“Ladies and gentlemen, the state of our union is strong.”

-President Bill Clinton’s State of the Union Address, 1998

(If only we could say the same about the state of our industry.)

Part 1 of “Recruiting in a Down Market” (the presentation Kevin and I have been giving) begins today, with an overview of how things have changed in the past few years and where we’re at now.

After that, we’ll move onto the 4 major ways you need to change your recruiting strategy in a down market, and some key considerations when thinking about your “Plan B” (…and Plans C – Z).

Major Changes vs. 2004-2007

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Ok this will be another comments/announcements post, but it won’t involve a trip to China, Singapore, or Korea (I know, I know, disappointing, right?). Let’s jump straight into things…

“Recruiting in a Down Market”: Trip to East Coast with Management Consulted

Kevin from Management Consulted and I will be traveling to the Northeast of the US next week (2nd week of February 2009) through the end of the month to speak at several schools there.

The topic of our presentation will be “Recruiting in a Down Market” – it’s something we’ve covered here a few times before, but with the worsening economy it’s increasingly on everyone’s mind.

Here are a few topics we’ll discuss:

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2008 was an interesting year for the finance industry. Back when Bear Stearns failed, we thought it was the end of the world.

But the economy kept getting worse and worse, and then September rolled around and we were in a full state of financial apocalypse.

Despite how much things have changed, there are a few questions that keep coming up over and over again.

I’ve tried to answer some frequently asked questions, but after a year of doing this, I’ve decided that some questions are just not worth answering.

So here are 7 questions that you will not see answered on Mergers & Inquisitions in 2009 – and some good questions that will be addressed.

1. “Can You Rank the Most Prestigious Banks/Groups/Offices?”

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What is Investment Banking?: Ari Gold: What Bankers Actually Do, Why NOT Do Investment Banking, Why You Work 100 Hours Per Week, The Jack Bauer Guide to Investment Banking Success

Investment Banking Lifestyle: A Day in the Life - Worst Day and Best Day, How to Stay Fit, Investment Banking Lingo Part 1 and Part 2, A Week in the Life (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday)

Investment Banking Fashion: Investment Banking Wardrobe for Men, Men's Fashion Basics, How to Pick a Suit, Investment Banking Wardrobe for Women

Breaking into Finance: How to Get an Investment Banking Job, Networking into Investment Banking, Recruiting in a Tough Market, Breaking in from Engineering, Breaking in from Law, Breaking in from the Back Office

Networking: Networking into Investment Banking, Investment Banking Information Sessions, Become a Networking Ninja, How to Network Like Jason Bourne - Podcast, Cold Calling - Podcast, How to Get In From a State School With No Background - Case Study, How to Get In From a Non-Target School With a Low GPA - Case Study

Recruiting in a Down Market: The State of the Market, Check-The-Box-Recruiting to Actual Recruiting, Become a Networking Ninja, Plan B Options, How to Avoid Shooting Yourself in the Foot

Investment Banking Resumes: How to Write an Investment Banking Resume, How Investment Bankers Read Resumes, University Student Investment Banking Resume Template, Investment Banking Cover Letters

Investment Banking Interviews: Investment Banking Interview Guide, The Interview Selection Process, How to Close Your Interviews, Superday Zen: Why Less Is More, Random Interview Selection, Telling Your Story - Part 1, Telling Your Story - Part 2

Summer Internships: Summer Intern Success Guide, How to Dominate Your Summer Internship, Tips from a Former Summer Analyst, What You Do as a Summer Analyst, 10 Summer Internship "Don't's", How Summer Interns Get Full-Time Offers

Investment Banking Salaries: Investment Banking Salaries vs. McDonald's, Why Investment Bankers Make So Much Money, 2008 Analyst Bonuses, 2009 Analyst Bonus Prediction

Private Equity / Buyside Jobs: Private Equity Resumes, Private Equity Interviews, The Myth of the Buyside Job, Headhunters: Friend or Foe?, How to Get a Private Equity Job, How to Tame Recruiters

Specific Groups: UBS LA, Boutiques - 2008, Restructuring, The Back Office, Mergers & Acquisitions, Sales & Trading - Fixed Income, Boutiques - 2009, Why Bankers Dominate Consultants

Investment Banking Regions: Investment Banking Italy, Credit Derivatives in Tokyo, Investment Banking Australia

Business School: Business School Admissions as a Financier, Business School Admissions as a Non-Financier

Quitting Finance & Slacking Off: The Conference Room: How You Get Fired, The Farewell Email, A Day in the Life of a Former Investment Banker, How to Succeed In Investment Banking Without Doing Any Work, How to Have Fun On the Beach

Post & Pre-Layoff Options: Post-Layoff Options, Timing the Market Is BAD, How to Become a Ski Bum