How would you describe your team and the people you work
with?
The people I sit next to every day are intelligent, motivated
and diverse. It is exciting that in this industry success does not
come from one particular image, but from a variety of personalities
and backgrounds. Some people I work with are outgoing while others
are more quiet and reserved. Everyone has the ability to develop a
style that works for him or her and not be pressured into fitting a
predetermined mold. At the same time, there is a strong culture of
mentorship at Citi and everyone I work with embraces it. Being
junior in a large firm can seem daunting, but I always feel that I
can approach just about anyone with a question or a concern.
How did your summer internship help you make the
decision to pursue a career at Citi?
The sales and trading summer internship is a very unique program
that offers the chance to experience the trading floor environment
first hand. Since I had a liberal arts background, I looked
for a program that offered an overview of the sales and trading
lifestyle as well as introduced me to multiple product areas.
I found that by the end of my internship I had received arguably
the best education possible because I was not only taught by the
most experienced people on the floor, but I had also been exposed
to product areas across both fixed income and equities. Seeing the
emphasis this bank placed on training and mentorship helped
reinforce my aspiration to pursue a career at Citi.
What about your career excites you the most - gets you
out of bed in the morning?
I love the fact that I have a career where I am encouraged to
broaden my horizons and learn something new everyday. Each day in
sales and trading offers a new and exciting environment, which is
something that many jobs cannot provide. Knowing that the only
thing consistent in this business is change and knowing that you
never know when your next opportunity will arise, provides the
motivation to come in every day, work hard and face the challenges
offered by this competitive industry.
What do you consider Citi's competitive
edge?
I would say Citi gains its edge by placing a premium on
education and training. As a firm, Citi continues to recruit the
top prospects and stresses the importance of hiring qualified
people. Also, with the rotational style training programs, Citi
recognizes the importance of sacrificing immediate productivity for
longer-term growth and knowledge.
How do you apply your degree to what you're doing
now?
While at school I earned a degree in history, which is
admittedly unrelated to my current field; however, I have found
that the skills I acquired through my education have been
surprisingly helpful. A background in history, above all, taught me
how to formulate an opinion on the given facts and construct a
logical and persuasive argument. An important aspect of a
salespersons job, and to some extent a trader's, is precisely to
take the information available, develop a view, and
argue/trade/sell it. Salespeople do not just relay traders'
levels and traders do not simply make markets when asked. Being
able to have your own view or opinion on the market is essential to
the job description and necessary to distinguish yourself from your
many competitors.
What skills have you found to be the most useful in your
position?
I think one of my greatest assets, and one of the assets I see
in many successful people around the floor, is the ability to put
events in perspective and adapt quickly in a changing environment.
Some people can find it unduly strenuous to work in a business that
is so unpredictable. Those who not only handle the change but also
thrive on it are the ones who find the greatest success.
What do you enjoy doing outside work?
I really enjoy trying to take advantage of everything the city
has to offer. I love going to concerts in small venues, finding new
restaurants, and attending shows or plays like Shakespeare in the
Park. I have also been a golfer for most of my life, so if given
the opportunity, you will find me on the course.