Hard Work, Real Life For Class of '93

Media reports have spread the mournful message of young people in search of employment or, at least, a useful purpose. But Harvard alums from the Class of '93 interviewed last week seem to be doing all right.

While many Harvard students choose to continue to flex their academic muscles for yet more years of schooling, others are trying their hand at full-time employment.

Eric Hsia '93, who was pre-med until the beginning of senior year, only changed his mind after hearing about consulting positions from his friends. He now works at LlElK Alcar Partnership in Boston as a management consultant.

Both Jerald M. Saenz `93, now a consultant associate at Cambridge Associates in Boston, and Hsia are content with their new occupations, despite some nostalgic longing for college life.

Saenz has already been on the job for 6 weeks. He works 9 to 6, Monday through Friday, surely a change after the leisurely schedules of college days. Although Saenz concedes that the job can be tough, he appreciates the generally easygoing atmosphere.

"I really enjoy it," Saenz says. "The work environment is a cross between collegiate and office. Many of the other employees are not more than 3 years out of college, so we go out a lot together. It's really comfortable."

Hsia, who started his job just one week ago, is just getting adjusted to the demands of his new occupation.

"It's a big psychological switch from college," Hsia says. "[The job] is not as flexible as college, where if you want to do something, you do it, and if you don't want to, you won't."

But Hsia quickly adds that the job does provide much-appreciated financial renumeration for one's pains, which he says is certainly not the case in college.

The competitive salary range for first-year consultants is $35-40,000, he says.

Brent P. Johnstone '93 was interested in business throughout college, but his decision to pursue investment banking did not crystallize until recruiting period during senior year.

Although Saenz says that recruitment reminded him of cattle assessment, he did manage to find his present job through that procedure.

Johnstone currently works as an analyst Morgan Stanley in New York City. He works 75-80 hours a week "running financial models on companies to determine their value."

Amanda L. Maisels `93 went slightly off the beaten track, acquiring a job at a women's advocacy and policy group in Washington D.C.

Although these members of the Class of `93 are by and large satisfied with their present positions, none of them plan to stay with their employers indefinitely:All those interviewed are planning to attend either to a school or business school.