Internship From Hell: GS NYC Securities Division

[newwurldmn]

You still didn't read what I wrote. What I am saying is "everything is in the eye of the beholder". There is nothing to refute. You see what you want to see. She chose to see the frivolous things like plastic stools, the name tags, the coffee chats and her colleagues joining in exclusive clubs and chose to form her opinion of a company based on them because 1) she could afford to and 2) she really doesn't know what she's looking for and what she wants. There are good and bad in every single company, many times according to how one chooses to feel about it. I wrote previously I personally think name tags is really a good idea because it ensures proper identification and everyone is evaluated accurately especially when there is so large number of candidates in her case and yet she chose to take it personal and be bothered by it. That's what I mean.

Yes. I read exactly what you said. It's a tautology. It's true that its in the "eye of the beholder."

Do you disagree with her generalities about the culture of Wall Street? They are objective statements. Her values on them are of course, her own opinion.

 

[KCalhoun]

I'd be honored to work hard at GS.

For those who complain

 

[Millionaire]

I'd be honored to work hard at GS.

There is little honour in the corporate rat race.

Only do it for the $$$$$$

 

[JSOP]

Do you disagree with her generalities about the culture of Wall Street? They are objective statements. Her values on them are of course, her own opinion.

Yes I disagree with her generalities about the culture of Wall Street. And really Hong Kong is not Wall Street, mind you. I think what she described about Wall Street in what's depicted in "Wolf of Wall Street" is just a small percentage of it, maybe the investment banking side and the more brokerage, the sell-side. Wall Street is not just investment banking and brokerage and GS is not the entire Wall Street. And GS itself is not just investment banking and brokerage.

It's obvious that GS is not a match of what she's looking for but that's because of her, not because GS is bad like what she described. GS's internship is not the internship from hell; it's highly and maybe ruthlessly competitive yes but not from hell; it's her attitude that's the attitude from hell. That's the problem.

 

[stochastix]

I've worked in schools for a number of years mostly the prep school, boarding school, and most recently the university level. It's always an entertaining endeavor to ask students about the future they are after and then to follow up with the question "why?". It's interesting the students from the humanities all seem to have something noble in mind as well as the engineers, nurses, etc. Most of these kids are one percenters especially the boarding school crowd. When I have lunch with the business and finance students the answer is usually more honest and direct - Money. But when followed up with, "why? or what will you do with your money" I'm usually met with blank looks. One honest fellow over a beer at the end of the semester said hookers and blow without limits. A good way to end up drying out in the Arizona desert with a case of Herpes I responded but I'd agree fun on the way there.

So anyway I guess we all have to struggle with that question what is the purpose of our wealth and what do we want to do with it. We leave the world with as much as we entered. Indulge our children and spoil their character? Have it end up with that young second or third wife? Or really figure out something important and meaningful to do. Nice things are nice things but have a diminishing return on happiness. The rolex feels good against your wrist and you stare at it a lot the first few weeks after you buy that sucker but it fades. Same with the car the yacht and yada yada yada. And then we up our friends and only compare our wealth to theirs and always want more.

I don't think the rush to the bottom with marxism is the answer nor do I think economic equality is something that can be maintained. Spending the last few years working mainly in the philanthropic area it is a little inspiring to see what great wealth passed on wisely can do.

I try to think of who the happiest people are that I know and how much their wealth has to do with it? Having money certainly takes away a good deal of stress but makes it's own. I will leave my rambling at the happiest people I know often seem to be the holiest. I don't mean overly religious in a cheesy kind of way but focused on the simple pursuit of truth and beauty while being honest with themselves and others about who they are and what they want.

beautiful post .. I've been with and without money.. its not what brings happiness.. aligning extrinsic goals and intrinsic goals .. that is , self-condordant goals tend to produce the most happiness .

 

[Millionaire]

Someone needs to read the boiler room script to the interns on the first day, you all know the one, the speech Ben Affleck gave.
As it seems things have changed since that film came out 20 years ago, perhaps because there are more spoilt kids these days and fewer money hungry ones?

"You are required to work your ass off. We want winners, not pikers. A piker is someone who walks at the bell. A piker asks how much vacation time he gets in the first year. See, people work here to become filthy rich. No other reason. That's it.... Now go home and think about whether this is for you. If you decide it isn't, nothing to be embarrassed about. It's not for everyone. But if you really want it, then give me a call on Monday and we'll talk. Just don't waste my fuckin time."