“Job search is about dealing with uncertainty. Life is full of uncertainties.” When interviewed about his job search experience, Pengcheng (Steven) Xu, MSBA’21, said he remembered feeling frustrated when he didn’t pass the online assessment and didn’t get any responses after applying to many jobs. “Looking back, I realized it was not a good thing. Just take it easy, you know.” He encouraged students to stay positive. Things will eventually work out.
No single career journey is the same beyond Brandeis International Business School, yet recent graduates’ career advice always seems strikingly familiar. When I first met Steven, he impressed me as a young man with poise, humility and a laid-back attitude. Being an undergraduate student from Boston University, he was more of a local than most new students. It certainly helped reduce the “cultural shock” to Brandeis. However, just many others, it can still be challenging to balance between rigorous coursework and the pressure of job search.
Nevertheless, he continued to stay calm and worked hard on polishing his resume and preparing for difficult interviews. Eventually, all the hard work paid off. With a referral opportunity, he was able to demonstrate his excellent quantitative skills and ability to take on responsibilities during the interviews. Fast forward, Steven is now a Quantitative Analyst at the North America Power Trading team of Hartree Partners, a global energy and commodities firm based in Maryland.
To learn more about Steven’s daily work, his Brandeis experience, and advice to prepare for job search, watch the complete interview here: Beyond Brandeis International Business School with Pengcheng (Steven) Xu, MSBA’21.
