Steve Li

Tell us about the job search. Was it more difficult or easier than you expected?

The job search process was definitely more difficult than I imagined especially because I didn't get a corporate internship during the summer before my Senior year. I was applying to jobs every week and I was only getting a few responses and some of them led to interviews but no offer.

What was the interview process like?

I applied to the Advisory Associate position in late February and was contacted for final interviews in early March. Before the interviews, I was invited to a webinar and a 30 minute coffee chat with an associate at the firm. I had my two back-to-back virtual interviews with a manager and a managing director in late March and I received an offer three days after my interview with the firm.

What will you be doing?

I'll be helping clients integrate Salesforce into their system.

Do you have any job search tips for fellow students?

1. Ask for help! As a first-gen student, I didn't know what I was doing when I first started looking for full-time jobs. I would get super nervous and stumble during interviews. So, to improve my interviewing skills, I started getting weekly coaching sessions with the Tandon Career Services Office in January 2021 and it helped me a lot with getting the offer.
2. Start early. I totally underestimated how many applications I needed to send out during my Junior year for an internship. You definitely don't want to stress about jobs and classes at the same time as a Senior.
3. Treat each rejection email as a learning opportunity. Ask for feedback from your interviewers and keep improving your professional self.
4. Lastly and most importantly, keep applying. The perfect opportunity is out there waiting for you.

When did you first start the job search & how long did it take you to get an interview?

I started applying for full-time positions in September 2020 and got my first interview invite in October. However, I did not get my first offer until March 2021.