It is a daunting time to be a college graduate.
There’s Covid-19 Pandemic, remote working, and a host of other challenges now facing grads. So, how do you navigate the job market during these unprecedented times?
“Be fearless,” says Lauren Simmons, 26, the youngest-ever female trader on the New York Stock Exchange.
Simmons was also a recent college graduate from Kennesaw State University when she moved to New York City from Georgia in 2017.
“You will get so much advice as I did when I moved to New York and people were saying I was reaching too high or I didn’t have any direction of what it is that I wanted to do,” said Simmons. “And through and through, I always knew who Lauren Simmons was.”
In that same year (2017), she was able to secure a job as an equity trader at Rosenblatt Securities. In addition to that, she also passed the Series 19 exam, a requirement for all floor brokers to earn their badge.
“Sometimes you’ll get so much advice from people, but I take it with a grain of salt,” Simmons said. “And whatever feels good to you. What feels like can empower you. You take that advice and you move forward.”
Watch the video above to find out what other tips Simmons has for college grads.
Click the link below to watch Simmons’ full interview, or watch an excerpt above.
TheStreet is taking this month to amplify voices from the African-American community that sometimes fall through the cracks. Watch more below from TheStreet’s Special Report: Black History, Wall Street & Beyond:
TheStreet’s Tony Owusu speaks with CEOs running minority-owned private equity firms to better understand How to Break Diversity Barriers on Wall Street. Plus, TheStreet’s Anuz Thapa has a series of interviews focusing on the next generation of leaders on and off Wall Street. Watch the videos below:
