I'm done for the day. I received a disappointing phone call this afternoon from who I thought would be my next employer. Well, they called to say the job was given to someone within the company. Thats fine, no big deal. But, my question is: why do I always get looked over?
I recently graduated in Finance, and have been on several interviews since then-- still nothing. I seem to always hear the same thing, "We went with somebody else." This past experience I had two really good interviews with a great, publicly traded, company. I feel I did everything to a "T", I even made business cards with additional information about myself, through my personal website-- what am I doing wrong? I must admit, I have a slight speech (enunciation) problem, but nothing big. It is something I've struggled with my whole life. Maybe that's it, who knows.
One thing I do know, companies are passing up on raw talent. I have a strong understanding in accounting as well as the financial markets, not to mention a few years of management experience from my current job. I'm young, ambitious, hardworking, and have a willingness to learn. If I was given a chance, I know I would prove to be a valuable asset to a major corporation.
Sorry for my rant, but I was really looking forward to this position. I'm sure everything will work out one day, this experience will only make me more potent.
"The only thing I want to know is why I get looked over, I guess I'll understand when I get a little older."
Note: At this point, I could care less about the huge market reversal.
Note II: I sold FSLR @ 134.00 to lock in a 25% gain.
Note III: I hope AAPL falls lower so I can back up my truck.
Note IV: Talk about a bad day.
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15 comments:
Good Luck to you man, you sound like a squared away guy.
Keep pressing, the weak hands always crumble and you will be there.
Ragin,
Fuck it! Trade! Why should you worry about impressing people or "not getting looked over?"
Most people are idiots. That's why I choose to stare at and curse at my computer screens instead of having to pretend to like people I work with.
Seriously, trade.
-DT
I couldn't agree with Dinosaur more.
Go it alone, trade for yourself. Create your own paycheck, and live, play and work wherever the hell you want. Get a golf game, volunteer somewhere, get a dog for company, but trade for yourself. Trust me on this...
Do you guys trade with a prop firm?
Ragin,
I do, yes. Email me and I can tell you some of my experiences going that route.
-DT
Ragin, I do not. I like to investigate that route as well. By the way, I went to the LSU/Gator game in Baton Rouge. All I can say is that LSU has the best tailgating I've ever been around. That from a Gator fan in Boston...
Ragin, Cheer up, buddy! I agree with the fellas. It's hard for you to understand because you're young and full of energy. However, after 15 years in the corporate world and earning good money...it all sucks! Don't get me wrong. Money, experience and comraderie are all great when you work hard and succeed. However, you can't begin to imagine all the BS you will have to deal with. I've come to realize that I work to live, but I live to trade. -TVH
RC,
I hate to tell you that having conducted employment interviews over the years, you are probably right in your assumption that a speech issue is affecting your chances. Interviewers (especially those with more qualified candidates than openings) are looking for reasons to not select and if the competition is very closely matched then a very minor item could be the tie breaker. Best advice I could give you is to openly address the speech thing in the interview. Turn it into a positive trait by explaining how you struggled to overcome the problem and improved greatly over the years. Maybe share an anecdote about your efforts to show you're not self-conscious. Biggest thing in the job hunt game is not to get discouraged. Not getting hired is rejection it is the company accepting someone else. Guys get rejected by good looking women not by jerks in human resources.
Because making tons of money from trading is your DESTINY!
Consider changing your website's name to something that sounds more formal/serious. Believe it or not, we traders don't give a damn what a website's name is, as long as the content is good. But those corporate jerks (the bigger the company, the bigger the jerks) are always snobbish and think something as silly as the title of a website matters.
If they think, for example, your site's content/name don't show "professionalism" (what ever that means, according to their pathetic "standard") they won't take you seriously. Who knows, may be they really think your site's name sounds like it's associated/similar to Cramer's site in certain ways, and do you think Cramer shows professionalism, or does he sounds/looks like a clown?
I've been working for several companies, mostly Fortune 500 co's, so I know the f***ing drills, and how those jerks judge people. That's part of reason I chose to switch to trading full-time -- just tired of corporate's rubbish politics. Much better working on my own.
Looks like you have lots of education, I always wonder why they only teach people to work for someone else? Get busy.
I agree with Glenn and the rest of the gang. People who make big money and truly enjoy thier lives usually do it running their own show. You have a passion for the markets and trading. Make that passion pay you. You want to spend your life life doing things you love to do, not "yessing" your way up the corporate ladder.
Trade on and take the money you would have had to use to buy suits and ties and invest it in the market.
Good luck.
RC-Don't sweat it- I can tell by reading your blog and your comments that you have what most people lack- and that is enthusiasm and passion.
I don't agree with the others to make trading full time. I'm all about "Earned Income"- I think you should go look for a good local company--thats in a growth situation. Fuck all that Fortune 500 shit- Thats a bunch of Frat bullshit anyway. What- you want to walk around with a plastic card clipped to you all day.
I could suggest a Company called "Enterprise Leasing"
they are a privatively held company from St.Louis. A few friends of my sons have had a good go there. Good place for a Jock to get started.
Ragin,
You may want to ask the company if they can provide constructive feedback on how you can become a more viable candidate in the future, "as you are still very interested in their company" - that is, if they can identify the shortcomings they saw which led them to choose another applicant. Odds are, they'll give you the standard line, e.g. "Your qualifications were excellent. However, it was very competitive." However, they may be candid with you which might help identify weaknesses and improve your odds the next go around.
I ran through the job hunting gauntlet the past 3 months and it's brutal. IMO, it all comes down to luck, timing, experience, internal contacts, and presentation (competence, confidence, enthusiasm for the job).
Moving to NYC or London would probably help, as there are more opportunities. Whatever you do, make sure you pursue what you enjoy. Do not sell yourself short.
-BD
I might as well throw my two cents into this discussion. I apparently am the only one to say DO NOT TRADE for a living, at least not now. People like Fly are trading but they make their living trading other peoples money. I suspect that is where the bulk of his income comes from and not from trading his own account. You need to get some job experience in a field you enjoy in a comnpany you are happy with. You are young. Build a nest egg and make some goals for down the road such as starting your own business.
I have traded on my own for ten years after running my own law firm for a number of years. My goal was to bank enough money so I could have enough capital to quit the law business, which I hated, to trade my own account. It is a different ball game when you are paying your own bills, mortgage, etc. from trading profits. Think of when and if you have kids. The bills will build and don't forget their tuition.
Trading is difficult when you have this pressure. Build a nest egg from reliable income first and then go form there. Nothing wrong with following your dreams but have a Plan B.
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