By Peter DiPrinzio ’13

Arthur Mittnacht IV graduated in a tough jobs climate in 2009, but managed to land on his feet at the New York branch of the German finance firm, Commerzbank. After training in London, he now works in Corporate Solutions Sales. He recently returned to Middlebury on homecoming weekend to share his journey and discuss the possibilities for Midd Kids to work at Commerzbank.

Full interview after the jump.

Interview with Arthur Mittnacht IV ‘09

Corporate Solutions Sales, Commerzbank

Corporate Solutions Sales doesn’t mean anything to me. What do you do, exactly?

Without getting too technical, we help companies who borrow money from Commerzbank protect themselves—hedge—against rising interest rates.

How did you get from Middlebury to a German bank like Commerzbank?

I graduated in 2009 during one of the worst possible job climates for the finance industry, and I had interned with the Bank of New York, which was not interested in hiring me. During one of my summers at Middlebury I completed the Tuck Business Bridge Program, which helped me get an internhip at a sports agency. After about a year, I realized that was not for me, and I managed to  get a job at an Electronic Exchange Brokerage, which consisted of making hundreds of mind-numbing cold calls a day. It wasn’t what I wanted, but it was a job as I sent resumes out to find something else. One of the CV’s I sent out was to Commerzbank, which I hadn’t heard of at the time, through a friend. I eventually got a call from them and was invited to five different interviews before eventually getting the job.

I’ve heard of Commerce Bank but not Commerzbank; tell me about the company.

They’re totally different! Commerzbank is the second largest bank in Germany, and has its headquarters there with offices in London and New York. Although it’s not very well known in the states, Commerzbank is a big global bank. The New York office, where I work, functions just as an American bank would, with its own American clients.

Your name sounds German—do you speak it?

Unfortunately, no, but I wish I did. It’s not necessary for the work I do, but many of my coworkers speak German and other languages as well. The diversity of the staff and the international experience at a place like Commerzbank is definitely different than some of the American firms I’ve worked at.

So Commerzbank wants Midd Kids, right? What opportunities are available?

Yes, since the company is expanding the New York office, there are a lot of opportunities available now and in the future. My team, in Corporate Solutions Sales, is hiring as well as more quantitative positions such as Fixed Income. The company has realized the importance of liberal arts skills in a business environment, so they are now targeting recruitment towards schools like Middlebury – that’s why I’m here! The openings are listed on MOJO and on the Commerzbank web site as well.

What kind of background do applicants need?

It is most important to demonstrate your interest by the things you’ve done and the commitments you’ve made. It’s good to take finance classes at Midd, do banking internships, get involved in finance clubs or committees and even do a summer program like the Tuck Bridge Program, but you don’t have to do it all. Highlight the things you have done to make a case in why you’re interested in the finance industry, and be prepared to back it up. You will go through an extensive training program here or at any bank, so don’t feel like you need to know every detail.

But won’t they ask quantitative questions in the interviews?

Yes, but it depends on what you’re applying for. For my sales position, they only asked me to do a simple interest rate calculation, but if you’re applying for a job on a fixed income desk, they’re going to ask for more. If you’re applying for a job or internship in commodities, make sure you know some basic ones like gold, oil and copper. But they also want to see how you reason through problems and that you can admit what you don’t know. Anything they ask in an interview you will learn during training, so you don’t need to get every answer right. At the very least, make sure you passion and interest comes through, and that you are eager to learn the answers to questions you can’t yet answer.

Can you leave Midd Kids some last advice?

For anyone interested in going into finance: take all of Professor Pardee’s classes; they are excellent preparation. For everyone with high ambitions: I’ve realized that almost all senior executives—at both American and international companies—have worked internationally at some point in their careers. It’s clear to me that you do learn fundamental relationship and communication skills by working and studying abroad that will be useful no matter where your career takes you.