[quote=NASD Newbie]

[quote=brothaK]jones [/quote]

Of course there are better choices--the problem is getting hired by them.

Sometimes one has to be pragmatic and dance with the one who asks them.

Just don't go to work for a firm you have never heard of.

Nor should you go to work for a firm with a 28 year old branch manager who wears a lot of gold.

Nor should you go to work in a place that is actually just a big room with a lot of desks and a big TV tuned to CNBC.

Nor should you go to work for a place that talks about how much money you can make.

Nor should you go to work for a firm where you see long cords on the phones, as if they spend a lot of time standing up.

Nor should you go to work for a firm that has a white board at the front of the room with stock prices on it.

Nor should you go to work for a firm that is headquartered in Syosset, NY or Boca Raton, FL.

Nor should you go to work for a firm that has a name that sounds oddly similar to reputable firms--such as AS Goldman is similar to Goldman Sachs.

[/quote]

I remember AS Goldman.

I also remember the firm in Syosset.  They were in Jericho Quad, and boy they had some hot lookin' secretaries there.  They were big into small-cap oil stocks as I remember.  Too bad they didn't last until now  as maybe their clients would have finally made some $$!

Can anyone say Woobistics?

[quote=NASD Newbie]

Of course there are better choices--the problem is getting hired by them.

Sometimes one has to be pragmatic and dance with the one who asks them.

Just don't go to work for a firm you have never heard of.

Nor should you go to work for a firm with a 28 year old branch manager who wears a lot of gold.

Nor should you go to work in a place that is actually just a big room with a lot of desks and a big TV tuned to CNBC.

Nor should you go to work for a place that talks about how much money you can make.

Nor should you go to work for a firm where you see long cords on the phones, as if they spend a lot of time standing up.

Nor should you go to work for a firm that has a white board at the front of the room with stock prices on it.

Nor should you go to work for a firm that is headquartered in Syosset, NY or Boca Raton, FL.

Nor should you go to work for a firm that has a name that sounds oddly similar to reputable firms--such as AS Goldman is similar to Goldman Sachs.

[/quote]


Summary:  Go watch the movie Boiler Room.  If you ever interview with a company that reminds you of the firm in the movie, then leave.

While you're at the video store, get a copy of GlenGary GlenRoss.  Realize that this industry is full of brokers and BOMs who are just like the salesmen in that movie (including Alec Baldwin's character).  If you think that's cool and begin to think these characters are role models, then please quit now.

If you aren't scared yet, go rent either Dead Poets Society or Fight Club (whichever one suits your taste).  Realize that some day we will all be food for worms.  If that confuses or depresses you then quit now.  If that motivates you to get out there and do something extraordinary with your life, then call me.  I may have a job for you.



Finally, go rent Wall Street.  You probably won't learn much, but everybody expects you to know all the good lines.  Wall Street is the Monty Python's Holy Grail of this industry.