Even if recruitment firm Morgan McKinley’s right and the City of London is comparatively unaffected by Brexit, Frankfurt will almost certainly be more important within Europe as a financial centre in future. To this end, bankers in London may want to get with the German way of doing things. This means photos on CVs, it also means….strange motivational statements.
Our German editor has scoured the publicly available profiles of German bankers at Goldman Sachs and elsewhere to produce the following list of genuine aphorisms from the resumés of German finance professionals. As you will see, they mostly draw upon the received wisdom of famous philosophers, although (unfortunately) this isn’t always the case.
Should you add similar such statements to your CV if you work in the City of London or on Wall Street? “A deal in the hand is worth 20 pitch books in the bush”? Probably not. Most senior bankers in these markets dispense with the ‘summary section’ of their CVs and cut straight to their experience and impressive academic achievements. The few who don’t lean heavily towards Steve Jobs. “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life, go out explore find your passion,” is a Jobs’ favourite on Wall Street.
German bankers’ very own aphorisms:
If you want to be as successful as much as you want to breathe, then you will be successful.
I tried to be normal once – the worst 5 minutes of my life.
Handle responsibility and be honest with yourself and others. Anyone who wants to can not look for problems, but not everyone can offer solutions!
Don’t look back – Unless there’s a good view!
Where there is a will, there’s a way.
Move out of your comfort zone and try something new.
Work is one of the best educators of character.
What is the point of taking part if you don’t want to win?
German bankers’ borrowed aphorisms:
It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it. (Seneca)
Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work. (Aristotle)
‘Sometimes doing your best is not good enough. Sometimes you must do what is required.. (Winston Churchill)
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.’ (Miles Kington)
The future has many names: for the weak it is the unattainable, for the fearful the unknown, for the brave, chance. (Victor Hugo)
Whoever does what he already can, always remains what he already is. (Henry Ford)
It is always the connections with people that gives value to life. (Wilhelm von Humboldt)
Whoever does not understand himself cannot lead others. (Alfred Herrhausen)
Try not to become a man of success, but a man of values. (Albert Einstein)
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Contact: sbutcher@efinancialcareers.com
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