Going for broke(rs): Student takes job hunt to Moorgate station for his big break in finance
A university student trying to get his start in London’s financial district took matters into his own hands this week when he spent 11 hours stood outside Moorgate station holding a placard asking the capital’s brokers to give him a chance.
“It’s not where I’m coming from, it’s where I’m going,” read Imperial College London chemistry undergraduate David Tyoember’s placard.
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Arriving at 7am with 51 CVs printed to hand out, he left at 6pm with requests to send more.
“I thought ‘what’s there to lose?’,” Tyoember told Morning Wire “I was just so surprised at the response. In the first 20 minutes I gave out four CVs.”
Tyoember quickly became interested in investment at Imperial and this summer became the president of his university investment society.
As a black and minority ethnic officer for Imperial’s student union, he was also interested in the social mobility working in the City enables.
“Roles in finance offer very decent salaries and that’s very life-changing, especially for people who are not from a privileged background,” Tyoember, who lives with his mother and brother in Deptford, said.
“If I was to get a graduate role it would probably pay more than my mum is earning and that would make a huge difference in supporting my family.”
Despite excellent grades and taking part in so-called hackathons organised by JP Morgan and Barclays, he had little luck in landing an interview the traditional route this year.
But one 20-year investment veteran, Robert Toffel, shared Tyoember’s placard on Linkedin after talking to him at the station, and it generated more than 1,000 responses.
“He seemed very personable and his CV looks amazing,” Toffel told Morning Wire “He had the courage to put himself out there … it seems very hard to get noticed these days.”
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Toffel has put Tyoember in touch with his financial contacts and Tyoember has secured a two-week work experience placement, but he is eager for more.
Anybody who thinks they can help can contact Tyoember at [email protected].
Main image credit: Robert Toffel