Career Spotlight: Breaking Into Finance with Manulife Financial

[pullquote]We look for candidates who are “Type M” – those who stand above the rest, who seek challenges, are looking to increase their knowledge base, and have true leadership potential. [/pullquote]

How much do marks really matter when applying for the Investment Program?

Marks are definitely important, but they’re not everything. We like to see well-rounded candidates with great leadership experience as well as candidates with good grades. You, of course, have to show that you can pass tests and do well in your program, but if you spend all of your time studying then you might miss out on other opportunities to grow personally and professionally.

What advice do you have for students when writing their resumes?

Tailor it to the job, the industry, or the program that you’re applying to. If you’re applying to a financial services company like Manulife, highlight any relevant experience you have, or interests you have, in that industry. Any volunteer activities or extra-curriculars you have are important to include – it’s good to show that you have a life outside of the classroom. Most companies look for candidates with the potential to excel long-term, so anything that points to this should be on there. And of course if you’re looking at getting a certain designation, anything that shows your commitment to it would be good.

What are some other ways for students to stand out against the crowd of applicants?

We look for candidates who are “Type M” – those who stand above the rest, who seek challenges, are looking to increase their knowledge base, and have true leadership potential. In other words, those who are driven, passionate and smart. By demonstrating these characteristics through your passion for what you do or the industry, and by your ability to learn and develop, this will set you above the crowd.

Some students want to break into finance but do not have a business-related degree. Is it still possible to break in?

It is possible, but it’s definitely recommended that you have a business-related degree so that you have the fundamental skills required for a finance-focused and analytical role. There are many opportunities outside of those finance-specific roles at Manulife, as we have a corporate communications, HR, marketing, sales, underwriting, operations, etc. The best thing to do is to check our website and look at the various opportunities available.

Networking is vital, but where can we go to find Manulife representatives to network with?

Manulife representatives, like myself, attend many of the business-related events we are invited to. For example, we go to conferences for finance and accounting because it has to do with the program and it’s a good chance for us to promote Manulife. Often, we’ll be on campus as a team doing mock interviews, a lunch-and-learn, or a networking skills presentation for students. If there’s a finance/accounting networking event at a business school, we’ll try to go. We also try to bring alumni from the school or program who are working at Manulife when we go to these events. And of course, we’re usually on campus doing the fall information sessions as well.

Beyond that, it’s really up to the students. If you have an event you’d like us to attend, or if there’s a student group you would like Manulife to be a part of, just let us know. If the budget is in line and the function is relevant to our business, we’re always happy to participate. We are always looking for ways to be involved on campus beyond fall recruitment.

Also, be creative and look at LinkedIn. You can find Manulife employees in lots of online groups and associations, and reaching out to them online could potentially help you make a connection.

What should students talk about when networking at an information session?

When I ask Manulife representatives what they find memorable when talking to students, the response is usually “when students ask a question that shows that you’ve at least gone beyond the “about us” portion of our website. Try to ask intelligent questions that show that you follow investments and know what Manulife is doing beyond the history of the company and what people generally read. Usually this takes a 15 minute Google search, but it goes a long way.

If you’re not comfortable with that, then you can simply ask them about their careers. “How did you get into Manulife?” or “If you were in my shoes right now, what advice would you give me?” are good conversation starters. These questions make it a bit personal in a professional way; recruiters don’t often get or expect them. It’ll make you more memorable as opposed to simply asking what we look for in a candidate.