When Mike Eglow ’16, MBA ’17, was looking to hire an operations associate for Boston-based broker-dealer Cantella & Co., he knew he wanted to interview other Clarkies. Originally from Albany, N.Y., Eglow came to Clark to pursue a degree in management and play baseball; he ultimately took advantage of the University’s Accelerated B.A/Master’s Degree Program, earning a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in management.
After graduation, Eglow joined Commonwealth Financial Network, an independent broker-dealer in Waltham, Mass., processing requests from financial advisers and consulting on their investments. He subsequently moved to Cantella & Co., where he recently was promoted to assistant manager.
Below, Eglow talks about how Clark prepared him for his career, and why he thinks it is important to stay involved in the Clark community.
Why did you join ClarkCONNECT?
It all goes back to my process when I was applying for jobs out of college. So many people were there for me — both on Clark’s campus and alumni I had contacted to get a gauge of how they handled their entrance into the industry. When I discovered ClarkCONNECT, I was excited to share my “words of wisdom” with current students and tell them how I linked my Clark experiences to the real world.
What is your daily job like at Cantella & Co.?
I oversee the asset movement activity for all three clearing firms that we work with, and I make sure the people who process them are following the correct policies and procedures we’ve implemented here. For example, if a client is looking to move assets between broker accounts, wire money to their bank, or send a check to a third party for payment, I’m overseeing all of that.
Can you describe the position you posted for Cantella & Co. on ClarkCONNECT?
The position was for an operations associate, which is generally an entry-level position, so the person in this role would learn the basics of the financial industry. For example, they’d learn what particular investment products are, how investments that come through financial advisors are managed on a day-to-day basis, and how we oversee our clients and maintain our daily business. Once they master the basic tasks of the financial industry they’d have the opportunity to gain more responsibility and grow within the role.
Why did you share this position specifically with Clarkies?
Clark gave me such great opportunities — both athletically and, most importantly, academically — so I was really excited about potentially giving back to the school. I loved being able to share my experiences with other Clark students, not only by interviewing them but also by helping them learn a little bit about the financial industry.
What advice can you give Clark students looking to build their careers and enter the workforce?
Be persistent about the job market. Stay on top of it and make sure you’re applying to jobs, but also use your network — I can’t stress that enough. Don’t hesitate to reach out to alumni and people you know, because it’s only going to help you down the road. You’d be surprised — the connection you make right after graduating could help you advance your career five years later. Networks like LinkedIn and ClarkCONNECT give you the ability to share your experience with people and then give back by educating others later on.
