Friday, October 07, 2005
Second year classes can turn you into a spoiled student. The majority of my classes either have speakers on a regular bases or are case-based with high levels of interactivness. About 85-90% of the class sessions have something that captures attention. So when the profs take the occasional class to lecture, I feel fidgety and slightly annoyed. So I've realized I'm getting a little bit spoiled.
Recruiting is running full steam ahead. So far, I've focused my efforts on six companies, although as the season progresses and more companies come on campus, I'm sure that number will grow. This year, I feel like I'm much better at networking and getting to know the firms in which I'm interested compared to last year. I hope this bodes well for getting on "closed" lists. I think the fact that the recruiting season is so abbreviated the second year has helped motivate me. First year recruiting is so drawn out, it can be exhausting. I think my interest in the career paths I'm pursuing is more genuine this year, so my informationals go better. The stress comes in when I realize I need to get ramped up on case interviews QUICKLY. There is a methodology to performing in a case interview. Although knowing frameworks (like the 4 Ps) is important during the first year, firms expect second years will have a more developed approach to the cases. We can't just rely on or blatantly use the frameworks. I'm at a disadvantage compared to my classmates since I didn't interview with consulting firms last year, and am not an expert at cases. I try not to think about that too much because it just stresses me out. The first interview is October 27. Not a lot of time to get it together. My plan is to do at least a case a day until the first interview. While I feel good about my chances of being selected to interview, I don't know if I can get my cases in order well enough to get a job in consulting. It's kind of like Follies; I'll probably get a callback, but will I make the cast? Hopefully my luck will change with recruiting.
Monday, October 03, 2005
Luck has not been a friend of mine for the last few weeks. About two weeks ago, after a couple of Employer Info Sessions (EISes), I went to a Texas Club meeting at a BBQ place in Philly (which had pretty decent BBQ considering it was cooked by Yankees), followed by Karaoke night with the Follies Cast and the Whartones. It was a pretty fun night. Until I got home. When I arrived on my floor in my apartment building, I was greeted by a crushed door frame and a note from the Police not to enter my apartment because I'd been robbed. Fabulous. The robbers didn't really get much (because I don't own anything of real value) except for about $450 in cash, and some heirlooms of sentimental value from my Grandmother. In fact, the Robbers initially tried to steal my jewelry box, but upon investigation they must of realized my stuff was worthless because they discarded it in the building hallway. How sad is it when even the Robbers don't want your stuff?? But I digress.
Well having my place robbed kind of through me off and when you add in the whole category-5-storm-hurdling-towards-my parents'- house thing (they're fine) , it was a stressful week. But by the beginning of last week, I was feeling more on top of things. Well then on Friday, my computer stopped working. Wouldn't turn on or anything. Just blinking indicator lights. Wonder-f'in-ful. And because of the lack of computer, I missed a resume submission deadline for a company I'm very interested in.
And to top it all off, I was once again dinged from Follies. While this rejection didn't sting as much as it did last year (I guess Wharton has helped me build up a tolerance to the sting of personal failure), I am still very disappointed. Follies is probably THE ONE THING I wanted to do while at Wharton. And now the dream is just gone forever. When I broke my foot last spring, I pretty much lost hope. And then when I got to the callback auditions and realized there were 9 altos going out for 2 or 3 spots, I pretty much knew it was over for me. My forte is singing. But dancing is a challenge given my still hobbled state. I tried my best this weekend. I danced with my walking boot the best that I could. I tried to pirorette and pas-de-bure. But my best wasn't good enough. Some of my friends have suggested getting involved behind the scenes, and I might do that, although I'm not sure. What I hoped to get out of Follies, was to overcome my fears and a bit of my reservedness and shyness. It really sucks to know that dream is over. I'm really disappointed.
So needless to say, the last two weeks have been full of distractions, which does not bode well for my academic performance. When I woke up with painful bump on my head this morning, I seriously considered skipping class today to wait out the bad luck cloud that seems to have settled over my head. Someone told me today, that all the bad luck in last few weeks means I'm coming in to a really lucky period. I hope she's right. Because with the recruiting season ramping up, it would be nice to have some good luck on my interviews.
