Florida Finance Graduate Carries 'Hire Me' Sign on Wall Street, Draws Interest from IPO Partner

A 25-year-old Florida finance graduate who said he had applied to more than 1,000 jobs took a sign to Wall Street in early September and drew the attention of a partner at an initial public offering firm, who invited him into the office for a conversation and interview.

Samuel Rabinowitz, a May 2022 graduate of Florida Atlantic University with a bachelor’s degree in finance, said he staged the Sept. 2 stunt while visiting New York City for a wedding. The placard he carried read, "Tried LinkedIn. Tried Email. Now Trying Wall Street. Looking for a Finance/Trading Internship or Entry-Level Position. Dedicated. Hungry. Ready to Work." He posted video of the encounter to Instagram, where it has garnered hundreds of thousands of views.

Rabinowitz told reporters he had been applying broadly across the country — including for internships at major banks — without success and that the stunt was born of mounting anxiety and dwindling funds. He said a partner at an IPO company waved him over, struck up a conversation and escorted him into the firm’s office, where he described seeing trading screens and financial data for the first time in a working environment.

"I met his partner and we had a great conversation, a great interview," Rabinowitz said. He declined to name the firm to avoid jeopardizing the opportunity but said he had not yet received a formal offer and remained optimistic.

The episode unfolded as the U.S. labor market has shown signs of cooling. Employers added 22,000 jobs in July, down from 73,000 the previous month and well below economists' expectations, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a trend that has tightened hiring in some sectors and intensified competition for entry-level roles.

Rabinowitz said he had attempted conventional channels — submitting résumés via LinkedIn and email and applying to internships at firms such as JPMorgan and Citigroup — before resorting to a more public plea. He described feelings of fear and depression about his prospects and said he felt compelled to place himself where decision-makers congregate.

The partner who noticed him told Rabinowitz that someone once had given him a chance, and that he saw a compelling story in the applicant. The partner’s invitation into the office led to what Rabinowitz characterized as an impromptu interview focused on his interest in markets and his eagerness to learn.

Social media amplified the encounter: Rabinowitz posted footage of his walk on Wall Street and subsequent conversations, which accumulated more than 250,000 views on Instagram by mid-September. The videos show him carrying the sign and speaking briefly with several passersby and the firm representative.

Analysts say individual cases such as Rabinowitz’s capture the tension graduates face in a cooling jobs market, particularly in finance and trading where hiring can be cyclical and heavily networked. Firms that are actively recruiting for initial public offerings may still seek motivated entry-level employees, but competition remains intense and outcomes vary.

Rabinowitz said he left Wall Street feeling encouraged and resolved to continue pursuing opportunities until he secures a position. He acknowledged that the New York encounter may not guarantee a job offer but framed it as an example of unconventional networking producing tangible results. As of publication, he had not confirmed a hiring decision from the IPO company.