BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, is hiring for 685 jobs right now. Here's how to land one, according to their head of talent.

<p><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/602d26b231eb0600197c3a7f-1920/ZCA6696.jpg" border="0" alt="ZCA_6696" data-mce-source="Courtesy of BlackRock"></p><p></p><bi-shortcode id="summary-shortcode" data-type="summary-shortcode" class="mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false">Summary List Placement</bi-shortcode><p>BlackRock, the largest asset manager, is hiring for <a href="https://careers.blackrock.com/">685 jobs right now</a>. The financial services company currently has openings for positions including financial analyst and software engineer.&nbsp;</p><p>The firm pays six-figure salaries for many of its jobs. For example, an associate can make a nearly $140,000 average pay at the firm, and a software engineer as much as $116,000, <a href="https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/BlackRock-Salaries-E9331.htm">according to Glassdoor</a>. Those with managing director titles can earn an average of $475,931.</p><p>BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager. Since its founding in 1988, BlackRock has grown to 70 offices in 30 countries with more than 16,000 employees.</p><p>Jobs on BlackRock's investment team include roles in investment management, product strategy, strategy and research, portfolio management, sourcing and capital markets, and trading. The company offers a number of analyst roles for <a href="https://careers.blackrock.com/early-careers#top">early career professionals.</a></p><p>The firm also offers <a href="https://careers.blackrock.com/teams#top">opportunities</a> in technology, marketing and communications, sales, and legal.&nbsp;</p><p>Fifty percent of BlackRock's job openings right now are tech-focused. <a href="https://www.indeed.com/q-Blackrock-Software-Developer-jobs.html'vjk=b2b1a16049ae5e17">Software engineers,</a> for example, are tasked with designing specific parts of the firms' investment platform and analyzing systems through programming technologies like Java and and SQL.&nbsp;</p><p>The firm shifted its hiring strategy at the start of the pandemic. BlackRock was actively recruiting for 700 positions but reduced that number to 400 entry-level positions, the firm told Insider. It also posted fix-termed or project-based opportunities for employees.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Read more: </strong><em><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meet-key-blackrock-leaders-driving-private-equity-alternative-investments-push-2020-8">Meet 17 BlackRock power players carrying out CEO Larry Fink's vision to turbocharge the firm's $222 billion alternative-investments business</a></em></p><p>Like many companies, it's also made recruitment virtual. Toretha McGuire, managing director and global head of talent acquisition at BlackRock, said the firm's campus recruitment strategy for entry-level employees was already virtual. The firm started virtually hiring senior candidates during the pandemic, she said.&nbsp;</p><p>"What's interesting about this pivot is we realized there are great efficiencies within a virtual interviewing process," she said. "We took the time out of the logistics planning, whether it's travel time or conference room bookings in the office, and that actually let us spend more time and energy on deep engagement with the candidates."&nbsp;</p><p>McGuire broke BlackRock's hiring strategy for Insider and shared how candidates can impress its recruiters.&nbsp;</p><h2>Expect anywhere from 2 to 6 interviews</h2><p>Because of the pandemic, BlackRock has cut down the number of interviews candidates have to go through.&nbsp;</p><p>Candidates for entry-level jobs, for example, should plan to answer interview questions via video after submitting their rsum and cover letter. Afterwards, students undergo two to four interviews with hiring managers, other entry level employees, and partners, McGuire said.&nbsp;</p><p>Experienced hires should expect four rounds of interviews. Executive-level candidates have at least six interviews with the firm, she added. Candidates, especially those who applied for software engineering roles, will be asked to complete case studies or coding assessments.&nbsp;</p><h2>Be prepared to share a personal experience</h2><p>McGuire said there's one simple question she consistently asks candidates: Why BlackRock' She said candidates should put a personal spin on their response.&nbsp;</p><p>"What I'm really looking for is to learn something about you that's beyond the facts," she said "I'm looking for an answer that captures a more personal sentiment and a connection with the <a href="https://www.blackrock.com/corporate/about-us#">firm's purpose</a>."</p><p><strong>Read more: </strong><em><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/blackrock-internship-full-time-job-offer-asset-management-analyst-remote-2020-11">A first-generation college student from an HBCU crushed her virtual internship at BlackRock and landed a full-time offer. She laid out how to turn a summer gig on Wall Street into a coveted full-time</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/blackrock-internship-full-time-job-offer-asset-management-analyst-remote-2020-11"> job.</a></em></p><p>Answers that have stood out in the past were commitments to doing good in the world or a personal experience that motivates the applicant, McGuire said. For example, some candidates said they wanted to improve financial literacy in underrepresented communities or for their family. Others detailed how their financial journey helped them improve their life.</p><p>Although there is no "right" answer to McGuire's question, she encourages candidates to be open and vulnerable and share something that hiring managers might not see on your rsum.</p><h2>Share an example of a time you've creatively solved a problem&nbsp;</h2><p>You don't need to have a financial services background to land a an entry- or senior-level job at BlackRock, McGuire said. The firm encourages people to apply who come from non-traditional careers but have an interest in financial services.&nbsp;</p><p>McGuire seeks out candidates who have "commercial awareness," or an understanding of the challenges facing financial services firms and how to address them. The firm wants people who can think outside the box, she said.</p><p>"Don't be afraid to challenge the status quo in effort to make something better," McGuire said.</p><p><strong>Read more: </strong><em><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rising-stars-wall-street-best-career-advice-success-investing-trading-2020-10">Wall Street's rising stars from firms like Goldman Sachs, Bridgewater, and Carlyle share their best career</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rising-stars-wall-street-best-career-advice-success-investing-trading-2020-10"> advice</a></em></p><p>The firm is looking for people who embrace experimentation and think of new solutions to problems, she said. Share examples of times you've come up with a creative solution to a problem with a client or colleagues, or within your community.&nbsp;</p><p>"I'd recommend candidates with non-traditional backgrounds to highlight impact and outcomes of the work they've done," McGuire said. "It demonstrates how you think and how you potentially use data to drive your decisions. Those are important competencies across industries."</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-get-a-job-in-crypto-at-grayscale-2021-2" >Grayscale, the world's largest digital asset manager, plans to double its staff this year. Here's what it takes to land a job, according to the CEO.</a></strong></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-get-cryptocurrency-trading-job-grayscale-galaxy-asset-management-2021-1" >These are the skills you need to land a job in crypto trading and investing, according to 7 insiders from firms like Grayscale and Galaxy Digital</a></strong></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-get-job-blackrock-head-of-talent-advice-2021-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/racist-origins-marijuana-prohibition-legalization-2018-2">The racist origins of marijuana prohibition</a></p>
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