Top 3 lessons from a LinkedInfluencer with 2.7M followers

As a first-year undergraduate interested in Banking and Finance, I attend as many career-related networking and training events as I can at NUS Business School. Among these sessions, I attended 3 training and networking sessions by Eric Sim, a NUS Alumni and former Managing Director at UBS AG Investment Bank (Hong Kong) with 2.7m followers on LinkedIn. In this article, I am sharing my key takeaway from all 3 sessions. This article is the first out of a four-part series of articles. The next 3 articles (Part 2 on career advice for bankers here; Part 3 on networking 101 here; Part 4 on LinkedInfluencing by LinkedInfluencers) will feature lessons from the individual sessions.

Session 1: Key skills for Banking and Finance

The 7 steps of selling

Among the many lessons in this session, Eric highlighted the importance of learning sales. After all, job hunting is essentially selling yourself. Here are his 7 steps to selling:

1. Identify your target: Research prospects. Are they likely to buy what you sell? What are their beliefs and cultures? Where do they go, what do they like to eat, what are some specific terms they use? The more you understand, the easier the next step.
2. Build rapport & trust: Your social media platforms should build trust with your audience. Your LinkedIn is likely the first thing hiring managers and future colleagues see when they google your name. Make sure you are interesting so they can imagine working with you. Share your interests and hobbies outside of work! Once people know and trust you, they will automatically do the next step!
3. Identify needs & problems: Find out what the company needs; which sector are they covering and whether you're the right person for the job. Reach out to people already in this position for a better understanding!
4. Present your solutions: This is your value-add to your prospective employer, how will hiring you enhance their lives/the company's performance?
5. Overcome objections: Address all concerns they may have professionally.
6. Execute your solutions
7. Follow up

Session 2: Network Your Way Into Banking & Finance

The power of weak ties

Through his example of a UBS risk intern who was initially unable to find a job, Eric showed us the power of weak ties. In this example, the intern's boss met Eric 10 years ago while both were studying for their Masters in Finance at NUS. The intern had no other connections to Eric. After a year, there was no full-time role for this intern and his internship could not be extended anymore. Due to his outstanding performance, his boss made the effort to contact Eric and ask if there were any full-time positions available in UBS Hong Kong. After reviewing his CV and speaking to the candidate, Eric invited the candidate the fly over and try his luck at UBS Hong Kong. With only the promise of a free lunch from Eric, the intern took the plunge and booked a ticket to Hong Kong. Before flying however, he contacted his friend at UBS dealing room who helped arrange interviews with his bosses upon arrival. On Wednesday, the intern landed. Thursday, he was interviewed. Friday he received a verbal job offer and Monday he signed. From struggling to find a job for a year to landing one in under a week, Eric's example truly highlighted the strength of having weak ties. Had the intern's boss not known Eric, the intern would've never flown to Hong Kong and gotten his job. Another benefit to capitalizing on weak ties is that they do not require heavy commitment to maintain, unlike our strong ties. Thus, we should never underestimate the power of weak ties and never forget to capitalize on them.

Session 3: Brand Yourself on LinkedIn to Maximize Career Opportunities

"Facts tell, Stories sell"

My favorite session out of all 3. By this session, I had made it a point to build a strong connection with Eric and he offered me the chance to do the opening for his talk. Here is my post where I share my experience. Equipped with the skills he taught during the first two sessions, I was able to connect effectively with all of his guests this time. These skills are shared in detail in my next 3 articles.

"Facts tell, stories sell": Always have 2-3 good stories to tell about your personality! People always remember stories better than they remember the facts that you tell them. To tell a good story, we must always have a setting, conflict, and resolution. Eric's LinkedIn About page is an excellent example.

Also look out for a Chinese version of the lessons that Mingjie wrote here.

In upcoming articles, I will cover in detail the lessons taught each session! Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or comments. Connect with me, stay tuned, and share these articles with your connections if you've found them useful!