Last Thursday, the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) invited two J.P. Morgan analysts to give society members advice on becoming successful in corporate America.
The speakers were Robert Pauley III, a former NABA president and Baruch graduate, and Nick Arrington, a graduate of Tuskegee University located in Alabama. Both individuals are currently finishing their training rotation at J.P. Morgan.
Pauley and Arrington began the event by asking the audience what they noticed first when they stepped on stage. One student pointed out how well dressed they were.
Arrington commented on the importance of appearances, saying, “Appearance is key.”
“Would you rather talk to someone who is frowning all the time, always looks sad, or someone who looks pleasant.” he asked.
The speakers also advised students to develop their communication skills. They both stressed that students must make an effort to type, text and spell things out correctly to lose the habit of abbreviating. “Communication is key,” said Arrington.
He further explained unspoken office rules such as using proper language when there and paying attention to the individuals around.
“You need to be able to talk to people, you need to be comfortable talking to people,” said Pauley. “You need to be able to talk to people who are on your level, and you need to talk to people who are above your level.”
One student asked how the speakers how an international students should deal with the fact that they may have an accent.
Arrington told the student that accents are not necessarily a disadvantage.
“If you have an international accent you never know how people are impressed with that,” he said. “People are impressed with that, people are curious to know where you are from.”
But the J.P. Morgan analyst advised students with a heavy accent to speak eloquently and make an effort to sound clear and be understood.
Both speakers stressed that students need to network now and continue networking once they are working.
Pauley, who will be working in Hong Kong for the next three years for J.P. Morgan, said networking is important for future jobs, and that his ability to network and make a good impression may have played a role in his getting the opportunity.
“Even before the people in Hong Kong would speak to me, they asked other people about me,” he said.
Pauley recommends that even if students are not comfortable speaking and meeting new people, they should work on it, because it is an essential quality to have if corporate America is where you want to be.
Arrington suggest that everyone in the audience meet one new person at the event, adding that you never know what you might have in common with a person.
“You need to be preparing for the life you want to live, because it doesn’t start when you get there,” said Pauley. If you start when you get there, you are going to fail.”
Posted By: Jon C.
Tuesday, February 9th 2010 at 3:04PM
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