The time and energy that goes into a job search, let alone a Wall Street job search, is enough to make any undergraduate a little wide-eyed. Enter the Wall Street Summit: a forum to better prepare Haverford students for their first big firm interview experience.

On Thursday, October 18th Kurt Ryden '88 hosted the Summit at JP Morgan in mid-town Manhattan. Organized by the Haverford College Dept. of Economics, 37 eager students cut their fall break short to join twenty experienced alums working in the financial arena to provide students with pointed, hands-on guidance and direct networking and interviewing skills. Students spent three minutes, a la speed-dating, with each alum critiquing their resumes, honing their interview skills, assessing self presentation, and learning how to market their liberal arts degrees. They also explored the financial services beyond investment banking and discussed the value of summer internships.

This program is a complimentary strategy, in tandem with the services offered by the Career Development Office, which draws on the unique real world insights of Haverford alums—providing unparalleled access, expertise, and resources to their fellow Fords.

“Haverford alumni on Wall Street provided me with invaluable advice and assistance when I embarked on my career in the financial markets,” commented Summit participant Josh Miller '96, Principal, Taconic Capital Advisors, LP.“Since that time, I have felt a duty to repay the favor to current students coming up the same path. I hope the Wall Street Summit provides an opportunity for students to connect with alumni in the business community for years to come.”

"I came to the Wall Street Summit to get feedback from alums who have already been through the process and can give a lot of good advice and to network and really see how I can market my Haverford education," said Natalie Wossene '08, Major in Political Science with Concentration in Africana Studies.

Yurika Morita '08, Major in Economics, added that she came to the Wall Street Summit "to explore how to use my liberal arts degree in financial services and business areas."