{"id":14784,"date":"2016-07-29T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-07-29T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kaizen.ap.applyflow.com\/how-to-get-your-first-job-in-funds-management-part-1\/"},"modified":"2022-08-03T07:39:37","modified_gmt":"2022-08-03T07:39:37","slug":"how-to-get-your-first-job-in-funds-management-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kaizenrecruitment.com.au\/how-to-get-your-first-job-in-funds-management-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"How to get your first job in funds management. Part 1."},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tEveryone\u2019s career starts somewhere and your first career opportunity can be tough to get, especially in your industry of choice. I love hearing stories of people\u2019s career journey and I am fortunate at times to be able to assist and advise on career opportunities for many in the Funds Management industry. Here is a story I thought was worth sharing about  Liang’s approach to finding his first job in Funds Management.<\/p>\n

\n\tIf you think you will find your dream job on SEEK…..think again.<\/p>\n

\n\tLiang Tan – Portfolio Analyst – Franklin Templeton<\/h2>\n

\n\t\"Liang<\/p>\n

\n\tHow did you get your first position in the industry? From memory you had a very systematic approach to contacting Fund Managers. Can you talk me through your approach?<\/h3>\n

\n\tOutstanding grades, relentless networking and a parent pulling strings helps. Just kidding! If you want something, cut through all that red tape. Morningstar provides a free fund screener and you can use this to pick out the funds you’d like to help out. From there, what I did was prepare a somewhat unusual cold pitch: putting a cover letter & resume into an envelope, addressing it to a specific employee of the fund (happiest looking senior guy), then walking into their reception and hand delivering it like a courier would. I mean, pressing the delete button on emails is so much easier than chucking an intriguing letter into the bin, right?<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t“If you want something, cut through all that red tape.”<\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n\tI recall you managed to arrange a meeting with a manager at Wingate Asset Management and you happened to be both reading the same book at time. On reflection, how important was this connection and to be able to build  rapport? Was it chance?<\/h3>\n

\n\tThat’s right, all the funds in town I hit (all 4, I’m picky) turned me down, but Alastair Macleod who was then at Wingate Asset Management liked my initiative, and kindly offered to talk shop over a coffee. I took him up on that offer, and halfway through he asks me “what books are you reading?” So I pull out The Most Important Thing by Howard Marks and he says “Oh, I’m reading that too!” Sharing a laugh and getting along with the people you’ll potentially work with is always important.
\n\tWas it chance? Yes. But in saying that, if you don’t take initiative, there is no chance. What have you got to lose? Go roll the dice, and the best part is you can keep rolling till you get the number you want.<\/p>\n

\n\tThis meeting lead to your first opportunity. Can you tell me what you did?<\/h3>\n

\n\tA few weeks after that coffee, Al emails me out of the blue and asks me how my excel skills are (was capable of basic 3-statement modelling), and then later invites me to spend a week with them. I’ll remember that exact moment for as long as I’m alive. <\/p>\n

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\n\t\t“I’ll remember that exact moment for as long as I’m alive.” <\/span><\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n\tThey set me up with a Bloomberg terminal and got me to write a report up on Darden Restaurants and Accor Hotels, presenting my findings to the team on my last day there. Talk about throwing somebody into the deep end hey! It was a fantastic learning and growing experience for me, and they got an analysis\/opinion on a company (which was alright in hindsight!)<\/p>\n

\n\tWho were the other fund managers you approached?<\/h3>\n

\n\tFrom memory, I filtered my location to Melbourne and from there, looked through that massive list and culled through a few times:<\/p>\n