Career Readiness - Practical Insights from Working in Tech and Finance

July 18th

  • Errol Parker

    Errol Parker II is a 2024 HBCUvc Fellow and a summer associate at Black Tech Nation Ventures. Prior to joining the HBCUvc community, Parker was an Associate at J.P. Morgan's Private Bank in NY, providing wealth management solutions to ultra-high net worth individuals. He worked closely with founders and C-Suite executives by delivering sound advice and tailored strategies that meet one’s investment, banking, credit, and estate planning needs. This ignited his passion to help early black founders grow their businesses from infancy to success.

    Parker graduated from Morehouse College with a B.A. in Finance and holds Series 7 and 66 licenses. He was born and raised in Long Island, NY, and currently resides in Brooklyn.

  • Ryan Jackson

    Ryan Jackson is a 2024 HBCUvc Fellow and a summer associate at Collab Capital. Prior to joining the HBCuvc community, she was an Associate of Blackstone Alternative Asset Management (“BAAM”), where she was involved in new business and product development, as well as servicing existing client relationships. While there, she served on the BAAM Racial Equity and Inclusion Task Force and was a founding Blackstone representative for the Scholars of Finance Howard University Chapter.

    Previously, Jackson was a Healthcare investment banking analyst at Goldman Sachs.

    She graduated summa cum laude from Howard University where she studied finance and Spanish.

  • Bie Aweh

    Bie Aweh is a talent developer focused on underrepresented talent development and advancement. With nearly a decade of experience in coaching adult learners, building sustainable partnerships, designing and facilitating training, and driving social change by providing career pathways for underrepresented groups. Bie's passion for creating equitable workplaces where everyone thrives fuels the work she does today at Plaid as an HR Business Partner.

    When she is not HRBP’ing, Bie serves as a board member for several private companies and investor.

Module 2: Practical Insights from Working in Tech and Finance

This session brings together experienced professionals from both finance and tech industries to share valuable insights and actionable advice on career readiness, interview techniques, and understanding equity compensation in startups.

Key topics to be covered in this module include:

  • Career readiness strategies for aspiring finance and tech professionals

  • Essential interview tips for landing internships and roles at finance and tech companies

  • Navigating career growth within large financial institutions

  • Strategic career pivots

Assignments:

Please note that assignments are not collected or graded. We encourage you to complete each assignment to receive the most from this program.

  1. Research and Reflect

    • Identify three companies, internships, or other relevant opportunities that align with your interests, and would like to apply within the year. Research the career opportunities, application timeline, the skills they value most, and their interview processes. Follow the companies on LinkedIn and subscribe to their newsletters. Commit to reading their newsletters. Bonus: Contact those who have been through the program or currently work at the company.

  2. Prepare

    • Create or update your LinkedIn Profile. See tips for creating LinkedIn

    • Create a tailored resume and cover letter for a hypothetical application to one of the companies you researched. Ensure that your resume and cover letter highlight relevant skills and experiences.

  3. Practice

    • Research common interview questions for the opportunity you are interested in. Practice these answers, focusing on clarity, confidence, and your own personal story as it relates to the opportunity. Practice with a professional mentor and peers from your assigned small groups.

  4. Meet with your assigned small group to discuss opportunities you are interested in. Ask if anyone within your group has connections to these opportunities.

Questions for Self-Reflection:

To make the most out of this module, we encourage you to reflect on the following questions:

  1. Career Interests:

    • What specific roles, internships, and other opportunities are you interested in and why?

    • How do your strengths align with the requirements of these roles?

  2. Preparation:

    • What steps have you taken to prepare for interviews and these opportunities?

    • How can you further improve your resume and cover letter to better reflect your skills and experiences?

  3. Compensation & Equity:

    • What are the average starting salaries for the opportunities you are considering? What is the minimum salary needed to support your minimum living expenses? How do you view salary tradeoffs to equity, people you meet, or future opportunities?

    • What have you learned about equity compensation from the session? Does it influence your interest in working at a startup?

    • What are the potential benefits and risks associated with equity compensation that you need to consider?

  4. Feedback and Growth:

    • What constructive feedback have you received from peers or mentors, and how can you use it to improve?

    • What additional skills or knowledge do you need to acquire to be more competitive in your chosen field?