Volume 67, Issue 3

How to Find a Job

By David Zarmi

In the latest series of seminars offered by the Office of Placement and Career Services, Judah Kaplan, Vice President of Sales and Training at J.P. Morgan-Chase, addressed the students of the Sy Syms School of Business.  In a lecture entitled “How to find a Job,” Kaplan outlined the components he deemed necessary to succeed in today’s anemic business world.

“He’s been coming here for about six or seven years,” Arthur Bieber, Assistant Director of OPCS, said.  Bieber explained that as an SSSB alumnus and a high-ranking employee at a large financial firm, Kaplan possesses a keen understanding of the necessary skills for Sy Syms students to succeed in the business world.

The lecture began with a bit of humor intended to create an informal atmosphere in which to address the students.  After introducing a series of analogies designed to function as attention grabbers, Kaplan stressed the need for students to begin their job search, “even as a freshman or a sophomore.” 

Kaplan then began focusing on the idea of social networking. “There isn’t an alumnus or alumna [of YC/SSSB/SCW] I know who won’t accept a phone call from a student asking for some of his or her time to discuss the field they’re interested in.”  He urged students to use the Jewish community and their synagogues to their advantage, even asking rabbis for help.

He moved on to discuss résumés, explaining that they should be viewed as marketing documents, tailor-made toward specific employers.  “Everything on the résumé should add value,” he remarked.  If possible, he went on, demonstrate results of previous jobs in dollars and percentages – show what you can add to the company’s bottom line.  “I love seeing dollars on a résumé,” he relayed. He also encouraged putting down a hobby or interest that you are proficient in and being prepared to discuss it.  He showed proficiency in his own hobby by delving into the idiosyncrasies of “single-malt scotch enthusiast.”

However, the most important factor in making a career choice, explained Kaplan, is choosing to enter a personally enjoyable field.  “You shouldn’t choose a career based on what looks hot at the moment,” he said.

While the core audience members were Finance majors, a smattering of economics, accounting, and MIS majors were in attendance; the Midtown student turnout was also sparse.  In an exchange between Kaplan and one Midtown student, he remarked that if he didn’t know better, it would seem from the turnout that Midtown students aren’t interested in finding jobs.  She then responded: “But that’s just it; they aren’t!”  However, Kaplan was encouraged by the number of attending juniors, but stressed that even lower-classmen should be involved in career planning by coming to these events.

Though OPCS has come under fire for declining placement figures, the discussion unearthed a different attitude.  When Kaplan later asked Arthur Bieber, the Assistant Director of OPCS, to leave the room, opening the door for more cutting criticism, most of the audience blamed the current market for the difficulties hampering OPCS.  It was in this light that Kaplan laid out what he saw as a game plan for finding a job. 

Showing himself to be a man who practices what he preaches, he encouraged any and all students looking for help in finding a job to contact him, asserting that he wants to be “flooded with phone calls and e-mails.” 

Judah Kaplan can be reached at (212) 270-1776 or at judah.kaplan@jpmorgan.com.

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