working in finance during gap year = bad?

[He2]

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So I've noticed on my interviews that i've been attacked teabagger style against my temporary job as a technology guy at a small financial firm. However, with all the populist stigma against this industry, do you think it may have hurt my application?

Something along the lines of "he's not interested in medicine"?

I'm actively volunteering at a hospice and doing a ton of volunteer work too.

thoughts?

LizzyM, where are you when i need you!

 

[BBender716]

So I've noticed on my interviews that i've been attacked teabagger style against my temporary job as a technology guy at a small financial firm. However, with all the populist stigma against this industry, do you think it may have hurt my application?

Something along the lines of "he's not interested in medicine"?

I'm actively volunteering at a hospice and doing a ton of volunteer work too.

thoughts?

LizzyM, where are you when i need you!

As long as you stay involved in medicine somehow in addition to your finance job, you'll be fine from what I've heard. If you have that going on and anyone gives you a hard time about being in finance, just be ready to defend your choice and talk about the analytical skills, people skills, and work ethic involved in finance that would translate well into becoming a physician. Always think during an interview: "all roads point to MD".

 

[He2]

Yep, I try to constantly steer it towards my volunteer and patient work. However, sometimes i get asked things like: so whats the deal with flash trading? Am i getting screwed?

i don't freaking know! I don't trade!

 

[BBender716]

Your response: "Well, actually I deal more with major mergers and acquisitions rather than floor trading. Remember Exxon + Mobil? Yeah, that was my first big deal."

 

[He2]

I OWN the hospital that you work at. That was my first big deal, actually

😀

godamnit i need a new job.

 

[LizzyM]

If a doctor is asking if he is getting screwed by a broker, the answer is usually "yes". Doctors are notorious for making bad investments and being suckers for crazy schemes.


With the IT job, you need to

express gratitude that you were able to get a job in this economy that makes it possible for you to cover living expenses and the cost associated with the interview trail.

You consider yourself lucky and it has reinforced for you how much better suited you are for medicine because of x , y and z.

Furthermore, being a tech worker has given you insights into the life of working people -- some of whom might be your patients some day -- and in that regard it has been an invaluable experience.

Finally, the hours are such that you've been able to do this other stuff in service to others, etc.

 

[He2]

You consider yourself lucky and it has reinforced for you how much better suited you are for medicine because of x , y and z.

in terms of framing this the correct way, I have had trouble because in the back of my mind, I have felt that I never wanted to "bash" any industry that I work in. I have tried to go with the "ultimate professional" approach, therefore being able to do anything that I am asked.

Would coming across as unprofessional ever be an issue?

 

[LizzyM]

in terms of framing this the correct way, I have had trouble because in the back of my mind, I have felt that I never wanted to "bash" any industry that I work in. I have tried to go with the "ultimate professional" approach, therefore being able to do anything that I am asked.

Would coming across as unprofessional ever be an issue?

It is not bashing a profession, it is describing what is a good fit for you and what is not a good fit. Think about it as completing the sentence: I thrive in an environment that provides me the opportunity to.... Then show how the type of medicine you are interested in would provide those opportunities and how they are lacking in your current temp job. Otherwise, why leave IT? There is nothing wrong with IT, it just isn't a good fit for you.

 

[BennieBlanco]

It is not bashing a profession, it is describing what is a good fit for you and what is not a good fit. Think about it as completing the sentence: I thrive in an environment that provides me the opportunity to.... Then show how the type of medicine you are interested in would provide those opportunities and how they are lacking in your current temp job. Otherwise, why leave IT? There is nothing wrong with IT, it just isn't a good fit for you.

During a glide year is it better to:

A. Work in a low pay medically related job (EMT, PCT, CRNA, scribe, etc)

or

B. To work in a job you can make 3-5 times more $ and just stay volunteering.

Obviously only considering $ you pick B, but what about for admissions?

I used to work finance also...

 

[LizzyM]

During a glide year is it better to:

A. Work in a low pay medically related job (EMT, PCT, CRNA, scribe, etc)

or

B. To work in a job you can make 3-5 times more $ and just stay volunteering.

Obviously only considering $ you pick B, but what about for admissions?

I used to work finance also...

It is all in how you spin it.

 

[FluffyRabbit]

I'm working in an engineering job, but I'm also using that as one of the main strengths of my application. It's not like they don't have enough premeds who worked as EMTs... 🙂

 

[amakhosidlo]

During a glide year is it better to:

A. Work in a low pay medically related job (EMT, PCT, CRNA, scribe, etc)

or

B. To work in a job you can make 3-5 times more $ and just stay volunteering.

Obviously only considering $ you pick B, but what about for admissions?

I used to work finance also...

Just for reference, one of my friends spent her gap year as a paralegal for a med. malpractice/personal injury firm. She was accepted to Cornell. It really, really doesn't matter as long as you do SOMETHING, and as Lizzy said, spin it well.

 

[He2]

ya, I'm just sitting here trying to analyze why I havn't gotten acceptances yet. Drives me nuts. I imagine conversations going like this:

adcom1: I recommend acceptance. the applicant is mature, wants to go to medicine, etc.
adcom2: Why is he working in finance?

adcom1: Ah, it was a good opportunity, professional environment, blahblahblah

adcom 2: screw them. screw goldmans. I'm not bailing him out.

waitlist 🙁

The nerve wracking wait.....

 

[MexicanDr]

During a glide year is it better to:

A. Work in a low pay medically related job (EMT, PCT, CRNA, scribe, etc)

Dude, CRNAs, (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists) are in no way low payed. This is a Master's level degree and many of them make between 150k-200k annually.

Maybe you meant CNA

 

[BennieBlanco]

Dude, CRNAs, (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists) are in no way low payed. This is a Master's level degree and many of them make between 150k-200k annually.

Maybe you meant CNA

I think I did mean CNA.

 

[Bearie]

I know a handful of former Lehman investment banking analysts as well as some hedge fund guys who have already gotten in this cycle. You should really be okay...

 

[Contrarian]

I know a handful of former Lehman investment banking analysts as well as some hedge fund guys who have already gotten in this cycle. You should really be okay...

lol good ole' LEH. good to hear they're picking up the pieces though

 

[Bearie]

lol good ole' LEH. good to hear they're picking up the pieces though

They still got lots of Uranium (a rather toxic asset), so be careful... 🙂

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?sid=aNJJYNBs1rQA&pid=20601109

 

[Contrarian]

They still got lots of Uranium (a rather toxic asset), so be careful... 🙂

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?sid=aNJJYNBs1rQA&pid=20601109

haha I think I remember reading that article. They know a thing or two about sitting on toxic junk. I have to admit I owned some LEH, bought in at 3 and change in the after-hours Friday the weekend before they filed for bankruptcy. I thought they'd find a buyer, or at least get the cool premium Bear got when it failed. Oh well, it was still worth it...made for a fun weekend of constantly refreshing Reuters Breaking News. Half expected to wake up to blood in the streets that Monday though.

 

[Bearie]

haha I think I remember reading that article. They know a thing or two about sitting on toxic junk. I have to admit I owned some LEH, bought in at 3 and change in the after-hours Friday the weekend before they filed for bankruptcy. I thought they'd find a buyer, or at least get the cool premium Bear got when it failed. Oh well, it was still worth it...made for a fun weekend of constantly refreshing Reuters Breaking News. Half expected to wake up to blood in the streets that Monday though.

Oh, hehe.

To the OP: I worked one summer at another bulge bank (one that still exists) and only got asked about this at one interview. I think the interviewer had just seen the Michael Moore film (mentioned something about it) and asked me what a derivative was. I gave a concise and easy to understand explanation. Interviewer seemed very surprised and we moved on...