Comments on: On Surviving E-Recruiting

By: John

John — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 01:05:04 +0000

Taking hard math classes is one of the easiest ways to prove that you are “smart”. It is harder to prove other types of intelligence by means of coursework (how do you spot a great entrepreneur by reading a transcript?). And having smart people is something that they (presumably) care highly about.

Apparently, even for Ec grad schools, math classes gives you an edge (according to professor Mankiw):

http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2006/09/why-aspiring-economists-need-math.html

“4. Your math courses are one long IQ test. We use math courses to figure out who is really smart.”

By: Luyi

Luyi — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:02:22 +0000

“Why are math concentrators so highly sought after? I would actually think that economics concentrators have the edge during e-recruiting. And, as a sort of corollary question, does concentrating in other quantitative fields (e.g. applied mathematics, statistics, computer science) have the same appeal to e-recruiting firms?”

Many of the e-recruiting internships are highly quantitative. So all your quantitative analyst positions are pretty much only seeking of the math-ilk concentrators. With regards to i-banking, they’re looking for people who really like numbers.

Applied math and statistics both give that “math edge” to the applicant who is say, just economics. Computer science majors have additional more niche options open to them. Essentially, these majors and others demonstrate analytic rigor, quantitative facility and sensitivity to small details. (Pre-meds turned pre-business are said to be fierce competitors in the e-recruiting process.)

As to why ec concentrators don’t have an edge…it is because 70% or so? of those who are applying ARE ec concentrators or ec double concentrators or ec secondaries. Generally, it does appear slightly better to be an ec concentrator versus say, English, because you have already demonstrated your interest and knowledge of finance/business/economics generally.

All good questions. But not all e-recruiting firms are looking for the same types of traits, but some traits that they *are* looking for are harder to find. (Math concentrators generally don’t have an affinity for i-banking, hedge funds or financial quant. stuff.) So supply is slight, but demand is large. (Versus problem solving in general.)

Regardless, a diversified strategy like a diversified portfolio is pretty much essential, especially considering the number of interns these firms are looking for. I’ve called the e-recruiting process the “meat grinder” — everyone is qualified (since a lot of things are trainable [exceptions being quant and programing]), but few will make it through the process whole.

By: Hayden

Hayden — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:38:51 +0000

“The ones who get asked back again and again without fail are the (soul-selling) math concentrators. If you are not a math concentrator and you do not have some sort of other attribute that would bring your business sexiness to that of a math concentrator’s, you MUST consider other options outside of e-recruiting BEFORE e-recruiting starts.”

Why are math concentrators so highly sought after? I would actually think that economics concentrators have the edge during e-recruiting. And, as a sort of corollary question, does concentrating in other quantitative fields (e.g. applied mathematics, statistics, computer science) have the same appeal to e-recruiting firms?