How Investing in Stock Can Help You Land A Job
Yes you read that correctly.
If you are looking for a job or have an upcoming interview, investing in the stock market can help you in ways you never thought of.
What is the biggest challenge you face in a job interview?
Setting yourself apart? Making a good impression?
That is the same cookie cutter stuff everyone else is going to focus on.
You need an edge. Something that makes you memorable.
I think the biggest challenge in an interview is finding a way to connect with a stranger in a short amount of time.
Let’s set the stage. You have an upcoming interview. You don’t know much about the company.
How do you prepare?
Here is a tip:
If the person interviewing you asks, “ Do you have any questions for me?”
Never ask; “So what is it you guys actually do?”
If you ask this question, the interview is probably over.
Instead, you are going to ask questions that show your depth of knowledge and interest in the company.
This is how you are going to prepare:
First, you are going to find out if the company is a publicly traded company, meaning the company has issued shares of stock anyone can buy.
Publicly traded companies produce a wealth of information. Annual reports, quarterly reports, financial statements, press releases. Some produce podcasts and videos.
Annual reports provide basic information about what the company does.
- What does the company produce?
- What services do they provide?
- How many employees do they have?
- What have they accomplished over the last year?
- What has been the biggest challenge in the last year?
- What sector of the market are they in?
Annual reports are available on the company website under “Investor Relations.”
Dive a little deeper and find out:
- How long has the company existed?
- Is the company small cap, mid cap, or large cap?
- Are they a growth company or a value company?
- Do they pay dividends?
The Mailchimp Annual report is amazing. This is a “must” watch and read !
Sadly, Mailchimp is NOT a publicly traded company. They currently have no intention of going public and trading shares.
If they did issue shares I know I would be a buyer and so would you after reading their Annual Report.
To prepare for an interview, we are going to assume that Mailchimp has issued shares and you have purchased the stock.
Why?
Because when you go to your interview at Mailchimp you can say with complete authenticity:
“I read in the annual report that during COVID Mailchimp raised over $500,000.00 for organizations on the front line of COVID relief efforts.”
Or
“I read in the annual report that Mailchimp employees created Zoom backgrounds for all of the Zoom meetings that were held.”
Or
“I read the annual report and learned that Mailchimp creates podcasts. I listened to The Jump and really enjoyed it.” (Of course, you do have to listen to the podcast.)
All the sentences above are conversation starters. They give you a way to connect.
And finally, if you are asked why you want to work at Mailchimp you can say with complete honesty:
“I am so excited about the future of Mailchimp I bought a few shares of the company.”
What??????
How often do you think a recruiter hears that?
Who comes into an interview owning shares of the company? It puts you in a completely different light.
Buying shares of a company means you are now an OWNER of the company. It also means you will receive Annual Reports, Quarterly Reports, and an invitation to vote at the annual shareholder meeting.
Going into an interview owning shares of the company means you “walk the walk”.
You’re not making stuff up to say. Your questions are based on information you have learned from your research.
- You gain credibility in the eyes of the employer.
- You feel confident going into the interview.
- You have a way to connect with a stranger.
Investing in the stock market has benefits beyond making your money work for you.
The information you gather for an interview can help you land a job where you will make the money to invest in the market to make your money work for you.
Need inspirational music to get you going ?
Listen to The Schuyler Sisters from Hamilton
“I’m looking for a mind at work(Work)!”
Here is another suggestion:
If you are not sure what direction to go in or where to look for a job, let the stock market be your guide.
Indices like the S&P 500 or 600 list companies by sector. Deciding on the sector you are interested in is a good starting point to narrow your search.
List of S&P 500 companies – Wikipedia
List of S&P 600 companies – Wikipedia
Where can you find Annual Reports, Quarterly reports, Financial statements, and research reports?
Large online brokerage firms like Schwab, Fidelity, TD Ameritrade (owned by Schwab) and E*TRADE provide independent research reports in addition to annual statements and financial statements.
- You will need an account to access the reports.
- Time to open an account and buy a few shares.
The EDGAR system is one of the best places to search for information on a company.
Go to the website of the company you are interviewing with.
Search for “Annual Report” or look in the Investor Relations section.
 |
This website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation to buy, or a recommendation for any security, nor does it constitute an offer to provide investment advisory or other services by The Modest Economist LLC.
