to keep this year’s bonuses flat or slightly larger is notable.”

What does this mean for job seekers? In short, finding a Wall Street job may be difficult in the current economic and employment climate, but all hope is not lost.

Wall Street job openings are fewer.
A lot of these new incentive-based bonuses are deferred.  According to Wall Street Journal, Johnson mentions that an equity trader at a major firm could receive as much as 70% of his pay at a later date, an arrangement that ties more compensation to long term performance and risk averse practices. So yes, in addition to the unsure attitude firms have been taking towards hiring, it seems like they’re making extra efforts to hold on to their money…and their people.

Competition and expectations from talent are high.
But make no mistake, there are positions available. Firms are always looking for talented people to onboard. However, hiring managers have become more stringent about which candidates they would even consider.  The skills and experience now required for some of these jobs is way higher than it was before. Which means candidates have to be competitive, bring their A-game and be way more impressive than may have been necessary before.

It’s still possible to land a Wall Street job.
Difficult doesn’t mean impossible—it just means interested candidates have to be smart about how they put together their applications. Many job seekers have really great, marketable skills that, for whatever reason, they haven’t showcased effectively, if at all. Since there are so many quality career resources available out there for those who are job hunting, it’s a good idea to take advantage of those resources, and to develop a sound strategy for landing that coveted position.

By Abena G., Wall Street Services Reporter