Our mission here at The Muse is simple: to help you find your dream job. So, there’s nothing we love more than hearing about it when you do!
Today, we chatted with Tyler Gold, a financial analyst at Captivate. His new job is refreshing after years of experience in the financial services world—from the open communication to the camaraderie of teams to spontaneous karaoke nights, it checked all the boxes on his job search list.
Read below to learn more about his story, then check out Captivate’s offices and see how you can land a great new gig of your own.
Tell us about yourself!
I grew up in New Hampshire and went to college at the University of Connecticut, where I majored in Economics and minored in Mathematics. After four years of studying, I didn’t feel like I was done with academics yet, so I continued my studies in the UK at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
After my master’s degree, I got a job with KPMG's London office as an economist working with financial service firms. After a few years of working for KPMG, I was looking for a change and so I really focused on what I liked about my job and what I wanted to build upon.
Outside of work, you might find me running or cycling in Prospect Park, cooking meals at home, or out walking my dog, Winnie.
What do you do as a financial analyst?
I work on the company’s strategic initiatives, working alongside department heads and management to put numbers to the story of where the company’s been and where we’re going next.
Every day is something different depending on which teams I’m working with and how the various initiatives unfold. It typically starts with sitting down with the CFO to determine priorities and areas where there isn’t enough coverage on an idea. I then run with it to figure out who’s the best person to speak with to begin developing a financial model or operational plan to implement the idea.
What were you looking for in a job?
As a consultant, I was constantly juggling various clients, projects, and deadlines. While I enjoyed the intellectual challenge of picking up new projects every few weeks, I was looking to make a continually sustained impact to a business. I also wanted to leverage the skills I gained from consulting (financial analysis, presenting ideas, relationship building) in my new role.
What attracted you to the company when you found it on The Muse?
There were a lot of things that attracted me to the company: the unique service that Captivate provides to its clients, the company’s drive to innovate and change, and the open-door policies of the company.
What’s something most people would find surprising about working at Captivate?
For a company that’s celebrating 20 years this year, there’s nothing constant, and the company is always making improvements to its systems and processes. Since I started, CEO Marc Kidd has stopped by my desk multiple times to make sure I’ve settled into my role and that I'm getting to know the team. The company’s also supportive of employee initiatives and knows that the best way to get the most from your team is to give them opportunities to learn and grow.
And, with the New York office just around the corner from Koreatown, there’s no shortage of reasons to take some co-workers out for karaoke.
Learn More About Working at Captivate
What’s your favorite part so far about working at Captivate?
The people, by far. The office mentality is very much that we take our work—but not ourselves—seriously. While I’ve worked with a lot of great people in the past, there’s a sense of camaraderie and closeness here that I hadn’t seen before. It’s definitely a change from the world of finance!
Is there anything from The Muse that helped you out in your job hunt?
I used The Muse a lot in my search both to find new and interesting companies and positions, as well as, for job search advice. I visited the advice section on The Muse’s website for cover letter and interview tips almost daily while I was applying; they provided great templates and outlines for how to think about the job search process from the perspective of both the candidate and the recruiter.
Is there anything in particular you did during your application process that you think helped you stand out?
During my interviews, I took notes on a pad of paper to remind myself of important facts or any connections to reference in either additional rounds of interviews or in thank you notes. I always wrote a thank you email and personalized it for the conversation I’d had with each person I met with. During one interview, I found out that one of the interviewers was traveling to London, and in my thank you note I made some suggestions about places to go for an authentic experience.
What advice would you have for someone who wants a job like yours?
First, be open to opportunities—take that introductory meeting, coffee, or break to chat with a co-worker, and don’t be afraid to stretch for something that you’re interested in.
Second, figure out what’s important to you and make a list of priorities. Maybe it’s prestige, maybe it’s a good work-life balance, maybe it’s a specific industry, it’s different for everyone.
Finally, let it take time, and don’t rush into anything. As the adage goes, “Good things come to those who wait.”