JAQUELINE YANG
“Hi Scope! My name is Jacqueline Yang, and I am a junior majoring in Economics at Barnard College. This year, I’m part of the Professional Development Committee—keep an eye out for some of our events this spring!
My recruitment journey was anything but traditional. I transferred to Barnard in January of my sophomore year, juggling the challenges of adjusting to a new school in a city full of opportunities while applying for summer internships. I cast a wide net, applying to positions across finance, law, fashion, tech, and more. Finance was just one of the many career paths I wanted to explore, leveraging the new opportunities my school provided. When I first started recruiting, I had no idea what banking entailed, how to invest in a stock, or who to turn to for guidance! With no family in the field, I went in blind, but I was determined to come out proud of myself. I pushed myself to send as many applications as possible, reach out to alumni, and attend countless events to absorb as much as I could. Though exhausting at times, I genuinely enjoyed and made the most of office tours, networking events, and coffee chats, as they allowed me to build relationships with people who could teach me about a career I was curious about. Ultimately, I received my offer through the J.P. Morgan Winning Women program, one of the many diversity and women-focused initiatives I applied to during my recruitment process.
My advice to sophomores currently recruiting (or freshmen preparing to) is to take advantage of every opportunity to learn about the industry, connect with professionals, and build a network of people who can share their insights. Opening yourself up to opportunities takes time and effort! It can be tiring, and you may feel like giving up, but hard work pays off. If you put in the effort, the right opportunity will come.
Feeling lost during the recruitment process is completely normal, but it is important that while you go through this stressful time, you take time to focus on yourself and recharge; take breaks so you can bounce back even better! Building a steady routine of classes, recruitment, and breaks helped me stay grounded in why I was recruiting and my goals. Lastly, be genuine in everything you do! Recruitment introduces you to people from all walks of life, and showing a real interest in who they are and what they do makes a difference. Building authentic connections will not only make the process feel less isolating but will also help you understand the types of teams and environments you want to be part of in the future.
Best of luck to everyone recruiting or looking to recruit!”
Jacqueline Yang, March 2025