A discription of the position can be found here: https://jpmchase.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&job=1484194&src=JB-13027
After talking with various people, it seems that a rotational analyst position might work for me given that I have a non-finance background. I’m also looking at back-office roles at large firms, but right now I am looking at these jobs specifically.
My cover letter is, right now, a very rough draft. I’m trying to convey the very real desire and passion I have to get into this field. I’m also not sure if my sincerety comes off as such or not. I believe I covered all the major bases regarding qualifications and made it a point of mentioning that I have, in the past, quickly learned new skills (as this job requires) as my job dictates.
For the past seven years, I worked as a project manager and consultant at a real estate firm in Massachusetts. Though I excelled at what I did, I knew that it wasn’t the career path I ultimately wanted to pursue. During my tenure there, I had the opportunity to work with both a REIT and a hedge fund, which helped expose me to an industry I quickly grew to love. Though my background lacks traditional financial services career exposure, my resolute desire to advance my knowledge and career coupled with an ability to quickly learn new skills and my past work experience make me the perfect candidate for this job. Allow me to briefly explain:
During the course of my work I had to undertake numerous, extremely complex tasks simultaneously and delivered exceptionally high levels of performance on all of them. I worked closely with our development partners, including a national gaming firm, the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust and PR and lobbying firms to create a comprehensive development plan and political strategy that would help us win a license to build a resort casino. Projects that I undertook relating to this plan ranged from performing rigorous demographic and market analysis to managing relations between our partnered developers, politicians and community stakeholders. Once our plan was finalized, it was my duty to oversee that relations between all involved parties ran smoothly, and that any team problems or unforeseen issues were recognized and resolved as quickly as possible. I was also frequently tasked with learning new skills. For example, when my company sought to sell equity shares of a project it was undertaking, I had to quickly learn basic financial modeling so I could better work with our partners, Angler Capital, a hedge fund based out of Greenwich CT. I thrive under pressure and maintain strict composure ensuring that all decisions, big or small, regardless of time constraints, are addressed with a calm mind.
I want this job because I desire to be a leader, not a follower. I desire this job because I see it as a pathway to achieving everything I am capable of. I desire to work for J.P. Morgan not because it is easy, but because it is hard, and through hard work and discipline I will further my knowledge whilst learning what it takes to thrive in such a competitive and challenging business. This job is not a means to an end; it is the first step on what I hope to be a long, fruitful and prosperous career in the financial services industry.
Also, a link to my resume as a reference:
http://www.slideshare.net/zjd101b/zachary-j-dragone-resume-c
Thank you for any and all help. ~Zach