Goldman Sachs Hopeful Differentiating Himself Outside 200 West With Coffee, Donuts, Hot Chicks
Michael Penn has vowed to stay put until someone makes him an offer.
When life gives you a lemon, you make lemonade — or coffee, depending on the time of day. That’s what Michael Penn, 23, is doing to land a career in banking. The Fordham graduate student has opened up a beverage and donut stand outside Goldman Sachs’ HQ downtown to get his name and résumé in front of the managers at the white-shoe firm. But Penn doesn’t want 25 cents for a drink or treat — he wants a job. And showing that he knows his target audience, Penn brings along several female friends to hand out his credentials to passersby. “Sex sells. I needed attraction to draw them to the coffee and lemonade,” he says. “It’s an unconventional investment in my job hunt. My unique form of networking. This reflects my true character and is the way I differentiate myself.” [...] Penn says he plans to continue his promotion outside the bank until he lands a job.
On the one hand, we like this kid's panache and willingness to put himself out there. On the other, he's offering Goldman Sachs hiring managers quite the Sophie's Choice: they don't give him a job, they lose out on a promising candidate. They do give him a job, they lose out on free donuts.
