My friend Henry recently applied to JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, UBS, and Deutsche Bank for a spot in each of their summer internship programs. Henry was asked back for interviews and successfully made it into the final round with a handful of other applicants at each of the banks. After all of the final interviews were over Henry was denied from each of the banks. The reason? He was “over-qualified.”
Henry was left confused and, in many ways, insulted.
An entrepreneurial thinker, a self-starter, one that takes initiative and risks, a lifelong learner – the guy you and your guidance counselor want you to be right? Think big, be creative, follow your interests, create your own path … This list could go on and on, possibly to the point of sickness.
Well, what if this is not what they are really looking for? What if they would rather you create a database for the Key Club than start a social enterprise in a developing country? What if they would prefer to hear a tune about your internship experience in HR at your father’s law firm than a story about facilitating team-building activities in Uganda for a team of 10 artisans or one about designing a program to facilitate micro-savings and investment so that in the long term an artisan will actually be able to retire?
Well, Henry’s resume is similar to the latter.
When running our social enterprise out of Uganda we searched extensively for talented entrepreneurial individuals to help us facilitate the growth of our company over the long term. We needed individuals that were willing to commit to an uncertain future and make it their responsibility to be successful. These people are hard to find. Henry himself is hard to find. I would have had no chance at developing our company on my own.
At the age of 21, Henry has an incredible amount of experience and expertise. He is creative, talented, and a quick learner. But, contrary to popular belief, he is not what they are looking for.
Isn’t there a certain level of irony here? For an incredibly competitive internship position these top banks are looking for an applicant that is superbly average.We need more change-makers and more entrepreneurs who will work to move society towards good. But, it all depends on who you are and what you need. I suppose its not surprising that an international bank isn’t looking for a Henry.
1 response so far ↓
1 Aaron // Jul 21, 2008 at 2:03 am
It is really absurd, really, really absurd, i thought that happens only in Uganda (Read developing countries) where corruption and technical know who, rather than technical know how, rules.
The Henry i know is actually less described, if i had a company, i would look for him, his work ethic is the best, persistence and patience, he has taught me a lot, Things i did not have an idea about, i have learnt to dare, to dare into uncertainty, and find a path for myself. This is all because two young men choose to come to Uganda and start out and believe in a better way, and believe that change is possible and that we can make it.
Take heart bro, Henry, we can, we will, we must change the world the right side up, if they wont take us in we shall take ourselves to our desired destiny.
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