Universitas Gadjah Mada
Faculty of Economics and Business

Pursuing a career in finance is a dream for many students, especially those from the Faculty of Economics and Business, including FEB UGM. However, many still need clarification on choosing the right financial company and starting their career in the industry. To address these concerns, Career Insight 2024 invited Charles Gultom, Executive Director of JP Morgan Indonesia and an alumnus of FEB UGM's accounting program, to give a talk titled "Stepping Into the Financial World: Career Paths and Opportunities" at the Grha Sabha Pramana (GSP) UGM on Thursday, October 17.

Charles shared that one of the key figures who significantly shaped his career in finance was the late Dr. Nur Indriantoro, his thesis advisor during his time in UGM's accounting program. Charles mentioned that the late Dr. Nur suggested that he start his career in an accounting firm, which later opened the door for him to enter the financial sector. "From there, I had the opportunity to work as an auditor in the United States until I eventually returned to Indonesia and now work at JP Morgan," Charles explained.

During the session, he also talked about JP Morgan. He revealed that there is still a common misconception about JP Morgan in society. Many think banks only serve individual customers, such as the consumer banks they encounter and use daily. However, JP Morgan is an investment bank that focuses on providing services to corporations, governments, and institutional investors, which explains why it is less known to the general public. Prospective employees need to understand this to avoid choosing the wrong company. "We provide capital raising, merger and acquisition (M&A) advisory, underwriting, and financial advisory for large transactions. We also provide asset management and cash management services to companies," he explained.

In response to the audience's enthusiasm for JP Morgan, he also shared information about internship opportunities at JP Morgan for interested seniors. There is a Summer Internship, which is a short-term internship program of 10-12 weeks. This internship program opens around August/September and closes around October/November. During the internship, interns are given client projects and cases to solve. At the end of the program, they have to present their work to top management. Interestingly, approximately 80% of interns are offered full-time positions and join the company the following year.

At the end of his presentation, Charles shared tips on how to apply for the JP Morgan internship program. First, during the document selection phase, applicants need to create an application that is as attractive and complete as possible. According to him, the name of the university and GPA are considered at this stage. Second, the company looks for employees who are self-motivated and enjoy learning. Experience in committees and organizations is also valued because it relates to one's ability to socialize and work with others. Third, internship experience at other companies is essential because it shows that candidates have been exposed to the working world. Finally, good presentation skills are essential. This is not just about presenting work or assignments but more about the candidate's ability to demonstrate their value and skills and convince recruiters to hire them. "The ability to present yourself and persuade others is important because, at the end of the day, business is about how you persuade others to trust you," concludes Charles.

Reportage: Najwah Ariella Puteri
Editor: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum

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