Finance Career Development Guide (by MaryEllen Ryan)

FINANCE CAREER DEVELOPMENT GUIDE

Table of Contents IMPORTANT INFORMATION Welcome and Contact Information

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4

Land Your Position: Search Overview

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5

Finance Recruiting Timeline

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6

Designing Your Resume

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8

Resume Action Verbs

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10

Resume Checklist

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12

Resume Templates

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13

Designing Your Cover Letter

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17

Cover Letter Checklist

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18

Designing Your LinkedIn Profile

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19

LinkedIn Profile Checklist

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20

Writing Sample Guidelines

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21

How Bentley Students Land Positions

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23

Entry-Level Finance Roles: A Quick Glance

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24

Researching Roles and Companies

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29

Networking

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32

Informational Interviews

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33

Professional Associations

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35

DESIGNING YOUR CAREER TOOLKIT

IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

1

Table of Contents

(continued)

APPLYING TO OPPORTUNITIES Submitting Applications

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40

Creating Your Own Opportunities

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41

Identifying Target Companies

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42

Effective Follow Up

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43

Building a Strong Foundation

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53

Interview Formats

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54

Resume Based / Traditional Interviews

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55

Behavioral Interviews

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57

Technical Interviews

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59

Case Interviews

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60

Interview Prep Resources

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61

Follow Up: Thank You Notes

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63

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63

ALL ABOUT INTERVIEWS

ALL ABOUT OFFERS Navigating Offers

CALLING ALL INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS Keys to Success and Resources

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69

2

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

3

Welcome and Contact Information Dear Finance and Corporate Finance & Accounting Students, Welcome to the 2022 – 2023 Academic Year!

I have designed this guide to help address the most common questions, issues, and concerns that students have when they connect with the Pulsifer Undergraduate Career Development Center. I hope this will serve as a helpful resource for you, whether you are a junior exploring internship opportunities or a senior pursuing full-time positions.

As your Career Coach, I am here to motivate you, guide you, and provide you with the tools and resources to be successful with your internship and/or full-time job search, but it is important to remember that YOU OWN THE SEARCH. Please be proactive about engaging with our office and starting your search sooner rather than later.

Be sure to join the Finance Career Community in CareerEdge to receive email updates about key events, featured jobs/internships, and relevant career information.

All students are invited to schedule an appointment with me. I am here to help you in any way that I can, and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Thank you, MaryEllen Ryan mryan@bentley.edu

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT  Handshake > Career Center > Appointments > Schedule a New Appointment  Email GA_UCD@bentley.edu

CONNECT WITH US (781) 891-2375

@BentleyCareer

careeredge.bentley.edu

Bentley University Community

BentleyCareer

Bentley University Pulsifer Career Development Center 4

Land Your Position

An Overview of the Search Process 

CONNECT

Connecting with professionals during all stages of your internship or fulltime search (and beyond) is critical to your success!



PREPARE

industries, companies and positions of interest 



APPLY

DO YOUR RESEARCH! Identify

Update your Career Toolkit (Resume, Cover Letter, LinkedIn Profile, Handshake Profile) Attend Career Education and Employer-Focused Events



Apply to positions of interest

 

Proactively follow up on applications Continue submitting applications until you have accepted an offer



Prepare for resume-based,



behavioral, technical and case interviews, as appropriate You can never be too prepared for an interview – practice, practice, practice!

INTERVIEW



DECIDE



Communicate professionally and proactively with employers to manage multiple interviews and/or offers Evaluate offers objectively

5

Finance Recruiting Timeline

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

Applications Due

Interviews Conducted

Offers Extended Larger firms, internships and full-time positions Smaller firms, internships and full-time positions

GENERAL RULES OF THUMB: 

Larger firms tend to recruit students starting in the late summer / early fall



Many larger firms seek to fill their full-time hire class from their summer internship class (recruit once, hire twice)



Smaller companies tend to recruit students later in the year as positions become available



Investment banking recruiting happens well over a year in advance of an anticipated internship (i.e. students can be recruited as early as the spring of their second year for an internship after their third year)



There is a lot that you can do to be proactive prior to the start of recruiting season: update your application materials, identify companies and roles of interest, connect with professionals, and start to prepare for common interview questions



Deadlines vary and are always subject to change, so it is best to start looking and be prepared as early as possible

6

DESIGNING YOUR CAREER TOOLKIT

7

Designing Your Resume “The average recruiter or hiring manager spends 6 seconds reading a resume…That’s right. 6 seconds. You’ve got just moments to make a lasting impression and make sure your resume lands in the “Yes” pile as opposed to the “Rejected” stack…”

Source: https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/scanning-resumes

COMMON RESUME SECTIONS CONTACT INFORMATION (REQUIRED) 

Name – slightly larger font than the rest of the document and in bold



Complete address – permanent, campus or both o o



Street, City, State, Zip Code Include permanent address if looking for

positions in that area Email address and cell phone number

EXPERIENCE (REQUIRED)  Include the name of the organization, location, job title, and dates worked  List in reverse chronological order (most recent on top)  Describe the scope and context of a situation; explain the action you took and the results / impact  Highlight what you learned and the skills you developed  Incorporate your strengths! Think: communication, organization, teamwork, attention to detail, ability to multi-task / prioritize  “Experience” is not necessarily limited to employment; clubs or project work can also be included if relevant

EDUCATION (REQUIRED)       

University and city / state Degree and month / year of graduation Major(s), minor(s) and concentration(s) GPA, if above 3.0 (Cumulative and/or Major) – out to two decimals and do not round up!

Academic Honors, if applicable Study abroad university or transfer university, if applicable May include high school with a strong alumni network and/or name recognition; otherwise, remove by junior year

RESUME TIPS  

  

RELEVANT COURSEWORK / PROJECTS (OPTIONAL)  Add unique courses beyond general or introductory requirements of the major  Choose courses that cover concepts / skills most relevant to the positions you are applying  Detailed descriptions of specific courses / projects are helpful; laundry lists of courses are not!

     

Tailor your resume for different roles / positions Organize resume strategically to emphasize key info o Think about the names and order of sections, how content is organized within sections, and the order of bullets within each experience Add industry-specific technical skills, case competitions, certifications / licenses, planned exams Include results / accomplishments and quantify when possible; highlight leadership and initiative Utilize a variety of strong action verbs to start each bullet point (refer to pages 10-11 for suggestions) Use Microsoft Word, not Google Docs or Pages, and save as a PDF for submitting applications Format bullets, dates, and section headers consistently Proofread your resume several times to ensure correct grammar and spelling Do not include an objective statement or references on your resume One page, singled-spaced (this is not negotiable!)

10-11pt. font size; 0.5”-1” margins all around 8

LEADERSHIP, ACTIVITIES, VOLUNTEER WORK (OPTIONAL)  Include extracurriculars, case competitions, 

athletics, and community involvement Name and organize headers strategically to



highlight the most relevant content Include the organization, role / position title, date, and possibly bullets describing skills, responsibilities, and/or accomplishments



Level of detail for each activity should be commensurate with your level of involvement



Give yourself credit for leadership positions!

CAREER READINESS COMPETENCIES The National Association of Colleges and Employers has identified eight career readiness competencies. Career readiness is a foundation from which to demonstrate requisite core competencies that broadly prepare the college educated for success in the workplace and lifelong career management. Conveying these competencies through your resume will demonstrate that you have the qualities needed to succeed. 

SKILLS (REQUIRED)  Include computer, technical and language



skills as applicable; indicate your level of proficiency if advanced, but don’t overstate!

Do not list soft skills – instead, incorporate those skills into your experiences to demonstrate how they were developed

INTERESTS (OPTIONAL)  Consider adding unique hobbies or interests  “Interests” can be its own section or combined with “Skills” or “Activities”  Be honest and specific when listing interests – you may be asked about them in an interview!

VMock, a 24-7 online resume-review tool, analyzes your resume from EVERY possible angle, including presentation, impact and competencies. Click here to see VMock in action and click here to access it.

Before meeting with your Career Coach for a virtual or in-person resume review, upload your resume to VMock. Incorporate the suggested feedback and strive to reach a minimum overall score of 75, including 25 for Competencies, 25 for Impact and 25 for Presentation. If you are struggling to meet the minimum required score, do not use more than 5 attempts, as you only have 10 attempts per academic year.

Career & Self-Development: Proactively develop oneself and one’s career through continual personal and professional learning, awareness of one’s strengths and weaknesses, navigation of career opportunities, and networking to build relationships within and without one’s organization.



Communication: Clearly and effectively exchange information, ideas, facts and perspectives with persons inside and outside of an organization.



Critical Thinking: Identify and respond to needs based upon an understanding of situational context and logical analysis of relevant information.

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Equity & Inclusion: Demonstrate the awareness, attitude, knowledge, and skills required to equitably engage and include people from different local and global cultures. Engage in anti-racist practices that actively challenge the systems, structures, and policies of racism.



Leadership: Recognize and capitalize on personal and team strengths to achieve organizational goals.



Professionalism: Knowing work environments differ greatly, understand and demonstrate effective work habits, and act in the interest of the larger community and workplace.



Teamwork: Build and maintain collaborative relationships to work effectively toward common goals, while appreciating diverse viewpoints and shared responsibilities.



Technology: Understand and leverage technologies ethically to enhance efficiencies, complete tasks, and accomplish goals.

9

Resume Action Verbs ANALYTICAL

COMMUNICATION

shaped

introduced

analyzed

addressed

visualized

launched

ascertained

apprised

assessed

arbitrated

FLEXIBILITY

mobilized

compared

attested

accommodated

modernized

computed

authored

adapted

modified

conceptualized

clarified

adjusted

multiplied

concluded

communicated

accommodated

overhauled

confirmed

composed

adapted

pioneered

critiqued

convinced

adjusted

revamped

deciphered

corresponded

converted

revised

deliberated

drafted

grew

spearheaded

determined

edited

improvised

stimulated

devised

explained

tailored

suggested

diagnosed

informed

estimated

interpreted

INITIATIVE

evaluated

lectured

accelerated

examined

marketed

accomplished

LEADERSHIP

forecasted

persuaded

achieved

administered

formulated

presented

acquired

advised

integrated

promoted

advanced

allocated

investigated

publicized

bolstered

allowed

justified

queried

boosted

appointed

measured

reported

built

approved

negotiated

spoke

coordinated

assigned

prescribed

summarized

created

authorized

prioritized

translated

dedicated

chaired

projected

wrote

demonstrated

coached

enriched

delegated

questioned

minimized

updated upgraded

rated

CREATIVITY

established

designated

recommended

brainstormed

expanded

directed

researched

constructed

expedited

educated

scrutinized

designed

implemented

elicited

studied

engineered

improved

employed

substantiated

envisioned

increased

empowered

synthesized

fabricated

initiated

enabled

validated

illustrated

innovated

encouraged

verified

produced

inspired

endorsed 10

recorded

settled

maintained

(continued)

regulated

solicited

operated

enhanced

scheduled

solved

performed

facilitated

systematized

streamlined

prepared

tabulated

strengthened

programmed

supplemented

realized

transformed

related

LEADERSHIP

fostered founded guided

PROBLEM SOLVING

hired

aided

influenced

alleviated

TEAMWORK

satisfied

instructed

augmented

assisted

screened

interviewed

counseled

collaborated

secured

judged

customized

contributed

served

led

debugged

cooperated

set

moderated

eased

mediated

smoothed

monitored

elevated

participated

sought

motivated

enlarged

partnered

specified

officiated

extended

recruited

extracted

MORE VERBS TO

surveyed

sanctioned

finalized

CONSIDER

sustained

supervised

fulfilled

acted

traced

trained

generated

activated

transacted

identified

added

transmitted

ORGANIZATION

interceded

appraised

valued

arranged

invented

approximated

assembled

lightened

attained

budgeted

polished

audited

calculated

procured

certified

catalogued

reconciled

commissioned

centralized

rectified

committed

charted

reduced

contracted

classified

refined

disbursed

collected

reformed

displayed

compiled

rehabilitated

enlisted

consolidated

reinforced

excelled

correlated

rejuvenated

executed

Indexed

relieved

exercised

linked

remedied

familiarized

orchestrated

remodeled

figured

organized

repaired

guaranteed

oriented

restored

indicated

planned

retrieved

instituted

processed

revitalized

involved

purchased

revived

issued

reviewed

submitted

11

Resume Checklist GENERAL FORMAT Is the resume one page, single-spaced?

Is the name at the top of the page in bold? Are address, phone number, and email easy to read?

Does the ‘Education’ section follow directly after the contact information?

Conservative font style? Same font size throughout (except name slightly larger)?

Are top / bottom, left / right margins equal and between 0.5”-1.0”?

Size, shape, alignment of bullets consistent throughout?

Dates formatted and aligned consistently?

Are section headers in all CAPS, bold font?

Are verb tenses present tense for current experiences, past tense for past experiences?

Are there approximately 1-4 statements in bulleted format under each item in the “Experience” section?

CONTENT Does the resume include the required sections (Education, Experience, Skills) and as many optional sections as applicable?

Does the Education section state official degree and graduation date? Is the cumulative GPA included if higher than 3.0? Is it accurate to two decimals and not rounded up?

Do the bulleted descriptions demonstrate major accomplishments rather than routine tasks / duties and are they quantified when possible?

Do the bulleted descriptions start with action verbs and demonstrate key skills?

Is the resume free of personal pronouns (e.g. no references to “I”, “we”, “me”, “us”, “my”)?

Is the resume completely free of spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors?

REVIEW Have you uploaded your resume to VMock and achieved a minimum overall score of 75, including 25 for Competencies, 25 for Impact and 25 for Presentation?

Have you met with your Career Coach for a final review?

12

Resume Template #1 NAME Street Address, City, State Zip Code ● Phone Number ● Email Address EDUCATION Bentley University, Waltham, MA Candidate for Bachelor of Science, Major, May 20XX GPA: 3.XX Academic Honors: Study Abroad University, City, Country Study Abroad Program, Spring 20XX Brief description of program (subjects studied, travel) RELEVANT COURSEWORK Full Name of Course  Two – three detailed bullets to describe the key project / course content  All bullets should start with strong action verbs (avoid repeating verbs)  Avoid using the course description from the syllabus

Fall 20XX

Full Name of Course  Bullet #1  Bullet #2

Spring 20XX

WORK EXPERIENCE Name of Employer, City, State June 20XX – August 20XX Position Title  Two or more bullets to describe your role / responsibilities  All bullets should start with strong action verbs (avoid repeating verbs) and be quantitative where possible ($, #, %)  All bullets should be results-oriented (i.e. how did you make an impact? why were you doing this task? for whom?)  Lead with the most impressive tasks, not necessarily the tasks you spent the most time on Name of Employer, City, State Position Title  Bullet #1  Bullet #2  Bullet #3 LEADERSHIP AND VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE Name of Organization Position Held  Bullet #1  Bullet #2  Bullet #3 Name of Organization Most Recent Position Held (January 20XX – May 20XX)  Bullet #1  Bullet #2 Older Position Held (September 20XX – December 20XX)  Bullet #1  Bullet #2 Name of Organization Position Held  Bullet #1  Bullet #2

September 20XX – December 20XX

September 20XX – Present

September 20XX – Present

September 20XX – May 20XX

COMPUTER AND LANGUAGE SKILLS Computer Skills: Program 1, Program 2, Program 3, etc.

Language Skills: Fluent in [FIRST LANGUAGE] and English [only include if English is not first language] 13

Resume Template #2 School Address: 175 Forest Street, Box #XXXX Waltham, MA 02452 Email Address

NAME

Permanent Address: Street Address City, State Zip Code Phone Number

EDUCATION: Bentley University, Waltham, MA Candidate for Bachelor of Science, Major, May 20XX Liberal Studies Major in LSM Name Study Abroad University, City, Country Study Abroad Program, Spring 20XX Brief description of program (subjects studied, travel) RELEVANT COURSEWORK: Full Name of Course  Two – three detailed bullets to describe the key project / course content  All bullets should start with strong action verbs (avoid repeating verbs)  Avoid using the course description from the syllabus Full Name of Course  Bullet #1  Bullet #2

Fall 20XX

Spring 20XX

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: Name of Employer, City, State 05/20XX-08/20XX Position Title  Two or more bullets to describe your role / responsibilities  All bullets should start with strong action verbs (avoid repeating verbs) and be quantitative where possible ($, #, %)  All bullets should be results-oriented (i.e. how did you make an impact? why were you doing this task? for whom?)  Lead with the most impressive tasks, not necessarily the tasks you spent the most time on ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE: Name of Employer, City, State Position Title  Bullet #1  Bullet #2  Bullet #3 Name of Employer, City, State Position Title  Bullet #1  Bullet #2 ACTIVITIES: Name of Organization  Bullet #1  Bullet #2 Name of Organization  Bullet #1  Bullet #2 VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE: Name of Organization  Bullet #1  Bullet #2

12/20XX-04/20XX

09/20XX-12/20XX

09/20XX-Present

01/20XX-Present

09/20XX-Present

COMPUTER SKILLS: Program 1, Program 2, Program 3, etc.

14

Resume Template #3 NAME 175 Forest Street, Box #XXXX, Waltham, MA 02452 | Email Address | Phone Number EDUCATION Bentley University Candidate for Bachelor of Science, Major Minor: Major GPA: 3.XX; Cumulative GPA: 3.XX Academic Honors:

Waltham, MA May 20XX

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Name of Employer City, State Position Title Summer 20XX  Two or more bullets to describe your role / responsibilities  All bullets should start with strong action verbs (avoid repeating verbs) and be quantitative where possible ($, #, %)  All bullets should be results-oriented (i.e. how did you make an impact? why were you doing this task? for whom?)  Lead with the most impressive tasks, not necessarily the tasks you spent the most time on Name of Employer Position Title  Bullet #1  Bullet #2  Bullet #3  Bullet #4

City, State Summer 20XX

Name of Employer Position Title  Bullet #1  Bullet #2  Bullet #3  Bullet #4

City, State Summer 20XX

RELEVANT PROJECT Name of Project  Two – three detailed bullets to describe the key project / course content  All bullets should start with strong action verbs (avoid repeating verbs)  Avoid using the course description from the syllabus LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE AND ACTIVITIES Name of Organization  Bullet #1  Bullet #2 Name of Organization  Bullet #1  Bullet #2

Fall 20XX

Fall 20XX - Present

Spring 20XX - Present

Additional: List organizations here that you participate in, but are not a significant time commitment ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS Bentley University Men’s / Women’s XXXX Team Captain (20XX – 20XX Season)  Bullet #1  Bullet #2

Fall 20XX - Present

SKILLS AND INTERESTS Skills: Program 1 | Program 2 | Program 3 | Etc. Interests: Interest 1 | Interest 2 | Interest 3 | Etc. 15

Resume Template #4 Name

Phone: (XXX) XXX-XXXX

Address: Street City, State ZIP

Email: student@bentley.edu

EDUCATION Bentley University

Waltham, MA

Candidate for Bachelor of Science, Major  

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Name of Employer

Position Title    

Position Title

Position Title

Bullet #1 Bullet #2 Bullet #3

Name of Employer

Position Title   

Bullet #1 Bullet #2 Bullet #3

LEADERSHIP AND VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE Name of Organization

Position Title   

Position Title

Bullet #1 Bullet #2

Name of Organization

Position Title  

Bullet #1 Bullet #2

CASE COMPETITION Name of Competition

Captain of 1st Place Team  

City, State

September 20XX – December 20XX

City, State

June 20XX – August 20XX

City, State

September 20XX - Present

Bullet #1 Bullet #2 Bullet #3

Name of Organization  

City, State

January 20XX – May 20XX

Bullet #1 Selected Transaction Experience: Summary of deal (type, i.e. sale, majority buyout; $ value; type of company; indicate if active)  Bullet #1 to describe YOUR contribution to the deal  Bullet #2 to describe YOUR contribution to the deal

Name of Employer   

City, State

June 20XX – August 20XX

Two or more bullets to describe your role / responsibilities All bullets should start with strong action verbs (avoid repeating verbs) and be quantitative where possible ($, #, %) All bullets should be results-oriented (i.e. how did you make an impact? why were you doing this task? for whom?)

Lead with the most impressive tasks, not necessarily the tasks you spent the most time on

Name of Employer  

May 20XX

Major GPA: 3.XX; Cumulative GPA: 3.XX Academic Honors:

Bullet #1 Bullet #2

City, State

January 20XX - Present

City, State

September 20XX – May 20XX

City, State

February 20XX

SKILLS AND INTERESTS Skills: Program 1 | Program 2 | Program 3 | Etc. Interests: Interest 1 | Interest 2 | Interest 3 | Etc. 16

Designing Your Cover Letter Cover letters serve as a bridge between your resume and the specific job to which you are applying. A well-written, organized cover letter directs the reader to key areas of your experience and background that specifically pertain to the open position. There is not a “one size fits all” cover letter. A cover letter is also a reflection of your writing skills, so take time and care to proofread and review your document.

GUIDELINES

CONTENT

SEND A COVER LETTER WHEN:

FIRST PARAGRAPH: WHY THEM?

 

Requested by the employer as part of the application Responding to a job posting via email



Contacting a referral from a friend or acquaintance

A COVER LETTER SHOULD BE:  Formal, polished, concise and confident  ONE page, grammatically correct, and free of typos  Formatted similarly to your resume (font style / size, margins)  Written in the active voice  Varied in sentence structure – don’t begin all sentences with “I”  Targeted to the needs of the company and requirements of the position ADDRESS COVER LETTERS TO A SPECIFIC PERSON WHEN POSSIBLE:  Investigate the company website and other online 



resources for contacts and addresses Call the company and request the name of the person responsible for hiring interns / college graduates in your area If all efforts fail, use a proper salutation such as “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear Campus Recruiting



 

State WHY you are writing o Responding to an advertised opening o Following up on a referral o Inquiring about a possible opening State WHO you are o Year at Bentley University and major / minor State WHY you are applying to, or are interested in, this employer / position o Find something about the company that speaks to you, but not something generic…do your research!

SECOND & THIRD PARAGRAPHS: WHY YOU?  State the qualifications you bring to the position  Highlight experiences, activities and academic achievements that directly relate to the qualifications the employer is seeking  Offer specific examples to demonstrate that you



have the key skills required to succeed in the position – i.e., leadership, communication, analytical skills, etc.

Close with a summary sentence of your qualifications and a confident statement that you can make a contribution to the organization

Team”

ADDITIONAL TIPS 



An effective cover letter is well-rounded; it highlights the hard skills and soft skills relevant to the position, and is supported by a variety of experiences (academic, professional, extracurricular) A good cover letter is not simply a repetition of the wording on your resume

FOURTH PARAGRAPH: NEXT STEPS  State what you want – an interview or opportunity to further discuss your qualifications and potential opportunities  May reference your enclosed or attached resume  

Let the employer know how to reach you Thank the person and indicate that you look forward to speaking to or meeting with them 17

Cover Letter Checklist GENERAL FORMAT Is the cover letter one page, single-spaced?

Are top / bottom, left / right margins equal and between 0.5”-1.0”?

Does the font and formatting of your cover letter match the font and formatting of your resume?

Is the header properly formatted (your address, two blank lines, current date, two blank lines, company contact / address)?

Is the cover letter addressed to a specific person, if possible (“Dear Mr. / Ms. Last Name”)?

Does the cover letter follow a four paragraph format (introduction, two supporting paragraphs, conclusion)?

Does the cover letter include an appropriate sign off (“Sincerely,” a few blank lines, your full name)?

CONTENT Does the first paragraph state WHY you are writing and WHO you are?

Does the first paragraph include a thoughtful, personalized statement about WHY you are interested in the company / position?

Do the second and third paragraphs highlight skills and accomplishments relevant to the role?

Are the second and third paragraphs well-rounded, i.e., do they include both hard and soft skills, supported by a variety of experiences?

Does the fourth paragraph clearly state what you want?

Does the fourth paragraph let the reader know how to reach you and thank them for their time?

Is the cover letter completely free from spelling, punctuation, abbreviations, and grammatical errors?

REVIEW Have you met with your Career Coach for a final review?

18

Designing Your LinkedIn Profile Employers use social media to target applicants and learn more about them. Make sure your social media presence is professional and targeted.

REQUIRED CONTENT

GROUPS AND COMPANIES OF INTEREST

PHOTO

 



It doesn't have to be fancy – just use your cellphone camera in front of a plain background



Wear a nice shirt and don't forget to smile!

HEADLINE  Short, memorable, professional phrase that highlights your skills, accomplishments or goals SUMMARY (“ABOUT”)  Describe what motivates you, what you're skilled at, and what's next  Make it genuine and authentic to YOU

company, stay up-to-date on company news, find jobs, and review connections at the company

OPTIONAL CONTENT Take your LinkedIn profile to the next level by including any of the following sections that are applicable: VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE & CAUSES   

EXPERIENCE  Add any job, internship, research or leadership experience that is relevant or significant  Include the names of the organizations, job titles, dates, and locations  Use bullet points to describe your accomplishments  HINT: If you have done a great job on your resume, copy / paste the bullets directly into LinkedIn – work smarter, not harder!

EDUCATION  List all of your institutions of higher education, including study abroad and transfer schools  Include your Degree, Field of study, Dates attended, and Activities and Societies SKILLS  Include both hard and soft skills  Research phrases most associated with certain industries and highlight key words 

Endorse people you know well or have worked with for their skills – they may return the favor

Join the Bentley University Community group Follow companies of interest to learn more about the

Highlight your passions and how you like to give back Include the names of the organizations, job titles, dates and locations Use bullet points to describe your accomplishments

LICENSES & CERTIFICATIONS 

Showcase your expertise with any relevant credentials you have earned

ACCOMPLISHMENTS  Can include Publications, Courses, Projects, Honors & Awards, Languages, Organizations and more RECOMMENDATIONS  Ask managers, professors, or classmates who've worked with you closely to write a recommendation – this gives extra credibility to your strengths / skills

LET RECRUITERS KNOW YOU’RE OPEN TO WORK! When editing your profile, just below your picture and headline, click on “Open to”, then “Finding a new job”.

Add or update your job preferences, including titles, locations, etc. Then, “Choose who sees you’re open” and select between “recruiters only” or “all LinkedIn members”.

19

LinkedIn Profile Checklist IS ALL REQUIRED CONTENT INCLUDED? Photo (appropriate attire, non-distracting background) Interesting headline, i.e., NOT “Student at Bentley University” Engaging summary (3-6 sentences highlighting achievements and goals) Experience (all past and present experience with bulleted descriptions) Education (Bentley University, Study Abroad University, Degree, Field of study, Dates attended, and Activities and Societies) Skills (include both hard and soft; endorse as appropriate) Groups and Companies of Interest (join groups and follow companies relevant to career interests)

IS ALL APPLICABLE OPTIONAL CONTENT INCLUDED? Volunteer Experience (all past and present volunteer experience with bulleted descriptions) Licenses & Certifications (include any relevant credentials) Accomplishments (Publications, Courses, Projects, Honors & Awards, Languages, Organizations and more) Recommendations (ask a managers or colleagues who’ve worked with you closely for a recommendation!)

REVIEW Is the LinkedIn profile completely free from spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors?

Have you reviewed the “Profile Strength” indicator to help you identify areas of improvement for your profile?

Have you met with your Career Coach for a final review?

20

Writing Sample Guidelines Many opportunities that include analysis, research, or direct communication with clients will require a writing sample as part of the application process. Consider the following when preparing or sending a writing sample: 

2-3 pages is generally an appropriate length.



Writing samples must not contain confidential information, grammatical errors, or misspellings.



Your writing sample must have been written solely by you. A group project paper is not acceptable and submitting one would be a misrepresentation.



If you already have a well-written writing sample longer than the recommended 2-3 pages, write an abstract for the first page summarizing the hypothesis, main points, and conclusion. Let the reader know the following pages are an excerpt of the same document. Include page numbers, your name, and the title of the paper on each following page.



If you expect to need writing samples as part of the application process, select one or two ahead of time and ask a faculty member to review and suggest improvements. Incorporate the edits and prepare the abstracts ahead of time; this will help you get an application out quickly if meeting a tight deadline.



When considering what writing sample to send, look at the work of the employer. What are the underlying skills most needed in the internship or job for which you are applying (critical thinking, research, academic writing, persuasive writing, etc.)? Select a writing sample that best exemplifies the skills the employer is seeking.



Provide a “roadmap” for your reader. The recruiter is reading a lot of writing samples. At the top of your document, include your name, date you wrote the document, why (for what class or project), and what you think it demonstrates about you; no more than three sentences.



Most importantly, the paper must demonstrate your best writing abilities!

21

IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES

22

How Bentley Students Land Positions LET’S LOOK AT THE PATH TO EMPLOYMENT FOR 2021 FINANCE GRADUATES: Internship to Full-Time Offer

30%

Personal Networking

30% 18%

Off Campus Job Posting

9%

Campus Recruiting Family Business / Self-Employed

4%

Other

4%

Career Fair Bentley Referral

3% 2%

SO…WHAT DOES THIS INFORMATION TELL US? 

Bentley students land their positions in a variety of ways; the most successful students utilize multiple strategies in their internship / job search.



NETWORKING IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL! Some estimate that as much as 85% of jobs are filled through networking. When you do apply to positions that are listed, networking can help your resume land at the top of the pile. The Pulsifer Undergraduate Career Development Center provides you with multiple opportunities to network throughout the year.



Many companies subscribe to the “recruit once, hire twice” philosophy; they hire a student as an intern after junior year and then offer the student a full-time role after graduation. BUT, don’t get down if you don’t land that dream internship junior summer or if you decide to go in a different direction – about 70% of your peers will likely be on the hunt for a job come senior year.

CHECK OUT THE 2021 CAREER PROFILES! Review the 2021 UNDERGRADUATE CAREER PROFILE, 2021 CORPORATE FINANCE & ACCOUNTING CAREER PROFILE, 2021 ECONOMICS-FINANCE CAREER PROFILE and 2021 FINANCE CAREER PROFILE on CareerEdge. Each profile includes the path to employment, compensation data and featured positions for that specific major. The Career Profiles are a great resource to help you identify companies / roles of interest.

23

Entry-Level Finance Roles

A Quick Glance ADVISORY

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

Overview: Advisory refers to providing a third party

Overview: There are several different areas of

with expert knowledge for a fee. The advisory services offered by the major accounting firms include:

specialization in commercial real estate, including:



Increasing the efficiency of a company through an

Acquisitions: Acquisitions professionals are generally responsible for helping source, analyze,



analysis of its processes and functions Risk management, i.e., determining the threats

perform due diligence on, and negotiate the purchase of new equity investments for their real

faced by the company and suggesting appropriate mitigation strategies/solutions Creation of accounting or financial reporting programs which leverage the latest technology

estate investment firms. It’s important to note that acquisitions professionals generally pursue existing properties (either stabilized or unstabilized properties) whereas real estate development professionals pursue new build opportunities.

Asset Management: Asset managers make





Firms that have hired Bentley students / alumni for



advisory roles: Deloitte | EY | Grant Thornton | KPMG | PwC | RSM

COMMERCIAL BANKING

important investment decisions, ensure clients’ investments don’t depreciate, and mitigate clients’ exposure to risk. Real estate portfolios may include different types of properties in a variety of regions and markets. Asset managers also hire key personnel like property managers, work with leasing

(also see Credit Analysis)

Overview: Commercial banking provides clients with credit products such as term loans, revolving lines of credit, cash management services, and other fixed income products. An undergrad typically starts as a credit analyst and is tasked with analyzing a client’s financial statements, competitive position, industry, and management team. The credit analyst prepares an “application for credit” that determines the structure and pricing of a financing request. As a credit analyst, you deliver financial advice and solutions that are tailored to your clients’ needs, such as growing their business, buying new equipment, funding working capital, and day-to-day banking.

Firms that have hired Bentley students / alumni for commercial banking roles: Berkshire Bank | Brookline Bank | Cambridge Savings Bank | Citizens Bank | East Boston Savings Bank | Eastern Bank | Middlesex Savings Bank | People’s United Bank | Rockland Trust | Salem Five Bank | Santander Bank | Silicon Valley Bank | TD Bank





agents, communicate with investors, and negotiate contracts.

Brokerage: Brokers conduct business on behalf of a firm and represent a buyer or seller in a transaction. They can conduct business with corporations, institutional buyers and sellers, foreign and domestic businesses, as well as various other investment entities. A commercial broker will usually focus on a single type of property such as industrial, retail, office, lodging, or apartments.

Development: Developers buy land, finance real estate deals, build or have builders build projects, create, imagine, control, and orchestrate the process of development from the beginning to end.

Typically, developers purchase a tract of land, determine the marketing of the property, develop the building program and design, obtain the necessary public approval and financing, build the structures, and rent out, manage, and ultimately sell it.

24

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE 

(continued)

Investment: Institutional real estate investment refers to real estate investment at a large scale by an institution. The institution is usually a real estate investment trust (REIT), insurance company, or pension fund. Institutional investors employ their own brokers and analysts, among many other roles.

An analyst can be responsible for monitoring markets, tax law, regional market changes, geographical economic trends, local and global market trends, as well as micro trends

Firms that have hired Bentley students / alumni for commercial real estate roles: AEW Capital Management | Arbor Realty Trust | B6 Real Estate Advisors | Boston Capital | Boston City Properties | CBRE | Cushman & Wakefield | HFF | JLL | Newmark Knight Frank | Novaya Real Estate Ventures | Pembroke Real Estate | TA Realty | Walker & Dunlop

CONSULTING Overview: Consulting is a big, one-size-fits-all term that includes virtually any form of advice-giving. Many people think first of management / strategy consulting, but there are many other types of consulting, including Financial Consulting, HR/Staffing Consulting, and IT Consulting. (Note that Financial Consulting and IT Consulting may also be referred to as “Advisory”).

Financial Consulting firms provide advice on:  Capital budgeting, project valuation and financial information integrity  Risk management, insurance engagements, financial control and compliance  Global finance operations, tax and treasury 

optimization Corporate restructuring

HR / Staffing Consulting firms help clients to:  Manage compensation and benefits programs  Analyze staffing needs, advise firms on personnel 

policies and diversity issues Recruit, hire and train workers

IT Consulting firms help clients to: 

Design and implement IT systems or develop better IT practices



Train staff members in IT areas such as hardware/software design setup



Provide strategic advice on social media, search engine marketing and IT issues

Management / Strategy Consulting firms help to: 

Improve an organization’s structure, management, efficiency and profits



Develop and recommend short-term and long-term strategies for their clients

Firms that have hired Bentley students / alumni for consulting roles: Accenture | Aon Radford | Bain & Company | Boston Consulting Group | CVS Health | Deloitte Consulting | FTI Consulting | Management Solutions | Massaro | Oracle | Protiviti | PwC | RSM | Slalom

CREDIT ANALYSIS

(also see Commercial Banking)

Overview: A credit analyst is a financial professional who assesses the creditworthiness of securities, individuals, or companies. Credit analysts determine the likelihood that a borrower can repay their financial obligations by reviewing the borrower's financial and credit history and determining whether the state of the subject's financial health and the economic conditions are favorable to repayment. After evaluating the level of risk of an investment, the analyst will determine the interest rate and credit limit or loan terms for a borrower. Credit analysts are typically employed by commercial and investment banks, credit card issuing institutions, credit rating agencies, and investment companies.

Firms that have hired Bentley students / alumni for credit analysis roles: BDC Capital | Capital One | East West Bank | First Republic Bank | MutualOne Bank | Moody’s Investor Services | Northern Bank | STAG Industrial | U.S. Bank

25

EQUITY RESEARCH

Firms that have hired Bentley students / alumni for

Overview: Equity Research primarily means analyzing a company’s financials, performing ratio analysis, forecasting the financials in Excel (financial modeling)

equity research roles: BNY Mellon | Canaccord Genuity | Citi | Credit Suisse | Eaton Vance | Fidelity |

and exploring scenarios with an objective of making BUY/SELL investment recommendation.

Goldman Sachs | Invesco | Jefferies | MFS Investment Management | Nomura | The Boston Company | UBS | Voya Investment Management

Sell-side equity research analysts are typically part

FINANCIAL ADVISING / PLANNING

of an investment bank and focus on a universe of stocks within one or two industries in order to provide

Overview: A financial advisor / planner is a professional who provides financial guidance to clients

insightful investment ideas and recommendations:

based on their needs and goals. Typically, they provide clients with financial products, services, planning or

 

Directly to institutional investors; Directly to the investment bank’s salesforce and traders, who in turn communicate those ideas with institutional investors;

advice related to investing, retirement, insurance, mortgages, college savings, estate planning, taxes and more. There are several credentials that financial advisors can obtain, and the most common is the



To the finance community at large through financial data service providers such as Capital IQ, FactSet,

Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation. An advisor must pass the CFP test, have an appropriate

Thomson and Bloomberg, who resell the data.

Notable end users are investment banks M&A and advisory services groups, which use sell-side equity research to help forecast company performance in presentations and pitch books.

level of prior education, sign a code of ethics, and have several years of actual planning experience before obtaining the right to use the CFP designation.

Sell side equity research analysts communicate formally through research reports and notes that place buy, sell and hold ratings on companies they cover as well as through less formal direct phone, email and inperson communication with institutional investors.

Buy-side equity research analysts, on the other hand, analyze companies in order to make an actual investment in line with their firm's investment strategy and portfolio. Also unlike sell-side research, buy-side research is not published. Buy-side analysts work for a variety of investment firms:   

Mutual funds Hedge funds Private equity



Other (insurance, endowment and pension funds)

Firms that have hired Bentley students / alumni for financial advising / planning roles: Ameriprise | Baystate Financial | Concord Wealth Management | Edward Jones | Equitable Advisors | Financial Compass Group | Financial Foundations, Inc. | Janney Montgomery Scott | McAdam Financial | Merrill Lynch Wealth Management | Morgan Stanley | New York Life | Northwestern Mutual | Raymond James | Wells Fargo Advisors | UBS

FINANCIAL ANALYSIS Overview: Being a financial analyst is one of the most popular career paths in finance. This is largely because analysts can work in a range of industries. A financial analyst is a professional who is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting financial data as well as preparing reports, models, presentations and recommendations for leaders of a business or clients.

Analysts must be good with numbers, have a strong understanding of accounting, and be able to manage large data sets.

26

FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

(continued)

INVESTMENT BANKING

Because the role can be quite different depending on

Overview: Investment bankers are responsible for a

where an analyst works, the industry an analyst chooses to go into defines their day-to-day

wide range of duties including raising capital, providing advisory services for mergers and acquisitions (M&A)

responsibilities. Overall, however, analysts play a significant part in providing decision-makers with the

and other corporate transactions, completing valuation work, and marketing the value of the bank’s expertise

information they need to make informed decisions.

to client companies.

Investment banking analysts are the workhorses of an

Firms that have hired Bentley students / alumni for financial analysis roles: Akamai Technologies |

investment banking team. Generally, the role of an analyst is to perform the bulk of the analytic work

American Express | athenahealth, Inc. | BAE Systems | Bose Corporation | CBS Corporation | C&S Wholesale

needed to facilitate these corporate transactions, and this typically involves a lot of work with presentations

Grocers | FedEx | General Dynamics | General Motors | Great American Group | Hologic | Lahey Health |

(pitch books) and models.

National Grid | Northwell Health | Otis Elevator | Pegasystems | Raytheon Technologies | Teradyne | Thomson Reuters | Tiger Capital Group | Time Warner | TJX Companies



FINANCIAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS (FLDPs)



Overview: FLDPs are rotational programs that allow participants to rotate between different roles, such as Financial Planning & Analysis, Financial Reporting, Internal Audit, Corporate Accounting, Operations, Treasury and more. In addition, most programs offer structured training & development on both hard and soft skills, formal mentorship, and networking opportunities.

FLDPs are typically 2-3 years in duration, with the length of each rotation varying by program; rotations may be available in different locations, including international. Companies make significant investment in FLDPs, and use them to identify future financial leaders for the firm. FLDPs are great options for students who know they are interested in Corporate Finance roles, but would like to explore different functions.

Firms that have hired Bentley students / alumni for financial leadership development programs: Aetna | BAE Systems | Dell | EF Education First | Epsilon | Liberty Mutual | Marriott International | Raytheon Technologies | Stanley Black & Decker | State Street | Synchrony Financial | The Hartford | Thermo Fisher Scientific | Travelers | Verizon



Pitch Books are marketing materials for the bankers to present to their corporate clients; they show the bank’s qualifications, recent industry data, sample transaction and analysis information, and advisory recommendations.

The analytical work consists of building and perfecting financial models for any given corporate situation. This work will typically include Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) analysis, Comparable Companies and Comparable Transactions (Comps), M&A models, and/or LBO models.

Analysts spend substantial time repeatedly building and evaluating different financial alternatives for the client. One example might be running M&A models and showing the accretion/dilution effects to earnings based on different allocation scenarios for debt and equity in the proposed transaction.

Firms that have hired Bentley students / alumni for investment banking roles: Alantra | Baird | Barclays | BellMark Partners | BMO Capital Markets | BNP Paribas | Canaccord Genuity | Capstone Headwaters | Citi | Covington Associates | Credit Suisse | Houlihan Lokey | HSBC | Jefferies | JP Morgan | Lazard | Morgan Stanley | Oppenheimer & Co. | Philpott Ball & Werner | Provident Healthcare Partners | RBC Capital Markets | Sandler O’Neill + Partners | Stifel | UBS | Wells Fargo Securities | Whipstitch Capital

27

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

those positions. Traders trade with other traders at

Overview: Investment management (also referred to

commercial banks, investment banks and large institutional investors. Trading responsibilities include:

as asset management) is the business of investing other people’s money. It is the “buy side” of the broader financial industry. Investment managers put their clients’ money to work in common stocks (equities), bonds and other fixed-income securities, commodities, alternative investments, or a combination of any of these. Their clients may be companies, pension funds, endowments, insurance companies, private banks, nonprofits, and individuals.

There are a wide variety of roles within investment

position trading, risk management, sector analysis & capital management.

Firms that have hired Bentley students / alumni for sales & trading analysis roles: Bank of America | BMO Capital Markets | BNP Paribas | Cantor Fitzgerald | Citi | Credit Suisse | Deutsche Bank | Jefferies | JP Morgan | Morgan Stanley

management, including research, compliance, trading, operations, client service, performance analysis, and

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

more.

suite of services that encompasses all parts of an individual or family’s financial life, including investment

Firms that have hired Bentley students / alumni for investment management roles: Acadian Asset Management | Alcentra | AllianceBernstein | BlackRock | Columbia Threadneedle Investments | Eaton Vance | Fidelity | John Hancock | Liberty Mutual Investments | MassMutual | Meketa Investment Group | MFS Investment Management | Natixis Investment Managers | Putnam Investments | Sun Life Financial | Wellington Management

management, as well as legal and estate planning, accounting and tax services, retirement planning, trust services, philanthropic planning, risk management, and more. A wealth manager may serve as the central point of contact for a client’s financial affairs, coordinating communications and relationships with financial experts and a client’s other advisors, such as an attorney, accountant, or insurance agent. The overall goal of wealth management is to grow and preserve wealth over the long term. Both big banks and independent firms offer wealth management services.

SALES & TRADING Overview: Sales and Trading (S&T) is a group at an investment bank that consists of salespeople, who call institutional investors with ideas and opportunities, and traders, who execute orders and advise clients on entering and exiting financial positions.

A firm’s sales force is responsible for conveying information about particular securities to institutional

Overview: Wealth management provides a holistic

There are a wide variety of roles within wealth management, including investment research (for both proprietary strategies and outside manager due diligence), compliance, trading, operations, client service, performance analysis, and more.

investors. The sales force also are in constant communication with the firm's traders and research analysts to provide timely, relevant market information and liquidity to the firm’s clients.

Firms that have hired Bentley students / alumni for wealth management roles: Ballentine Partners | Bank of America Private Bank | Bernstein Private Wealth Management | Brown Brothers Harriman | BNY Mellon Wealth Management | Boston Private

Traders buy and sell securities on behalf of these

Wealth | CIBC Private Wealth Management | Deutsche Bank | Fidelity | Goldman Sachs | Merrill Lynch | Morgan Stanley | RBC Wealth Management | UBS | U.S. Trust | William Blair & Company

institutional clients and for their own firm in anticipation of changing market conditions and upon any customer request. They oversee positions in various sectors and buy and sell securities to improve

28

Researching Roles & Companies Researching roles and companies of interest is a critical step in the internship / job search, and it should not be overlooked. Many students who jump straight into the applying phase of the search wind up applying to roles and companies that they are not truly interested in. While researching roles and companies certainly requires a great deal of effort, it ultimately leads to a more targeted and successful search. There’s no shortage of resources available to help you gather the information you need!

VAULT / FIRSTHAND provides in-depth intelligence on what it’s really like to work within an industry, company, or profession – and how to position yourself to launch and build the career of your dreams. Vault is best known for its influential rankings, ratings, and reviews on thousands of top employers and hundreds of internship programs.

Vault also publishes detailed guidebooks; below is a sample that may be of interest:    

Vault Career Guide to Commercial Banking Vault Career Guide to Investment Banking Vault Career Guide to Investment Management Vault Career Guide to Real Estate

  

Vault Career Guide to Sales & Trading Vault Career Guide to Wealth Management Vault Guide to Top Internships

CORPORATE FINANCE INSTITUTE offers several free resources to help you prepare for your career in finance, including: 

Career Map: Explore the interactive Career Map to find your path in corporate finance and capital markets jobs.

The Career Map divides the industry into four different types of employers: Banks (“sell side”), Institutions (“buy side”), Corporates (“issuers”) and Public Accounting firms; within each of the four employers, there are three to four main areas. Each area is evaluated in terms of compensation, workload, competition, quant skills and soft skills. You can also get information on the key personality traits that lead to success in that role, compensation, and exit opportunities.



How to get a job in…: Guides on how to get a job in investment banking, equity research, FP&A, treasury, and other financial analyst positions.



Job Descriptions: Browse the most common job requirements and skills from job descriptions at the world’s best financial institutions.



Meet the players: Lists of investment banks, private equity firms, corporates and other firms.

MAKE CONNECTIONS AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS (AKA NETWORK)! Speaking with professionals is one of the best ways to get insight into roles, career paths, companies, industries and more. Not to mention, it’s a critical part of a successful internship / job search. Remember the “Path to Employment for 2021 Finance Graduates” on page 23? Refer to the “Building Relationships” section beginning on page 31 for more information on networking and conducting informational meetings.

29

ATTEND ON-CAMPUS AND VIRTUAL EVENTS! The Pulsifer Career Development Center plans and hosts many events that allow students to connect with professionals and learn more about their current roles, career paths, and companies, such as: 

Finance & Economics Virtual Career Fair (Mid-September): A mini Career Fair for students majoring in Finance, Economics-Finance and Corporate Finance & Accounting! Learn about open opportunities and network with company representatives to find out what roles might be a good fit for you.



University Career Fair (Late September | Mid-February): Students should not miss the Career Fairs held in the Fall and Spring semesters! Each semester, 110-140 companies come to campus to recruit for open internship and/or full-time positions.



Specialized Programming (Throughout the year): Connect with employers during 1:1 Coffee Chats, Information Sessions, and more.

In addition, many employers offer their own in-person and virtual event opportunities directly on Handshake.

Actively monitor Handshake and CareerEdge for complete, up-to-date information about all events.

THE BENTLEY LIBRARY is a wealth of information when it comes to company and industry research! Below are several helpful databases to utilize, or consult with an experienced Bentley librarian for additional suggestions. 

S&P Capital IQ NetAdvantage provides access to S&P's Company and Industry Surveys, Stock Guides, Dividend Records, Mutual Fund Ratings, Corporation Records and much more. Industry surveys are updated twice yearly and provide key data on more than 50 industries from Health Care to Telecommunications.



Investext from Mergent provides investment research reports written by analysts at leading investment banks, brokerage houses and consulting firms. Search for analysis on companies and industries around the globe by company name, ticker, contributor, industry code and country. Data is available for download in PDF and Excel formats.



PrivCo provides private company financial data including M&A activity, investor information, private equity and venture capital data. It covers over 225,000 private companies, 11,000 investors, and over 80,000 private market M&A deals and funding rounds. Database strengths include the ability to search by niche industry for private companies, and to find specific investors for targeted industries.

GLASSDOOR offers and extensive and constantly expanding database of company reviews, CEO approval ratings, salary reports, interview reviews and questions, benefits reviews, office photos and more. Unlike other jobs sites, all of this information is entirely shared by those who know a company best – the employees.

LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION? GOOGLE IT! There’s not much that Google can’t answer, so be proactive and resourceful by searching for “entry level investment management roles”, “credit analyst responsibilities”, “what is advisory”, etc. Specific searches turn up lots of helpful information!

30

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

31

Networking Networking is simply the process of building relationships, either by making a connection with someone in-person or virtually. It involves speaking with professionals in your field(s) of interest in order to explore careers and gather information. While some people have an easier time making new connections than others, it is important to remember that everyone is capable of networking.

WHY SHOULD I NETWORK? 

EXPLORE CAREERS AND INDUSTRIES : If you’re unsure about your field of interest, you can explore options by identifying people who majored in Finance or Corporate Finance & Accounting and are now using those majors in different ways. Then reach out for a conversation.



FIND CONTACTS: If you’re more certain about your career path, you can network to establish contacts in that field. These people can become great sources of knowledge or potentially mentors. If you have an interview coming up, you can find someone at the organization to get their insight before the interview.



LEARN ABOUT JOB / INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Networking is a critical component of any job or internship search. Some estimate that as much as 85% of jobs are filled through networking, so it’s to your benefit to build and activate your network.

HOW SHOULD I NETWORK?

WHO IS ALREADY IN MY NETWORK?

Utilize these resources to locate and network with alumni and other professionals: 





LinkedIn: Build and engage your network with 800+ million professionals globally, including 63,000+ Bentley alumni. See pages 43-50 for suggestions on navigating LinkedIn. Bentley University Alumni Chapters: Explore contacts and events occurring in a particular geographic region for those alumni clubs in order to network and connect with alumni in that area.

Professional Associations: Joining a professional association is a great way to boost your networking efforts! Many professional organizations offer a free or reduced membership cost for students. See

Family

Neighbors

Friends

YOU

Coworkers & Managers

Professors

Bentley Staff

Coaches

pages 35-38 for a list of relevant professional associations to consider.

32

Informational Interviews Conducting informational interviews is one of the most common ways to network and gives you the opportunity to connect meaningfully with a professional. It’s all about learning – not asking for a job or internship.

PRIMARY GOALS

SAMPLE QUESTIONS TO ASK



Investigate a specific career field and learn about



important issues / current trends in that field Narrow down career options or uncover options you



never knew existed Get advice on where your skills might be applied



Broaden your network of contacts for future reference



How did you get started in this job / career?



What do you do in a typical day / week? Is there a set routine, or is there variety on a day-to-day basis?



Do you work independently or as part of a team?



What aspects of the job do you find most rewarding and most frustrating?



How would you recommend breaking into this field?

WHO SHOULD I INTERVIEW?



What kind of educational background is required?

You can contact a wide range of professionals from a variety of fields and companies. It helps to ask people you know to introduce you to people they know who



What kind of person would be best suited for this career in terms of personality, interests, and skills?



What kind of experience or internship would help in this field?



Are there specific courses a student might take that would be particularly beneficial in this field?



What are the typical hours? Is travel required?



What type of training is provided to entry-level employees?



What technologies are critical for success?

HOW DO I PREPARE?



How do you see the jobs in the field changing over the next five years?

Preparing for informational interviews allows you to be more confident, make a positive impression, and



What professional organizations are active and responsive in this career field? Which industry publications do you read?



What are some job titles of entry-level positions in the career field? What is the career trajectory?



What is a typical salary range in this field?



What advice would you give on locating opportunities, the time frame for applying, and the interview process?



What special advice would you give to a young person entering this field?



Are there any other individuals you recommend I speak with to learn more about this career?

work in your desired field.

People you know:  Family & Friends  Neighbors  Co-workers  Professors

People you may not know:  Alumni  Prof. Org. Members  Employers  Social Media Contacts

ensures you get your questions answered. It also helps you to respond to questions about yourself more effectively. To prepare, you should:   

Identify what you want to get out of the meeting Research the professional, company, and industry Practice your introduction

 

Develop a list of questions Review your experiences, interests, and skills

If the meeting is in person, arrive a few minutes early and dress appropriately. If the meeting is virtual or over the phone, identify a quiet space you can use in advance that has a strong internet connection.

33

WHAT DO I DO AFTER THE MEETING?

THANK YOU NOTE EXAMPLE

SEND A THANK YOU EMAIL Within 24 hours, send a thank you email highlighting the

Dear Mr. / Ms. Alum,

value of the meeting and referencing something specific the professional mentioned. Keep the door open for

Thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to speak with me yesterday afternoon about your career. Your advice and insight was very

future exchanges.

beneficial.

REFLECT ON WHAT YOU LEARNED Take the time to reflect upon what you learned and how

(Include a point or two about advice they gave you that really resonated.)

that relates to your own values, interests, personality, and skills. You might find that your interest in an industry or role has increased, or that it isn’t as appealing as you thought. It’s helpful to have

I hope you enjoy the holidays! Again, thank you for your time. I will keep you posted on my internship search process, and I look forward to

conversations with multiple people to get a full picture.

staying in touch.

DEVELOP A PLAN TO STAY IN TOUCH Since networking is relationship building, it’s important to stay in touch with your contacts. It may be a simple email filling them in on something new in your professional life, sending an article that could be of interest to them, or sharing a seasonal greeting. It is appropriate to follow up every few months, but only if you have something substantial to say. Not everyone will find time to reciprocate, so don’t take offense if you don’t get a reply. Also create a database to track contact information – name, company, title, date of conversation, notes and follow-up tasks.

FINAL TIPS / KEYS TO NETWORKING          

Regards, Mary Johnson mjohnson@bentley.edu (617) 123-4567

SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS One in three employers have rejected candidates based on something on their social media. The tips below will help guide you before reaching out to potential networking contacts or future employers.

Adopt a positive, proactive attitude about networking Create a list of everyone you know and identify how



they could help you gather career information Define what you hope to learn and accomplish Prepare and practice your elevator pitch Start each in-person encounter with a firm handshake, good eye contact, and a smile Be professional, courteous and authentic Send communications at least a week apart and no more than three times; if no response, move on Get organized – create a database of contacts with notes and follow up items Focus on quality of interactions, not quantity Be patient – you may start slowly but you will build momentum

      

Adjust your privacy settings; be aware of what is public across all social media platforms Proactively tag or un-tag yourself in photos and events Always proof before you post Never complain about your job / boss or broadcast confidential employer information Utilize social media sites to research organizations and professionals Follow companies of interest and engage in career related groups Use Bentley University’s Alumni feature on LinkedIn to search for alums Always customize the invitation to connect on LinkedIn 34

Professional Associations Joining a professional association is a great way to boost your networking efforts! Many professional organizations offer a free or reduced membership cost for students. Membership in a professional organization may include access to the following benefits: 

Career Resources



Scholarship Programs



Job Opportunities

 

Networking Events Educational Events

 

Mentorship Programs Membership Directory

 

Private LinkedIn Groups Newsletters / Other Publications

ORGANIZATION

OVERVIEW

STUDENT MEMBERSHIP

CFA Society Boston is New England’s largest CFA SOCIETY BOSTON

membership organization for investment professionals with over 6,000 members. The membership represents over 650 investment firms and 96 percent of CFA Society Boston members hold the Chartered Financial Analyst designation from CFA Institute.

Complimentary for each year you remain eligible

For more than 100 years, RMA has been laser focused on

THE RISK MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (RMA)

one thing: helping its members in the world's financial institutions better understand and address risk. As a trusted partner, RMA has weathered the many economic ups and downs of the last century alongside its members, which now number 1,600+ financial institutions of all sizes, from multi-nationals to local community banks.

$30/year

These institutions are represented by over 35,000 individual RMA members located throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia.

SOCIETY OF FINANCIAL SERVICES PROFESSIONALS

The Society of Financial Service Professionals is a multidisciplinary community of accomplished professionals whose common purpose is to deliver the highest level of ethical service to their clients. In an environment promoting professional development and ethical conduct we welcome as regular members qualified professionals who hold one of the following credentials: AEP®, CASL®, CEBS®, CFA, CFP®, ChFC®, CIMA, CLF®, CLU®, CPA, CPCU®, CTFA®, Enrolled Actuary, JD, MBA, MSFS, MSM, Masters/PhD in Financial Services, REBC®, RHU®, RICP®.

$50 National Dues (National Dues provide for web benefits only) Additional Chapter Dues may apply

35

ORGANIZATION

OVERVIEW

STUDENT MEMBERSHIP

FPA® is the principal professional organization for CFP®

FINANCIAL PLANNING ASSOCIATION ® (FPA®)

professionals. We are the community that works together to elevate individual financial planners, regardless of compensation model or practice type, and the financial planning profession as a whole. We believe true financial

$50 annually

planners provide an invaluable, critical service to society, and that CFP® professionals lead the way in the commitment to raise the bar for the clients they serve— from transaction to transformation.

NAPFA is the country’s leading professional association of NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PERSONAL FINANCIAL ADVISORS (NAPFA)

Fee-Only financial advisors—highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of those they serve. We provide networking opportunities, education, business development, and advocacy to promote the professional success of fee-only, comprehensive financial advisors.

$35 annually for full-time students $150 annually for parttime students

IREM is an international force of nearly 20,000 individuals united to advance the profession of real estate management. Through training, professional development, and collaboration, IREM supports its members and others in the industry through every stage of their career.

FREE

NAIOP – COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION

NAIOP is the leading organization for developers, owners and investors of office, industrial, retail and mixed-use real estate. NAIOP comprises 19,000+ members and provides strong advocacy, education and business opportunities through a powerful North American network.

Not specified on website

THE REAL ESTATE FINANCE ASSOCIATION (REFA)

REFA, a division of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board (GBREB), is a commercial real estate business association providing members with high quality networking and educational opportunities. REFA strives to maintain its reputation for excellence by promoting the exchange of information between professionals in the real estate finance community, and fostering a platform for growth and development for its Emerging Leader membership.

$75 annually

INSTITUTE OF REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT (IREM)

36

ORGANIZATION

OVERVIEW

STUDENT MEMBERSHIP

FWA connects a vibrant community of dynamic FINANCIAL WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION

professionals and proactive institutions focused on development and empowerment to advance leadership growth and accelerate the success of all women in finance.

$50 annually

AFWA promotes the professional growth of women in all facets of accounting and finance. Members increase their career potential by connecting with colleagues, receiving ACCOUNTING & FINANCIAL WOMEN’S ALLIANCE (AFWA)

education and mentorship to advance their careers, and developing leadership skills. For more than 75 years, members have tapped into a network of successful, motivated, and influential professionals who understand the unique position of being a woman in the industry and who, together, contribute to the future development of their

$45 annually

profession.

BOSTON WOMEN IN FINANCE

Boston Women in Finance is a professional women's group dedicated to bringing together a diverse community of accomplished women with financial backgrounds, experience, and industry interests, to network, collaborate, and inspire. Our membership is a powerful community of women leaders, innovators, and influencers who meet monthly to delve into a wide range of topics including economic and financial trends, technological advancements, evolving leadership roles, professional development, and much more.

Not specified on website

100 Women in Finance is a global organization committed

100 WOMEN IN FINANCE

to gender equity in finance by promoting diversity, raising visibility, and empowering women to find their personal path to success. We connect women at every career stage, including pre-career, to a global network of people and resources. Our mission is to strengthen the global finance industry by empowering women to achieve their professional potential at each career stage. We operate under a guiding principle that we call Vision 30/40. It is the goal for women to occupy 30% of investment team and executive leadership roles by 2040.

FREE

37

ORGANIZATION

OVERVIEW

ALPFA’s mission is to empower and develop Latino men

ALPFA (ASSOCIATION OF LATINO PROFESSIONALS FOR AMERICA)

and women as leaders of character for the nation, in every sector of the global economy. ALPFA currently serves more than 100,000 professional and student members across the country. In addition to networking and professional leadership development opportunities, our members have access to 50,000 paid summer internships through hundreds of Fortune 1000 corporate partners. We aspire to be the business partner of choice for companies seeking to hire and develop Latino talent.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK ACCOUNTANTS – BOSTON METROPOLITAN CHAPTER (NABA)

The National Association of Black Accountants (NABA, Inc.), is dedicated to bridging the opportunity gap for people of color in the Accounting, Finance, Consulting, Information Technology and other related business professions. Representing more than 200,000 people of color in these fields, NABA, Inc. advances people, advances careers and advances the mission by providing education, resources and meaningful career connections to both professional and student members, fulfilling the principle of our motto: Lifting As We Climb.

STUDENT MEMBERSHIP

Basic Membership: FREE Premium Membership: $30 annually There is an ALPFA Chapter here at Bentley!

Not specified on website There is a NABA Chapter here at Bentley!

As the largest and fastest growing Asian & Pacific Islander NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ASIAN AMERICAN PROFESSIONALS (NAAAP)

professionals association, NAAAP provides its members with the tools and resources to further career advancement and to empower them to be great leaders as well as valuable employees. In order to achieve our goals, NAAAP offers a diverse range of professional development programs on the local and national level,

$35 annually

engages its membership in community service and organizes professional networking events.

38

APPLYING TO OPPORTUNITIES

39

Submitting Applications Once you have perfected your Career Toolkit and done your research to identify roles / companies of interest, it is time to start applying! There’s no magic number of opportunities to apply to. Only apply to opportunities that you would have a legitimate interest in. Continue submitting applications until you have accepted an offer.

PLEASE NOTE: While applying to positions is key step in the internship / job search process, applying alone will likely not lead to success. The internship / job market is competitive…and think about how many people can view and apply to a position when it is posted publicly! Making connections at companies of interest greatly increases your chances of landing an interview. See pages 43-50 for tips on effective follow-up.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY BENTLEY STUDENTS HANDSHAKE

Bentley’s official career platform, with current postings for internships and full-time job opportunities.

LINKEDIN

Search internships and entry-level jobs by company, industry or location and apply with one click.

INDEED

The #1 job site in the world, giving job seekers free access to search for jobs, post resumes, and research companies.

GLASSDOOR

Search jobs and get the inside scoop on companies with employee reviews, personalized salary tools, and more.

COMPANY WEBSITES

For organizations that you’re interested in, go directly to their websites to browse open positions.

GOOGLE ALERTS

Create Google Alerts for different search parameters, i.e. ‘Summer 20XX investment management internships’, ‘Entry-Level financial analyst roles’, etc. Have results delivered to your inbox daily!

ADDITIONAL SITES TO EXPLORE EFINANCIALCAREERS

Offers thousands of global open positions in financial services, investment banking, fintech and more. Browse news and career advice from the finance industry.

INTERNSHIPS.COM

The world’s largest student-focused internship marketplace, bringing students, employers and higher education institutions together in one centralized location.

MONSTER

Search for jobs, read career advice from Monster's job experts, and find hiring and recruiting advice.

SUITED

Connects exceptional candidates with top-tier investment banks.

VAULT / FIRSTHAND

Search thousands of new jobs posted daily. Sign up for job alerts to have the latest jobs that match your search sent to you directly.

AND MANY MORE…! Find what works for you!

40

Creating Your Own Opportunities So, what do you do when you’ve applied to all the open positions that you’re interested in that you’ve found on job boards? Or if you’re not finding the types of opportunities that you’re ideally seeking on job boards? It’s time to take matters into your own hands and create your own opportunities! Let’s get started…

FIRST, BUILD A LIST OF TARGET COMPANIES. Click here for suggestions on how to build your list.

NEXT, CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR TARGET COMPANIES HAVE ANY OPEN POSITIONS POSTED ON THEIR COMPANY WEBSITE OR LINKEDIN PAGE.

IF YOU FIND OPEN POSITIONS, APPLY…BUT DON’T STOP THERE! There may be hundreds of candidates applying for the same position. That’s where making connections comes in – it’s a CRITICAL step in a successful search.

IF YOU DO NOT FIND OPEN POSITIONS, DON’T GIVE UP! Many companies never “officially” post open positions.

Hiring happens on an as needed basis, and positions are filled through networking. It’s all about knowing the right people and being in the right place at the right time.

Reach out to professionals working in roles of interest.

Reach out to professionals within Human Resources.

Reach out to professionals working in roles of interest.

Reach out to professionals within Human Resources.

Contact companies directly regarding hiring needs.

Click here to learn more.

Click here to learn more.

Click here to learn more.

Click here to learn more.

Click here to learn more.

41

Identifying Target Companies Consider the following suggestions to help build a list of companies where you’d be interested in working.

Remember that every company has a finance function! Maybe you’re interested in “traditional” opportunities within financial services…or maybe you’d like to combine your finance knowledge and skills with your passion for sustainability. Think creatively when building your list! 

Search for companies that meet your criteria, by industry and/or geography.

Here are a few examples: o Investment management firms in New York City | Wealth management in Massachusetts | Boutique investment banks in Chicago | Tech companies in Silicon Valley



Where do Bentley alumni with similar majors / career interests work?

 

Where do your 1st degree connections work?

Look at your connections’ connections – where do they work?



Helpful Hint: For companies that you’re interested in, check out their LinkedIn pages. On the right-hand side of a company’s ‘Home Page’, you will see a ‘Similar pages’ section – use this to generate additional ideas!



Utilize the Vault Rankings. Here are a few examples: o Vault Banking 50 o Best Banking Firms to Work For o o o o o

The 100 Best Internships Best Financial Services Internships Vault Consulting 50 Best Consulting Firms in Each Practice Area …and many more!



Utilize the ‘Research Companies’ feature. o Browse companies by industry. Again, think beyond the obvious categories – remember, every company has a finance function! If you’re interested in ‘Travel and Leisure’, ‘Fashion and Apparel’ or ‘Health Care Management’, for example, explore finance related roles within those companies. You are not limited to financial services!



Did you know the Career Development Center has built a database of financial services firms in Boston and New York City? Email your Career Coach for a copy of either or both spreadsheets!

  

Always had a few dream companies in mind? Add them to the list!

What companies are you familiar with based on personal experience?

Ask family, friends, and your career coach for suggestions.

42

Effective Follow-Up

Connecting with Professionals in Roles of Interest After you’ve submitted job applications and/or identified target companies, an important next step is to connect with professionals at those companies. Having a conversation can give you great insight into the day-to-day responsibilities, skills required for success, company culture, and more – and may even lead to a referral!

IDENTIFYING BENTLEY ALUMNI VIA LINKEDIN 

Go to Bentley’s LinkedIn page and click on “Alumni” on the list in the middle of the page. This will bring up an interactive bar chart with six categories: Where they live, Where they work, What they do, What they studied, What they are skilled at, and How you are connected (click “Next >” to display the last four categories).



Search by company name. If your search returns any results, you’ll see that company name under the ‘Where they work’ column. Click on the company name. You will notice that the other categories will update accordingly. o

If there are a large number of results, further narrow your search by ‘”Where they Live” (very helpful if multiple offices) and/or “What they do” (Finance).



Scroll down to review the profiles of the alumni that meet your search criteria and determine who you would like to connect with. o

Alumni who have graduated within the past few years are a great place to start, as they are close enough to the recruiting experience to remember what it’s like to be in your shoes.

o

Try to find a common interest, such as being a student-athlete or participating in the same student organization.

o

Look for 2nd degree connections. Ask your mutual connection for an introduction.

o

What if you can only identify one alumni working in a finance-related role, and that person is very senior?

That’s OK! Feel free to reach out. You have nothing to lose as long as your message is professional and polite.

o

What if you can only identify one alumni working at the target company, and they’re in a very different role than what you’re interested in? You can still reach out to learn more about the company in general. If the conversation goes well, ask if they would be willing to make an introduction to a colleague on the finance team.



Now that you’ve identified professionals working in roles of interest, click here for tips on how to reach out.

LINKED IN FUN FACTS AS OF SUMMER 2022!

63,000+ Bentley Alumni on

32,000+ Bentley Alumni in the

5,000+ Bentley Alumni in the

LinkedIn, including 9,000+ in the Finance field

Greater Boston Area, including 5,000+ in the Finance field

Greater NYC area, including 1,000+ in the finance Field 43

1. Click on Alumni to view interactive bar chart.

2. Search by company name, ex: Liberty Mutual.

5. Click ‘Next’ to display additional categories and narrow search by ‘Finance’ in ‘What they do’ column.

3. Click on company name.

4. Narrow search by your target location.

6. Scroll down to review profiles!

44

IDENTIFYING NON-BENTLEY ALUMNI VIA LINKEDIN 

If there are no Bentley alumni currently working at the firm, look for someone else to contact!



From your home page in LinkedIn, use the search bar to search for your target company. Make sure you click on the company’s home page (you will see “Company • Industry” next to the correct selection).



From the company’s home page click on “People”. This will bring up an interactive bar chart with six categories: Where they live, Where they studied, What they do, What they studied, What they are skilled at, and How you are connected (click “Next >” to display the last four categories).



You can search for a specific job title (example: Investment Banking Analyst) or filter based on your search criteria (example: “What they do” > Finance and “Where they live” > Greater New York City area).



Scroll down to review the profiles of the professionals that meet your search criteria and determine who you would like to connect with. o

Look for a professional in a role most comparable to the role you’ve applied to, and who graduated from college within the past few years.



o

Try to find a common interest, such as being a student-athlete or participating in the same types of student organizations.

o

Look for 2nd degree connections. Ask your mutual connection for an introduction.

o

If you can’t identify someone with a common interest or a 2nd degree connection, don’t let that stop you from reaching out. You have nothing to lose as long as your message is polite and professional.

Now that you’ve identified professionals working in roles of interest, click here for tips on how to reach out.

SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT COLD NETWORKING… From an article published by the NACE Journal, August 2020

70% of the students whose Students who engaged in cold networking were twice as likely to earn an internship as students who only engaged in warm networking

Those who found their internship through warm networking were less likely to report that the internship turned into a job offer

internship resulted in a job offer found the internship through cold networking, while only 40% found the internship through warm networking

45

1. Navigate to company of interest’s home page.

2. Click on People to view interactive bar chart.

3. Search for role/title of interest, ex: “Investment Banking Analyst”

5. Continue to filter as helpful by additional categories. Click on “Next” to display more.

4. Narrow search by your target location.

6. Scroll down to review profiles!

46

TIPS FOR REACHING OUT TO PROFESSIONALS WORKING IN ROLES OF INTEREST VIA LINKEDIN 

Always personalize your connection request – the generic “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn” will not get results! Introduce yourself and ask to learn more about their career path, role, or experience with the company. Do not ask about internships / full-time positions or for a referral in your introductory message! It takes time to build relationships.

Hi [contact name]: I’m a [class year] at Bentley, studying [major]. I’m interested in learning about your role as a [position name] at [company name]. I know your time is valuable and would like to ask if you have 15 minutes, at your convenience, to speak with me. Thank you in advance, [your name]



If people are willing to speak with you, you must BE PREPARED so you can make a great impression.

Be ready to answer “Tell me a little bit about yourself”, then have a list of questions ready so you can drive the conversation. Refer to pages 33-34 for tips on conducting informational meetings.





If there’s an open position and the conversation goes well… o

Consider closing with: I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me today. I recently applied to [role title], so learning more about your day-in-the-life will be very valuable if I am fortunate enough to be offered an interview.

o

Best case response: That’s great! I really enjoyed our conversation and happen to know the hiring manager. I’d be happy to put in a good word for you!

o

Worst case response: OK…Well it’s been nice talking to you…good luck.

If there’s not an open position, but the conversation goes well… o

Consider closing with: I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me today. Learning more about your daily responsibilities and the culture at [company name] solidified my interest in the company. I hope we can stay in touch. If you hear of any open opportunities, would you mind letting me know?

o

Best case response: Absolutely! Why don’t you send me a copy of your resume so I can have it on file should a position open up. I look forward to staying in touch.

o

Worst case response: I’m not sure what our future hiring needs will be but keep your eyes on our company website.



If the conversation was mediocre, it may be best to just politely thank the person for their time and note something valuable that you learned.



Always demonstrate your professionalism by sending a thank you note within 24 hours. Perhaps you wound up with a valuable connection that you plan to stay in touch with, or perhaps the conversation was one and done. At the very least, you gained insight that will help you stand out if you are offered an interview or will help you determine if you’re a good fit for the role / company when positions do open up. In some cases, you may learn that a role / company is not the best fit for you, and that’s OK too.

47

Effective Follow-Up

Connecting with Human Resources Professionals 

Why is connecting with Human Resources important? o

If there’s an open position: Let’s assume 100 students apply for a position. If 10 of them connect with the recruiter, the recruiter is likely to pull those 10 resumes from the pile to at least look at them. If you don’t reach out, and your resume happens to be near the bottom of the pile, the recruiter may find enough great candidates to interview before even looking at your resume. Contacting a recruiter doesn’t guarantee an interview, but it definitely increases the chances of your resume being reviewed.

o

If there’s not an open position: If you have a great conversation with a recruiter, you’ll likely be on their short list when a position does open up, giving you an advantage over other candidates. The recruiter will appreciate the initiative that you took to connect and your interest in the company.



From your home page in LinkedIn, use the search bar to search for your target company. Make sure you click on the company’s home page (you will see “Company • Industry” next to the correct selection).



From the company’s home page, click on “People”. This will bring up an interactive bar chart with six categories: Where they live, Where they studied, What they do, What they studied, What they are skilled at, and How you are connected (click “Next >” to display the last four categories). Look for “Human Resources” in the “What they do” column. o

Depending on the number of search results, you may choose to scroll through all the profiles to determine the best person to contact.

o

If there are too many results to scroll through, try searching by title, for example: “Campus Recruiter”, “Recruiter”, “University Relations”, or “Talent Acquisition”.

o

You can narrow your search by “Where they live” to target Human Resources professionals in your preferred location.

o

If “Human Resources” is not one of the choices in the “What they do” column, search by title, starting with the examples noted above.



Sometimes it will be VERY obvious who the best person to contact is. At a large company, you may find someone with a title of “Campus Recruiter”, and their profile notes the specific positions/programs they recruit for. At a smaller company, there may only be one person with “Recruiter” or “Talent Acquisition” in their title.



Sometimes it will be LESS obvious who the best person to contact is. In this case, you will have to make an educated guess. If you contact the wrong person, they may be willing to point you in the right direction. As long as your message is polite and professional, you have nothing to lose.



Now that you’ve identified professionals within Human Resources, click here for tips on how to reach out.

48

1. Navigate to company of interest’s home page.

2. Click on People to view interactive bar chart.

5. Search for “Campus Recruiter” or similar titles.

3. Click on “Next” to display “What they do” and select “Human Resources”.

4. Narrow search by your target location.

6. Scroll down to review profiles!

49

TIPS FOR REACHING OUT TO HUMAN RESOURCES PROFESSIONALS VIA LINKEDIN 

Always personalize your connection request – the generic “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn” will not get results! Introduce yourself and express your interest in current and/or future opportunities with the company. It is perfectly fine to be direct with Human Resources professionals, as it is their job to source qualified candidates!



If there’s an open position…

Hi [contact name]: I’m a [class year] at Bentley, studying [major]. I recently applied to [position name] and wanted to introduce myself and express my interest in the position. I’d welcome the opportunity to speak with you or someone on your team. Thanks for your consideration, [your name]



If there’s not an open position…

Hi [contact name]: I’m a [class year] at Bentley, studying [major]. I’m interested in [types of roles] at [name of firm]. I understand there are no current openings, but I’d welcome the opportunity to speak with you or someone on your team about future opportunities. Thanks for your consideration, [your name]



If a Human Resources professional is willing to speak with you, you must BE PREPARED so you can make a great impression. o

If you’re speaking about an open position, prepare for the conversation as you would for a first-round interview.

o

If you’re having a general conversation, prepare for the conversation to feel like either an informational interview or a first-round interview.



Ask about potential next steps at the end of the conversation, whether there is an open position or not.



Always demonstrate your professionalism by sending a thank you note within 24 hours.

A 2022 survey by Joblist of recent college graduates found that lack of networking was one of the top regrets regarding the job search process.

According to HubSpot, 85% of jobs are filled through networking. In fact, according to CNBC, 70% of jobs are never published publicly.

These jobs are either posted internally or are created specifically for candidates that recruiters meet through networking.

50

Effective Follow-Up

Conducting Direct Outreach

Contacting companies directly regarding hiring needs is a strategy that tends to work best with small / mid-sized companies or companies that do not have a “Careers” section on their website. For some, this may feel like too aggressive of an approach or may be outside of your comfort zone, which is perfectly fine. But, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take! 

Call the company’s main line; introduce yourself and explain why you are reaching out.

Good morning. I’m a rising junior at Bentley University, outside of Boston, MA, studying Finance. I’m originally from upstate New York and plan on spending the summer in the area. I’m calling to ask whether your company offers summer internships.

OR Hello. I’m a senior at Bentley University, studying Corporate Finance & Accounting. I’m very interested in your company and noticed that there is not a careers page on the website. I’m calling to ask whether you currently have any openings or anticipate having any in the near future.

•

If the company has a generic email address for career opportunities or general inquiries, feel free to reach out that way. If you are sending an email, you will have flexibility to include more information (but don’t go overboard in the initial email!).

Good afternoon, I am a senior at Bentley University, outside of Boston, MA, majoring in Finance with a concentration in Financial Planning. I grew up in Portland, ME, and I am looking forward to returning to the area after graduation. While researching boutique wealth management firms near Portland, I learned about your firm and was immediately impressed by your ‘clients first’ attitude and holistic approach to helping clients achieve their financial goals.

I’m writing to ask whether you anticipate having any entry-level hiring needs soon. If so, I would welcome the opportunity to have a conversation with a member of your team. I have attached my resume, should you be interested in learning more about my background. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Sincerely, Beth Bentley



If the company IS hiring…great! Ask for details on how and when to apply.



If the company MIGHT BE hiring in the future…ask about an appropriate time to follow up and add a note to your calendar as a reminder.



If the company IS NOT hiring…that’s OK. Move on for now, but if you’re really interested in the company, keep it on your radar for future opportunities.

51

ALL ABOUT INTERVIEWS

52

Building a Strong Foundation DURING AN INTERVIEW, YOUR GOALS ARE TO:

THE INTERVIEWER’S GOALS ARE TO SEE:

 

Showcase your skills and interpersonal qualities Demonstrate that you are a match for the position

 

If you have the skills to do the job If you are motivated to do the job



If you are a fit with the organization’s culture



through specific examples of past experiences Determine if the position / organization are a good fit for you

Preparation is the most important part of your job or internship interview. Lay the foundation and follow these steps to maximize success.

Tailor interview responses to describe experiences in relation to the skills and qualifications the organization is

Conduct thorough research on the organization and industry.

Employers view knowledge of their organization as a critical factor in applicant evaluation because it demonstrates the candidate’s interest, enthusiasm, and seriousness about the position.

INTERVIEW SUCCESS

seeking. Conduct a mock interview with a Career Coach, recruiter, former employer or Bentley alumni.

PRACTICE INTERVIEW RESPONSES

RESEARCH THE ORGANIZATION AND THE INDUSTRY

ANALYZE THE POSITION Know the qualifications and responsibilities outlined in the job description. Identify the key skills the position requires and describe a time you have used each of the skills using the STAR technique.

THE FOUNDATION – KNOW YOURSELF Know your values, interests, personality and skills. Practice communicating these concisely and clearly as they relate to the position, organization and industry. Review your experiences. Analyze your academic training, leadership experiences, critical thinking skills and non-academic activities in relation to the position.

53

Interview Formats PHONE INTERVIEWS



Often the first-round interview for companies that do not participate in oncampus recruiting



Yes, they are real, and they do count!



Interview in a quiet place with guaranteed cell coverage



Listen carefully – don’t ‘step’ on the interviewer when they are talking



Smile – it’s the best way to convey your energy and enthusiasm



Can refer to notes during the interview



May be a one-way interview or a face-to-face interview



Check your technology in advance of the interview



Be sure to sit level with the computer, maintain eye contact and be mindful of your body language



Make sure there is good lighting, and the interviewer can see you clearly



Use a basic virtual background if your setting is not interview appropriate



Wear professional attire (from head to toe!)



Avoid looking at notes and minimize distractions, such as your cell phone

IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS



VIRTUAL INTERVIEWS (They’re here to stay!)

Allow yourself plenty of time to commute, go through security, check in with the reception desk, etc.



Arrive 10-15 minutes early – the interview begins when you walk into the building



Turn your cell phone off



Offer a firm handshake (when it feels safe and appropriate)



Maintain eye contact and be mindful of your body language



Wear professional attire



Follow all suggestions for ‘In-Person Interviews’, plus…



Keep an eye out for an email from Handshake with all interview details (date, time, etc.)



Interviews are held in LaCava 205



Be professional in the waiting room; companies often send greeters to observe / chat with candidates prior to the interview



Write down the interviewer(s)’ contact information at the front desk so you have it for the thank you note

ON-CAMPUS INTERVIEWS

54

Resume Based / Traditional Interviews This type of interview is very common, with questions that focus on your education, prior work experience, and activities. You must know your resume inside and out! Anything that you have included on your resume – even the smallest detail – is fair game. Highlight the skills that you developed or enhanced through your experiences and connect your responses back to the desired skills / qualifications of the role.

COMMON QUESTIONS

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF…



Tell me about yourself.



Walk me through your resume.



Why are you interested in this company / industry?

The vast majority of interviews start with this question, or some variation of it…so make sure you knock it out of the park! This question is NOT

(see page 56 for tips!)

the same as ‘Walk me through your resume’.



Why are you interested in this position? (see page 56 for tips!)

In addition to emphasizing your relevant experience and skills, the interviewer wants you to show your personality and share some information that isn’t on your resume. Consider including where you’re from, where you decided to come to Bentley, why you selected your major, hobbies outside of the classroom, or any fun fact(s) that might set you apart.



Why did you choose to attend Bentley University and how did you select your major?



Tell me about your most recent summer internship and what you liked / disliked about the experience.



What work experience has been the most valuable to you and why?



What challenges are you looking for in a position?



Why do you feel you will be successful in this program?



What is your greatest strength / weakness, and how will it affect your performance in this program?



What characteristics do you think are important for this position?



How has your education at Bentley prepared you for a ---- position?



Where do you see yourself in five years?



What has been the biggest accomplishment in your life and why?



Know your audience



Highlight relevant skills and qualifications



Why should I hire you?



Transition smoothly between topics



What questions do you have for me? (see page 56



Show your personality

for tips!)



Be excited about the opportunity!

BIG INTERVIEW TIPS Log into Big Interview and watch the video on how to master this question: 

Click on the ‘Fast Track’ option within the Learn tab



Select ‘Acing Common Questions’ in the righthand toolbar



Watch ‘Tell Me About Yourself’ video

TIPS FOR SUCCESS  Speak for two minutes or less

55

WHY THIS COMPANY / INDUSTRY? WHY THIS POSITION?

WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR ME?

Always be prepared to answer these two common –

Interviewers typically give you the opportunity to ask questions at the end of an interview. Make the most of this opportunity – it can be a red flag to employers if

and very important – questions during an interview.

Doing your research will help you craft thoughtful responses that demonstrate your interest in the company / position and will help set you apart from

you don’t ask any questions. The questions you ask will help you gain information to aid in your decision-

your peers. Do your best to gather as much of the following information as possible. Refer to pages

making process. Your questions should focus on the company, industry and position and should

29-30 for suggested resources.

demonstrate that you have done your research.

COMPANY / INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE

COMPANY / INDUSTRY QUESTIONS

Key products / services



successful in terms of products / services over the past several years compared to competitors?

Headquarters and other locations Public, private or non-profit



Number of employees Annual revenue



Stock price Company leaders Company culture / core values

 

Community involvement Employee resource groups



Industry trends / current events Key competitors



What else is important to you?

POSITION KNOWLEDGE General responsibilities Skills required for success Independent vs. team-based work Repetitive tasks vs. longer-term projects Client-facing or back-office role Work-life balance Training and development opportunities Work modality (in-office, remote, hybrid) Travel requirements What else is important to you?

In what ways has this organization been most

What kind of changes do you expect to see in this industry over the next two to three years? What will drive these changes?

How do you see this company evolving in the next 5-10 years?

How would you describe the culture of your organization?

What kind of professional development programs does the company offer?

What values do you see in your company’s leadership that have contributed to the organization’s success?

How do you celebrate accomplishments and achievements here?

POSITION QUESTIONS       

Can you tell me more about the day-to-day responsibilities of this job?

What are your expectations for this role during the first 30 days, 60 days, year?

Which part of the position has the steepest learning curve? How can I get up to speed quickly?

What are the most successful team members doing differently from the average team members?

How is job performance evaluated?

Describe the top three challenges that I’ll face in this job.

Could you tell me about the team I would be working with?

56

Behavioral Interviews If an interviewer starts a question with ‘Tell me about a time when…’ or ‘Give me an example of a situation when...’, a little bell should go off in your head to alert you that a behavioral question is coming! Behavioral questions are some of the most common interview questions, based on the principle that the best way to predict future behavior is by understanding past behavior. These types of questions evaluate your skills, abilities and personality in relation to the position you’re interviewing for. Follow these tips for success: PREPARE, PREPARE,

SHARE A VARIETY

ALWAYS BE

USE THE STAR

PREPARE! Knowing what skills

OF EXPERIENCES Highlight a variety of

POSITIVE Even if faced with a

FRAMEWORK Build concise,

employers are looking for, anticipate the types of questions that will be asked. Start to build

experience areas: jobs / internships, coursework, volunteer work and activities.

question about a challenging situation or difficult colleague, avoid speaking

thorough responses to behavioral questions.

See page 58 for an explanation and

and plan answers in advance.

Demonstrate that you’re a well-rounded candidate.

negatively. Present the situation as a learning opportunity.

example of the STAR framework.

SKILLS FOR SUCCESS

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Quantitative and analytical skills



Tell me about a project or assignment that required you to analyze a large amount of information and develop conclusions.



Tell me about a project or assignment that required you to use Trading Room resources and/or advanced features of Excel.



Describe a time when you anticipated potential problems and developed preventative measures.

Verbal and communication skills



Describe a time when you had to persuade someone else to see your point of view.

Demonstrated leadership experience



Discuss ways you have coached or mentored others or helped others to accomplish their goals.

Ability to work well within a team setting and independently



Give me an example of a time when you faced a conflict while working on a team. How did you handle that?

Organizational, multi-tasking and prioritization skills



Describe a time when you had a heavy workload and competing deadlines. How did you set priorities?



Tell me about how you check your work for quality and accuracy, especially when you must meet tight deadlines.

Technical skills

Problem-solving skills

Strong attention to detail

57

STAR FRAMEWORK The STAR framework provides a concise, thorough framework for organizing responses to behavioral interview questions. Describing specific experiences adds credibility to responses about your skills and qualifications. Begin by analyzing themes within the job description to identify what the employer is looking for. Also, consider what you have learned from your own research and informational interviews. Then reflect on your experiences to identify situations when you demonstrated the skills, qualities, and knowledge required for the position. Draw from a variety of experiences to showcase that you are a well-rounded candidate.

SITUATION

Set the scene and give the necessary details of your example.

TASK

Describe what your responsibility was in that situation.

ACTION

Explain exactly what steps you took to address it.

RESULT

Share what outcomes your actions achieved.

REFLECT

Take your answer a step further. Describe what you learned from the situation. Is there anything you might do differently in the future if you encountered a similar situation?

STAR FRAMEWORK IN ACTION TELL ME ABOUT A TIME WHEN YOU WORKED WITH A DIFFICULT CUSTOMER. SITUATION: This past summer, I worked as a bank teller in York, ME. One day, an older couple came in very upset that they hadn’t received their monthly statement in the mail.

TASK: As a front-line employee at the bank, I knew it was important to listen carefully to their needs and reassure them I would do everything possible to resolve their issue.

ACTION: I started by apologizing for the frustration this issue caused and printed a hard copy of their latest statement. Next, I identified that they had recently been switched to e-statements rather than paper statements, so I re-confirmed their interest in receiving monthly paper statements and updated their settings in our system. Finally, I communicated the issue and resolution to them and ensured them I would share the issue with my supervisor to proactively correct other customers this may have impacted.

RESULT: As a result, this couple left with a paper copy of their statement and will receive copies in the mail each month moving forward. They thanked me for my assistance and left the bank much happier than when they arrived. By working with my supervisor, we discovered that a customer with the same last name requested estatements, but the change was made to the wrong customer account. So, we were also able to change the correct customer’s status to e-statements and proactively prevent a second issue.

REFLECT: This situation reinforced for me the importance of actively listening to customers and always communicating professionally. It also demonstrated the importance of getting to the root cause of an issue and correcting that, instead of just solving the immediate problem. I think these are valuable lessons that will benefit me in my next role.

58

Technical Interviews Technical interviews are becoming more common for finance-related roles. Technical interview questions test your knowledge of relevant concepts, calculations and programs. You could be asked 1-2 technical questions within an interview or an entire interview could consist of technical questions. All technical interviews are not created equally – they can vary significantly across different areas of finance. Follow these tips for success: PREPARE, PREPARE,

TAKE YOUR TIME AND USE A STRUCTURED

BE HONEST IF YOU

PREPARE! Knowing what the tasks

APPROACH Pause and collect your thoughts before jumping

DON’T KNOW State what you do know

and responsibilities of the position are,

straight into your answer. Deliver your answer in an organized manner. For example, if the interviewer

that is relevant, and how you would proactively go

anticipate the types of questions that will be asked. Start to build and plan answers in

asks you to walk them through the three main financial statements, start out with “The three main financial statements are the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows, and I’ll

about figuring out the answer. Don’t talk yourself into a corner or try to fool the interviewer

advance.

walk you through them in that order…”

– you won’t be able to!

INVESTMENT BANKING 

How do the 3 financial statements link together?



How do you value a company?



COMMERCIAL BANKING 

How would you determine the creditworthiness of a company?

What is typically higher – the cost of debt or the cost of equity?



If you were asked to analyze a set of financial statements, what would you do?



How do you calculate the cost of equity?



Name some important credit metrics.



How would you calculate beta for a company?



Where do you think interest rates are headed?



How do you calculate unlevered free cash flows for DCF analysis?



What’s more important, the income statement, balance sheet, or cash flow statement?

ASSET MANAGEMENT

SALES & TRADING 

Tell me about a recent news story related to the financial markets and your opinion of it.

What is value investing and how is it different from growth investing?



Pitch me a stock (or FX, option, bond, or other trade ideas).



Which investors do you admire?





If you had $1 million to invest, what would you do with it?

If you had $1 million to invest, what would you do with it?



What are the most common multiples used to value a company?

What’s the S&P 500 / Dow Jones / other index at? How has it trended over the past year?



What is the sum of the numbers 1 to 100?



Where do you see the market heading?



What do you think of the latest economic data?





59

Case Interviews While case interviews used to be predominantly used by management consulting firms, they are now being used more broadly across a variety of industries and roles. Just like technical interviews, all case interviews are not created equally. The case interview question is generally either a business problem, estimating exercise, arithmetic or logic problem. Case interviews are designed to make you think on your toes and use reason and common sense. Most cases don’t have a specific answer that you are expected to give; instead, the interviewer is looking for you to demonstrate a thought process that is both analytical and creative.

BUSINESS CASE A scenario to gauge the general business knowledge of candidates and their ability to logically apply this knowledge. It could focus on profit/loss, organizational structure, pricing or growth strategy, or marketing.  Example 1: “An airline finds that, while its revenues are high, the company is still operating at a loss. What is  

going on?”

Example 2: "What would customers be willing to pay if Facebook shifted to a subscription model?"

Example 3: "Our client is thinking of acquiring a company that makes a certain type of medical device; what do they need to consider in making their decision?“

MARKET SIZING Estimation questions that require the use of logical deduction and general statistical information to estimate some number or size.  Example 1: "How many airplanes leave from Boston's Logan Airport on Monday?"  Example 2: "How many lightbulbs are there in Manhattan?"  Example 3: "Are there more iPhones in operation in the U.S. or in China?"

QUANTITATIVE QUESTIONS AND BRAIN TEASERS These serve to see how well you think on your feet and gauge creativity and problem-solving skills.  Example 1: "You have a 3-gallon bucket and a 5-gallon bucket. How do you measure out exactly four gallons?  Example 2: "How much does the Starbucks in Times Square bring in, in annual revenue?"  Example 3: "Why are manhole covers round?"

WHAT INTERVIEWERS ARE LOOKING FOR 

Logical and analytical reasoning

    

Conceptual problem-solving Clear and influential communication Creativity / flexibility Poise and confidence under pressure Positive attitude

WHAT CASE INTERVIEWS ARE NOT 

Not meant to intimidate students

   

Not a math test Not only about getting the ‘right’ answer Not easy…practice is a MUST Not impossible 60

Interview Prep Resources FEATURED RESOURCE: BIG INTERVIEW BIG INTERVIEW offers interview advice and allows you to get hands-on practice with mock interviews.

THE ‘LEARN’ AREA 

The Fast Track will get you up to speed quickly; the Mastery Track covers advanced content for more competitive / difficult interviews



Both tracks have videos lessons, practice questions, and quizzes to help you retain your knowledge



Feel free to skip around and watch the lessons that are most relevant to you

THE ‘PRACTICE’ AREA 

The ‘Practice Interviews’ component allows you to get hands-on practice with mock interviews o Enable the AI feature to receive invaluable feedback on: Pace of Speech, Filler Words, Vocabulary, Um Counter, Power Word Score, Negative Tone, Pause Counter, Eye Contact and Posture



The ‘Question Library’ component includes hundreds of common interview questions, with insights about what employers are looking for and sample answers o Browse General Questions, By Industry or By Competency

MOCK INTERVIEWS Schedule a Mock Interview with your Career Coach! We’ll focus on resume and behavioral based questions and will point you towards the best resources for technical and case interviews. Ask a mentor, colleague, recruiter, professional you’ve met through your networking efforts, or student who has interned at your dream company to conduct a mock interview with you.

CORPORATE FINANCE INSTITUTE Review lists of common interview questions and sample answers that are likely to give you an edge over other job candidates.    

Behavioral Interview Questions Most Common Finance Interview Questions Investment Banking Interview Questions Equity Research Interview Questions

   

FP&A Interview Questions Credit Analyst Interview Questions Commercial Banking Interview Questions AND MANY MORE…!

VAULT / FIRSTHAND View sample questions, watch informative videos, get expert advice and access in-depth interview guides. Vault’s Career Guides include industry-specific interview tips, or check out these popular guides:  

Vault Guide to Behavioral Interviews Vault Guide to Finance Interviews 61

GLASSDOOR Always check Glassdoor for interview feedback! Glassdoor has a growing database of interview reviews, posted by current employees and/or candidates who have interviewed with that company. You may get lucky and find interview feedback specific for the role you’re interviewing. If you can’t find feedback for the specific role, it’s still extremely helpful to read interview reviews for other roles, as companies tend to ask similar resume / behavioral based questions for a variety of roles.

SOME FUN GOOGLE SEARCH RESULTS… 

THE INTERVIEW GUYS: Comprehensive articles covering job interview questions, career advice, job interview



prep, job search and more.

THE MUSE: Browse the ‘Career Advice’ section for helpful articles such as ‘Your 2022 Guide to the Most Common Interview Questions and Answers’, ‘The STAR Method: The Secret to Acing Your Next Job Interview’, and more.



Find SAMPLE FINANCE TECHNICAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS on Wall Street Prep, Wall Street Mojo, Wall Street Oasis, and Mergers and Inquisitions.

CASE INTERVIEW PREP VAULT  The Vault Guide to Case Interviews, Ninth Edition provides key business frameworks, sample cases, guesstimates, and brainteasers likely to come up in an interview CASE IN POINT, 11TH EDITION, by Marc P. Cosentino  “When in doubt, MBAs turn to ‘Bible’. Case in Point has become the biggest business book you never heard of…” – Wall Street Journal 

This book takes you inside a typical interview by exploring the various types of case questions, and shares with you a system that will help you answer today’s most sophisticated case questions

THE CASE ONE PROGRAM  Register with your Bentley email address for FREE access to this program designed by Marc P. Cosentino, the author of Case in Point 

Check out the Video Vault for access to fifteen videos, ten case starts and five full-length interviews with Marc and the Case Questions Interactive video case interview workshop

COMPANY WEBSITES  Many companies that conduct case interviews offer preparation tips and sample cases with answers on their websites JUST GOOGLE IT!  Proactively search Google (‘case interview prep’, ‘sample case interview questions’, etc.); your search results will yield great information and free resources from sites such as Caseinterview.com, PrepLounge, Pass the Case, and many more!

62

Follow Up: Thank You Notes Writing a thank you note is an extremely important way to bring closure to the interview process. It is another opportunity to sell yourself, and it may be the last impression the employer will have of you before making their final decision. A well-crafted thank you note can help you stand out from other candidates.

THANK YOU NOTE TIPS 



THANK YOU NOTE GUIDELINES

Timeliness is everything! As a rule of thumb, set a goal of sending a thank you note within 24



Thank the interviewer for taking the time to meet with you (politeness goes a long way)!

hours of your interview.

Always send a thank you note to individuals with



Remind the individual when the interview took place and for what position you interviewed.

whom you have interviewed. If more than one person interviewed you, send a personalized



Reiterate your interest in the position and mention some specific details about the company or the

note to each individual. Interviewers may share your thank you note, so don’t simply copy / paste  



the same text.

Keep it brief. Your note should be no more than 2-3 short paragraphs.

Ask for a business card at the end of the interview. It is difficult to send a thank you note if you do not have the interviewer’s contact information.

Proofread your note before sending. Correct spelling and proper grammar are a must.

EMAIL OR HANDWRITTEN NOTE?  Is your penmanship neat and legible? If not, opt for an email thank you note.  Do you realistically have time to buy notecards, write the note, buy stamps, and drop the note in the mail? How long will it take for the note(s) to reach the interviewer(s)? Remember, timeliness is everything! o HINT: Bring notecards with you to the interview. After the interview, step out of

 

the office, write the note(s), then hand deliver to the office receptionist. o HINT: Send an email thank you note within 24 hours to ensure timely delivery, and then follow up with a handwritten note.

If you send a handwritten note, use a plain, lightcolored note card.

If you send an email note, include a relevant subject line (i.e. ‘Thank you from Sarah Smith’).

position that were discussed during the interview (this will also highlight your listening skills).  

Tie your qualifications and interests back to the position.

Reiterate your interest in follow-up and/or next steps

THANK YOU NOTE EXAMPLE Dear Ms. Jones: Thank you for taking the time to meet with me yesterday to discuss the Equity Research Internship.

My interest in the position has grown after our discussion about the intensive two-week training period and collaborative culture at the company. I am confident that my finance coursework at Bentley and my experience as an analyst in the Bentley Investment Group have prepared me well for this role.

I am also particularly impressed by the formal mentorship program that the company recently launched and would take full advantage of the opportunity to be mentored by a Senior Research Associate.

I look forward to hearing from you regarding next steps. Thank you again for your consideration.

Sincerely, Sarah Smith 63

ALL ABOUT OFFERS

64

Navigating Offers Receiving an offer is exciting but can also be stressful. When you receive an offer, you may have several questions: Should I take it? How do I decide between multiple offers? How can I ask for more time? How do I accept or decline the offer? Offers should be handled with careful consideration, and the Pulsifer Undergraduate Career Development Center is here to help support and guide your decision-making process.

EVALUATING AN OFFER

HEALTH, DENTAL, VISION

Evaluate your offer in terms of TOTAL



COMPENSATION (salary + benefits). A generous benefits package equals extra dollars in your pocket!

What types of plans does the employer offer?

Through which providers?



How much does the employer contribute to the cost of each plan vs. how much is the employee

OFFER LETTER AND SALARY The offer letter outlines basic information, such as your position title and location, expected start date, conditions of employment (i.e. completion of a successful background check and drug test) and salary. In your offer letter, your salary may be stated as an annual, monthly or hourly figure. But there’s so much more to know, which may not be clearly noted in your offer letter. Make sure you understand the following:  Is the company offering a one-time signing or relocation bonus?  What is the timing of salary adjustments?  Are you eligible for an annual bonus? What is the bonus based on – individual performance, divisional performance, firm-wide performance, a combination?  Are you eligible for overtime pay if you work more than a specified number of hours per week? If so, what is your overtime rate – time and a half?  Are you eligible to earn commission? This is most common in sales roles. If so, ask the employer to provide the details of the commission plan, and make sure you understand it.

RETIREMENT PLANS  What type of plan is offered?  How soon can you begin contributing and when are you fully vested? 

Does the employer match a percentage of the employee contribution?



responsible for?

Can you contribute to a Health Savings Account or a Flexible Spending Account?

VACATION TIME / SICK TIME / HOLIDAYS  How many days or weeks of vacation / sick time

 

do you have each year? Does this increase over time? (Vacation / Sick Time may be grouped together and referred to as Paid Time Off or “PTO”).

How long until you can use it? Can it be rolled over, or is it on a ‘use it or lose it’ basis?

Does the company follow a standard holiday schedule?

TUITION ASSISTANCE / REIMBURSEMENT  Under what circumstances might this apply?  Are there dollar limits or limits on the number of 

courses per year?

Is reimbursement grade dependent (i.e. you must earn a B or better to be fully reimbursed)?

LIFE INSURANCE  Many employers provide basic life insurance coverage free of charge, with the option to purchase more.

OTHER PERKS  Does the company offer other perks, such as free lunch? On-site gym or fitness reimbursement?

Parking or transportation reimbursement?

65

NEGOTIATING AN OFFER The degree to which a salary is negotiable depends on the company and position. If you do decide to negotiate, here is what you need to know…  Understand the market and have a number in mind. Don’t be surprised if the employer responds with: “What salary did you have in mind?” Do your

 Don’t play hardball. The last thing you want is to leave a bad taste in the employer’s mouth.

Remember, you may wind up working with this person in the future. If you do not get what you asked for, remain polite and professional. Thank the employer for their consideration and let them know that you will get back to themonce you have made your final decision.

research! What did last year’s Bentley graduates earn (on average)? What are competitors paying

REQUESTING MORE TIME

for comparable roles? See your Career Coach, network with current and past employees in the

When faced with a decision to accept an offer that you feel you can’t make in the time allotted, you can

company, and review salary data online to determine a reasonable salary range.

consider requesting more time from the employer.

 Be able to concisely articulate why you deserve more. Cite market figures, prior work experience, advanced degrees or certifications, competitive offers, cost of living, etc. Having a good GPA or being a hard worker is just not enough.  Be confident, not arrogant. Reasonably articulate your concerns regarding the salary. For example: “Thank you so much for the offer of employment. I am very appreciative of the opportunity. As you know, I spent two summers interning at a direct competitor, which I believe is an advantage over other entry-level candidates. Also, the average starting salary for Bentley students who accepted similar positions last year was $XX, so I was expecting something in the range of $XX - $XX+. Is salary something that we could spend a moment discussing?”

Or: “I am so pleased to have received an offer and am strongly considering joining your firm.

However, I have received an offer from a competitor that is for $3,000 more. I funded a great deal of my education on my own and being able to pay back my student loans while also comfortably managing the cost of living in New York is something that is weighing on my mind. I was wondering if there is any room for negotiation regarding the offer you extended.”

Here’s a typical scenario that students encounter: You have been given an offer by Company X and they have asked you to respond by the end of the week.

You are also interviewing with Company Y and their final round interviews are not until the following week.

You are most interested in Company Y but certainly don’t want to decline Company X and run the risk of having no offers on the table.

One course of action is to call Company Y and see if there is any way they can expedite their recruiting process. Some firms will be flexible (to a point) if they can. It is important to note that, if you have asked a company to see you early, you must be available on whatever alternative date and time they suggest.

But what if Company Y says there is no way they can see you early? Another course of action is to call Company X and ask for an extension: “I am calling in hopes that you might grant me an extension on my offer”. If they say yes, thank them and offer a reasonable timeframe for when they can expect to hear from you. If they say no, thank them and let them know they can expect to hear from you prior to the original deadline. If they ask why you need an extension (and many will), simply explain that you are currently interviewing with one other organization and that you would like to see the process through to completion. Again, this is not an easy conversation to have, but rest assured, you will not be the first student who has made this request.

66

ACCEPTING AN OFFER

FINAL THOUGHTS

Once you have thoroughly evaluated and decided to accept an offer, convey that decision to the employer as soon as possible. Calling the person who extended

Think very carefully about the offer and don’t accept until you are ready, as an acceptance must be made in good faith with the intention of honoring the

the offer to you is the preferred form of communication; if, however, you have most frequently communicated

commitment. Some questions to ask yourself include:  Are the organization’s values and culture in sync

by email, it is appropriate to confirm your offer via email. Thank the employer again for the opportunity



with mine? Did I connect with the people I met?

Is the work challenging? Do they provide me with



professional development opportunities?

Even if it isn’t the exact position I was hoping for,

and express your excitement about joining the team.

The Pulsifer Undergraduate Career Development Center strongly recommends that you notify all other organizations with whom you have interviewed that you have accepted an offer and wish to withdraw your name from further consideration. You may also consider notifying and thanking all those who have helped you in your job search, including those who served as references, provided leads, and gave advice.

WITHDRAWING / DECLINING AN OFFER Sending an email when withdrawing from the interview process or declining an offer is important to assure good relations with the organization. 

 

Withdraw from the interview process / decline an offer as soon as you know you are no longer interested, or immediately after accepting an offer from another organization.

Withdrawing / declining tactfully in a timey manner will not offend the organization.

Be positive – let them know it was a difficult decision, express your appreciation, and thank them for the opportunity.

will I gain skills that will positively influence my career / professional development? 

  

Does the compensation package (salary, benefits, vacation, health and retirement plans) meet my needs?

Is it in a geographic location that interests me?

How do I feel about the required level of travel?

How do I feel about the work modality, i.e. inperson, remote, hybrid?

Use the matrix below to help with your evaluation.

If you would like to discuss your situation, please make an appointment with your Career Coach.

JOB OFFER EVALUATION MATRIX Create a list of factors that matter to you and list them in order of importance, with the most important on top.

Rate the features of each offer on a scale of one to five (1=poor; 5 = excellent). This is one way to compare multiple job offers.

FACTORS

RENEGING AN OFFER You accepted an offer with Company A. Weeks later, Company B calls and extends you an offer. You are torn. You accepted with Company A but Company B is your “dream job”, what do you do? While you are not legally required to join an organization after accepting an offer (nor are they legally obligated to fulfill their offer of employment), it is very unprofessional to renege on an offer and, if you do, you will most likely sever all future relationships with that organization and perhaps other organizations as well. In the end, the decision is yours to make and is a very difficult one.

______________________ ______________________

COMPANY 1

COMPANY 2

Salary Prof. development Company culture Work modality

TOTAL RATING 67

CALLING ALL INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

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Keys to Success and Resources KEYS TO SUCCESS The job / internship search process for international students is challenging and complicated, but it can be navigated successfully! 

Take ownership of your search; Undergraduate Career Development (UCD) is here to provide you with the tools, resources, and confidence to conduct a successful search, but the office is not a







placement service and does not guarantee internships or full-time positions Understand and fully utilize the specialized resources that Bentley offers to support international students Target companies that have a history of hiring international candidates and be prepared to explain your work authorization status

CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND SCHOLARS (CISS) The Center for International Students and Scholars (CISS) provides resources for international students and promotes interactions between domestic and international students. Check out CISS’ comprehensive Employment Information for International Students. Below are a few highlights: 

details 



Despite a decline in recent years, there are approximately 1,000,000 international students in the U.S. each year The U.S. government has limited the number of H-



1Bs made available each year o The current annual cap is 65,000 visas, with 20,000 additional visas for professionals who graduate with a master’s degree or doctorate Some employers simply do not have the resources





to hire international talent; others are not willing to risk training and investing in talent that they may not be able to retain About 30% of employers indicate that they are willing to hire international students (NACE Job Outlook 2020) Again, don’t limit your search to the U.S. market!

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is the authorization an F-1 student requires to do an internship in the United States while studying at Bentley o Explore the site to understand CPT Eligibility, Applying for CPT, FAQs, and more

Don’t limit your search to the U.S. market; keep your options open in your home country or other countries where you are legally able to work

H-1B VISA FACTS 

CISS offers information sessions each semester to help students understand F-1 regulations related to work authorization o Check CISS’ website or CareerEdge for





Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a benefit of your F-1 status that allows 12 months of offcampus employment in the US for the purpose of practical experience in your major field of study o Explore the site to understand OPT Eligibility, When to Apply, Choosing your OPT Start Date, and more All questions regarding CPT and OPT should be directed to the experts at CISS! o Click here for virtual and in-person advising hours o (781) 891-2829 | ga_ciss@bentley.edu

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CAMPUS PARTNERS AND STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

PHILIPPINE UNITED STUDENT ORGANIZATION

In addition to the Center for International Students

community in fun and exciting ways! PUSO’s mission is to celebrate, educate, and promote Filipino culture

and Scholars (CISS), Bentley offers a multitude of resources and student organizations that are designed to enhance the experience of international students.

PUSO was created to bring together the Filipinos on campus and share their culture with the Bentley

to provide Filipino students with proper representation as well as a supportive environment and community.

AFRICANA STUDENT ASSOCIATION

MULTICULTURAL CENTER The Multicultural Center (MCC) is the campus hub

The purpose of ASA is to give club members an opportunity to bring cultural awareness of the African

for diversity and inclusion activities.

culture onto the Bentley campus and help promote the diversity that the school is working towards. ASA

STUDENT EQUITY & INCLUSION The Student Equity & Inclusion Team supports gender equity, students of color, faith-based students, international students, and LGBTQ+ identified students through outreach, resources and advising.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION ISA is a student organization that merges the different cultures that are represented by the Bentley community. ISA aims to create strong, diverse relationships and achieve cultural appreciation through different events and activities throughout the academic year.

BENTLEY ASIAN STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION BASA strives to promote Asian culture and cultural understanding within the Bentley community. BASA’s mission is to provide a network of support and a safe space for Asian, Asian-American, and non-Asian students alike at Bentley by creating awareness and understanding of culture, heritage, and identity within the community at large.

KOREAN STUDENT ASSOCIATION The Korean Student Association aims to introduce Korean culture through community events, such as exciting performances, beloved food, as well as folk games. KSA also intends to put Bentley University

strives to create a comfortable space for African students, current students on campus, and potential students looking to attend Bentley.

CARIBBEAN ANCESTRY STUDENT ASSOCIATION The purpose of CASA is to promote awareness about the various Caribbean cultures on campus through events, meetings and social gatherings. CASA allows its members an opportunity to have a safe space in which they are able to openly discuss and share their culture on campus, while also providing a safe space for students of other cultural backgrounds to learn more about Caribbean culture.

CHECK OUT CAMPUS GROUPS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE ABOVE OR TO LEARN ABOUT OTHER STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING:      

Bentley Association of Chinese Students Bentley Indonesian Students Association Brazilian Students Association Cape Verdean Student Association Chinese Young Professionals Association La Cultura Latina

 

South Asian Student Association Vietnamese Student Association

on the map by connecting with other organizations within the Boston area, as well as stretching all the way to South Korea.

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CAREEREDGE: INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS COMMUNITY YOUR SOURCE for keeping up with

INTERSTRIDE KEY FEATURES

Undergraduate Career Development! Update your Preferences and Alerts and Emails to ensure you

Jobs

receive relevant and timely content from the International Students Community. Check out the resources specifically designed for international students!

INTERSTRIDE Interstride is an interactive career platform that enhances the career exploration and job search process for international students. It’s a one-stopshop for career resources, from navigating the visa process and searching for jobs to building one’s professional network. Let’s take a closer look…

GOINGLOBAL GoinGlobal is the market leader in helping job seekers of all nationalities fast track their career explorations both at home and abroad. Created by country experts, GoinGlobal features worldwide job and internship resources. Let’s take a closer look…



Search Jobs: Filter for domestic and international opportunities

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U.S. Visa Insights: U.S. employers’ past sponsorship record of hiring international candidates

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Country Insights: Guide to traveling and working internationally

LEARN 

Webinars: Register for live webinars and watch past recordings

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Resources: Resource library of career readiness and immigration resources

TOOLS 

Career Gameplan: Test your career readiness



Checklist: To prepare for your job search, interviews, and negotiations

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CAREER SEARCH GUIDE A comprehensive guide designed by PCDC, including cultural differences in the job search process, US job/internship search tips, networking

GOINGLOBAL KEY FEATURES

tips, and more.

16-million plus Internship and Job Listings:

Career Guides for 120+ Locations: Proprietary country and city guides, all written by local employment experts and constantly updated

Access to 16 million job and internship postings.

EFMD (European Foundation for Management Development) EFMD’s global career portal connects you with thousands of opportunities from companies around the world.

GULFTALENT GulfTalent is the leading online recruitment portal in the Middle East – the primary source of both local and expatriate talent to over 10,000 of the largest employers and recruitment agencies across the region.

Updated daily, these opportunities can be searched in the local language, as well as in English Key Employer Directory: Provides profiles and key contact information for more than 450,000 local and multinational companies throughout 196 countries.

H-1B Visa Database: This powerful tool quickly identifies US employers that have submitted H1B visa applications to employ international talent.

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