Banking Prestige
Eric Muller of Goldman Sachs says getting to the top in investment banking requires flexibility, curiosity, hard work, and some metaphorical frog kissing
According to the Wall Street Journal, Eric Muller has one of the most coveted titles in the finance business. Muller (BSBA’94) is a managing director at Goldman Sachs in New York. If you want his job, you’ll need to:
Make An Impression At The Interview. “Show up prepared with the key messages you’re trying to convey. What are the three things you want that interviewer to take away? What’s your brand? Regardless of the questions they’re asking you, you need to find a way to circle back to deliver those messages.”
Stay Flexible. “You may not get exactly what you want in the first pass. It’s better to see if you can find a seat under the tent, and once you’re under the tent, you can move around. When you show expertise and people learn to trust you, that’s going to lead to more opportunity.”
Use Your Advantages. “It’s important to cast a wide net and try to take advantage of the alumni network. You have to hustle. You’re going to have to kiss a lot of frogs to get where you want to be.”
When You’re Hired, Learn The Organization. “Start to build a network around the firm, with people in all parts of the firm that you’re going to need to have relationships with to do your job effectively. Be intellectually curious. Be eager to take on more. Work hard. Show up.”
Own Your Mistakes. “Be up front, share bad news early, don’t surprise people. Don’t be defensive. It’s how you handle it, not the fact that you’re going to make mistakes, because everybody does.”
Find Good Mentors. “People want to be mentors, people like helping you along the way. And being open to that is pretty important.”
