5 BlackRock Application Tips: How These Recent Grads Landed Their Current Roles

BlackRock, one of the world’s largest asset managers, offers exciting opportunities for students
and graduates looking to pursue a career in finance. With a growing number of assets under
management and a reputation for innovation, BlackRock attracts top talent from universities
across the globe.

But how can aspiring finance professionals stand out in a competitive applicant pool? The
interview process can seem daunting — but it shouldn’t be. Two BlackRock employees share
their journeys and offer valuable insights on how to navigate the application and interview
process successfully.

Grace and Akash’s path to Blackrock
Grace Lamont is an Analyst in BlackRock’s Private Capital Markets business area, hired through the
2022 Full-Time Analyst program. But her path to BlackRock was anything but traditional.

A Vanderbilt University graduate with a degree in theoretical math, Grace began her job search by
taking an unconventional approach. Instead of attending career fairs or leveraging industry
connections, she simply applied online after a Google search of the largest asset managers. Drawn
to BlackRock for its established training programs and opportunities for exposure, Grace found a
perfect fit despite not having a traditional finance background.

“Coming out of college into post-grad, setting yourself up in a large firm that has established
training analyst programs is better than going to a boutique firm,” Grace explains. “You get a lot
more exposure at a firm as large as BlackRock.” Her strategy paid off — she now thrives as an
Associate in BlackRock Capital Markets, where she serves as a top-of-house funnel for
sourcing and origination for teams.

Meanwhile, Akash Hasamnis took a different path to BlackRock. He was first hired through the
2022 Summer Internship program and then converted to full time through the 2023 Full-Time
Analyst program. Now, he’s an Analyst Engineer in the Aladdin Engineering business area.

With an undergraduate degree in computer engineering from Mumbai University and a master’s
in computer science from UC Irvine, Akash discovered BlackRock while scrolling through
LinkedIn. At first, he wasn’t familiar with the company — which led him to research more about
what Blackrock does and its mission, he said. “After looking at employee reviews online, I saw
how they fostered new and upcoming talent and took care of their people.”

Together, Grace and Akash share their top tips for landing a role at the firm.

1. Know the basics about BlackRock
   Preparation is crucial for any interview you’re going into, and the same is true for BlackRock. A
   common hurdle that people face upfront is knowing what BlackRock actually does.
   Next, you’ll want to do internal research about the role and the team it sits in.
   The best course of action? Talk to people in the group or team if possible, and thoroughly
   research the team’s mandate and functions. Then, during the interview process, ask detailed questions to learn more.
   
2. Create a unique narrative around your experience
   Both Grace and Akash emphasize the importance of crafting a compelling story about your
   professional or school experiences — even if (or especially if) it’s not traditional.
   
   “I positioned myself as someone who had no experience in an asset manager,” Grace shares.
   “All of my internships were in real estate and private equity, which is very different from my role
   now. But I positioned myself as someone looking for the broadest possible exposure [to different industries and lines of work].”
   
   This approach resonated with her interviewers, though she didn’t realize it at the time. “What I
   didn’t know is that the role I was applying for in capital markets is where you see everything going on in the market and the asset classes. I was unintentionally saying I was looking for exactly what this role provides.”
   
   Grace’s unique background as a theoretical math major also helped her create a narrative
   around her experience. “Almost every interviewer was intrigued by my theoretical math major,” she explains. “It gave us something interesting to discuss beyond my resume. They were curious about how I planned to apply those skills in finance.”
   
   For technical roles, Akash suggests highlighting your initiative beyond coursework: “If you can
   speak to projects or extracurriculars you were involved in, that can show interest in learning about a particular subject, and will help you stand out.”
   
3. Prepare for the interviews: technical and behavioral
   Unlike many financial firms, BlackRock’s interview process tends to be more behavioral than
   technical, Grace explained. “It was the only process that didn’t feel like you were being grilled
   the entire time on technicals.”

However, preparation is still crucial. For technical roles, Akash advises mastering one
programming language thoroughly and understanding fundamental concepts. “Make sure you’re
comfortable with that because you’re going to be asked to code in the interview and you
shouldn’t have to look up syntax while you’re coding.”

For all roles, Grace emphasizes the importance of learning industry terminology: “If you can
read sell-side commentary, market commentary, or at least become familiar with terminology
that people use, it just helps to sound like you at least somewhat know what you’re talking
about.”

General market acumen and some familiarity with the basic terminology can go far. Don’t be
afraid to be a little more candid about what you do and don’t know, Grace recommends.

4. Connect your experience to BlackRock’s principles
   BlackRock puts significant emphasis on its company principles during the interview process.
   These include things like collaboration, innovation, and performance.
   When Akash was interviewing, he chose two principles that aligned with his background —
   ‘Taking emotional ownership’ and being ‘passionate about performance’ — and tied that into
   each interview. This “showed that I took responsibility for the tasks I was given,” Akash
   explained.
   
   BlackRock’s principles also come through in the interview format itself. Grace notes that the firm’s more behavioral-focused interviews reflect their emphasis on company culture. “I think that speaks to BlackRock’s culture, it was much more behavioral-focused compared to others I was doing at the time. Obviously, technical skills are important, but if you’re good at behavioral interviews and can have meaningful conversations beyond just your resume, it shows you can fit well with BlackRock,” Grace adds.
   
5. Bring confidence — and your authentic self — to the interview
   The final key to success? Being authentic and confident in your interviews. “People really like
   interviewing people who can talk about themselves and their experiences confidently and don’t
   come off scripted or robotic,” Grace advises.
   For newer candidates, both Grace and Akash emphasize that lack of related industry
   experience isn’t necessarily a drawback. “BlackRock interviewers don’t expect you to know
   everything about asset management or whichever discipline you are interviewing for,” Grace
   explains. “Relating your past experiences to the role’s responsibilities and sharing your
   willingness to learn will be valued throughout the interview process.”

Akash adds an encouraging note for new applicants: “Do not be intimidated — everyone has a
first job, and everyone starts somewhere. Just because you’re a fresher does not mean that
you’re out of the race immediately. As long as you’ve demonstrated interest and passion in the
field, you will be given a fair shot.”


The bottom line: Show an interest in learning and growing
The most important thing, according to both Grace and Akash, is showing genuine interest in
learning and growing at BlackRock. Whether you’re coming from a traditional finance
background or bringing a unique perspective from another field, BlackRock values candidates who can demonstrate enthusiasm, take ownership of their work, and contribute to the company’s collaborative culture.

Remember, as Grace points out, there’s no one perfect path to BlackRock. What matters most
is being able to articulate your story, show genuine interest in the role, and demonstrate how your unique background and experiences align with BlackRock’s principles and culture. With thorough preparation and an authentic presentation of yourself, you can stand out in your application to one of the world’s leading asset management firms.

To learn more about BlackRock and their early career opportunities, visit their WayUp profile
and their website here.