The Basics:
Name: Jane Cai
City: New York
Company: BlackRock
Role: Vice President
Industry: Finance
Education: Dartmouth
College Major: Government (International Relations)
What drew you to working in finance?
I actually stumbled upon finance serendipitously through a few chats with various Dartmouth mentors, since I had originally wanted to practice law
What’s one thing you wish you knew when you were entering the workforce?
Work isn’t like school - sometimes “done is better than perfect”, and we need to prioritize meeting deadlines versus striving for an A grade
What skills are most important in your field? What do you look for in employees?
Public speaking and presentability are critical. Eloquent written and verbal communication will help build your credibility with both internal and external stakeholders.
What do you love most about your job?
I love being able to help distill esoteric ideas into accessible concepts for clients. As a Government major, I also love trying to understand how geopolitical events affect the financial markets.
What was the best piece of career advice you ever received?
Treat every job like a free business school and try to absorb as much knowledge about different topics in the industry, even if they’re not directly related to your job function
What do you wear on a daily basis to the office?
Dresses with blazers or pencil skirts with fun tops...and sometimes jeans when I don’t have any meetings
What’s your go-to power outfit? (i.e., what do you wear when you want to feel confident and powerful at work?)
Power black dress with my favorite blazer and fun heels
What is the biggest clothing faux pas you’ve seen a candidate wear during an interview?
Wearing jeans (even if the description says “casual”!)
Parting Wisdom:
What was your first job? Goldman Sachs analyst
Who is one woman you look up to? My mom - she’s my original working woman role model
What’s the best book you read recently? Oryx & Crake by Margaret Atwood
What one item should every young professional have in her closet? Power LBD!