Any advice for a man who is at the end of his road and doesn't know what to do?

Hey guys, hope you're all doing well. Long time lurker and first time poster here. As you can tell I am ready to give up and I feel hopeless at this point. I signed up because I am extremely frustrated and I want to give up, but I thought my brothers here could help me. My story is quite long and complicated so I'll try make it as short as I can. Ever since I can remember I've always wanted to be successful. I would always tell my family how I would buy them all expensive things, and dreamed about expensive cars/jets and women. As a kid I would look for any opportunity to make a buck. In junior high I used to play Yu-gi-oh, so I would buy cases of cards on ebay and sell packs individually. There was nothing better for business than a kid opening a pack and finding a holographic card. I would sell candy, laffy taffy, anything I could really, I was always a hustler. My entrepreneurial spirit lives on today.

My passion for finance was there from day one. In junior high we played the stock market game. When I helped my team win I was hooked. I went to Binghamton University to study finance, and had the time of my life. I probably partied a little too much, but I dont regret any of it (except now I'm actually starting to regret it). I made the most amazing memories of my life at college, but I dropped the ball when it came to recruiting. I missed the whole cycle and screwed myself over completely. ///End background

My Dilemma

I just graduated last semester with a degree in Finance and I am having an impossibly difficult time finding a job. My gpa used to be good until I got 2 f's and it dropped to a 3.2 overall. I had an internship my freshman year working at a boutique investment as a stockbroker trainee. I also worked the front desk of a medical office one summer. I've been applying through every website out there, and it all feels like its going into a black hole. I am trying to get an investment banking job or internship, or hedge fund or something similar. This is what I have my heart set on and this is what I really want to do.

I've been spending the last few months just absorbing information and trying to learn more about i-banking and learning and learning some more. I try to apply to atleast 10 jobs a day also but it seems like a waste of time. I've read all the guides and I realize that Networking is the most important thing, and will give me a shot at a job unlike applications. I keep convincing myself that I should keep applying and not network that much. Maybe its because I don't really have any contacts in the industry. There are maybe 1 or 2 alums from my frat that are in the industry I think but besides that I don't know anyone.

As you can tell, I am really frustrated and really tired from this. I wake up early every morning to learn more and apply to jobs and I just feel like its getting me nowhere. I think my resume is pretty solid and my cover letter too, but I am not positive. I just don't know what to do at this point. I want to give up but I NEED to work, and I want to work, I really want to. I got my diploma in January so I've been at it for about 5 months now. Does anyone have any advice for me? I am sorry for such a long post, I tried to make it as short as I could. Thanks for all your help guys, I really really really appreciate it.

- A man at the end of his road.

 
fajiste1:
Ever since I can remember I've always wanted to be a billionaire. I would always tell my family how I would buy them all expensive things, and dreamed about expensive cars/jets and women.
First of all start being realistic, you shouldn't focus on the money. You will never go through the ranks if you only do it for the money. Secondly haven't you done any internship or other relevant extra curricular activities? And are you applying mainly on FT offers?
 

I should've stopped reading when you said "I can remember I've always wanted to be a billionaire" but I continued on. However, when you mentioned "Yu-gi-oh", I closed the thread and stopped reading.

Born in hell, forged from suffering, hardened by pain.
 
brianklk:

I should've stopped reading when you said "I can remember I've always wanted to be a billionaire"
but I continued on.
However, when you mentioned "Yu-gi-oh", I closed the thread and stopped reading.

This. Don't take this the wrong way, op - but you sound like you're doing this for entirely the wrong reasons, and you sound like you're not very smart.

Maybe take a look at those two things and good luck with your search!

 
Dirk Dirkenson:
brianklk:

I should've stopped reading when you said "I can remember I've always wanted to be a billionaire"
but I continued on.
However, when you mentioned "Yu-gi-oh", I closed the thread and stopped reading.

This. Don't take this the wrong way, op - but you sound like you're doing this for entirely the wrong reasons, and you sound like you're not very smart.

Maybe take a look at those two things and good luck with your search!

Haters gonna hate. You guys are my biggest motivation. Thank you.

 

Well being a billionaire was just my dream as kid. I'm not in it for the money, I just wanted to give you a sense of my entrepreneurship. And yea I just edited the post cause I realized I left out my experience. I spent a summer as a stockbroker trainee working at a boutique investment bank on wall street. Lots of cold calling and looking up leads and listening to analysts every morning, but I spun it pretty well on my resume I think. and I also worked a summer at a medical office, at the front desk basically helping run things smoothly. I also have experience as head of the finance committee on my fraternity and VP of frat. And yeah I am mainly applying to full time offers.

 

not sure how much an impact it will be for your gpa (or cost to do), but if you could retake only the two classes you failed and get A's, your overall GPA would probably go up to around 3.4.

and my guess as far as networking goes, you're simply going to have to network with the few contacts/alums you have and then cold emailing/calling the appropriate at places you want to work (whether you have a connection to them or not).

There have been some pretty crazy success stories on WSO. 5 months out of school isn't that bad. Perhaps look at paid/unpaid internships as well if you can financially take it. Good luck.

 
Best Response

I wanted to be a billionaire growing up too from owning a pizza shop, being a secret agent ala James Bond, playing in the NFL, and being an action packed paleontologist like in Jurassic Park. I also rocked out with Pokemon in my spare time.

Then I turned 8 or something and grew up.

I had a much worse GPA from what I'm assuming is a worse university with a non-business major. In short, I was far more fucked then you. So here's your tough love road map to getting a job:

  1. Take a shit job and make money. The quality experience gap on your resume is going to suck either way, but do you think it looks better to sit on your ass for half a year "applying really hard" or does it look better to show that you have a work ethic? Employers understand that the economy is awful. They don't understand laziness. I graduated in May and was a GameStop assistant store manager until November. Did I hate my life and take a dump on my self respect? You bet. But I now had a proven track record of hitting awesome numbers in my respective field, got one more example of "leadership experience," made at least something over that time period, and got to tell my eventual interviewers that I would do whatever it takes to get something I want. Finding a job while you have a job is far better than finding a job while you don't have a job.

  2. Network your ass off. "I keep convincing myself that I should keep applying and not network that much." is exactly why you're unemployed. You can apply to far more than 10 jobs a day and still strike out every time. You have finance professors, internships, part time job experiences, and FRATERNITY BROTHERS IN THE INDUSTRY and you can't even get an interview? Come on man, you're doing something wrong here. Call people up, grab beers, grab coffee, or just do something. Most people want to help other people out. There's an awesome feeling of satisfaction when you recommend someone for a job and they get it. It makes you feel good and it makes you look good. You just have to keep asking...

  3. Realize that there is more to life than banking...especially if you didn't go to Princeton undergrad or Harvard for an MBA. If you are as entrepreneurial as you say you are, banking probably isn't even right for you. I applied to Goldman & MS, networked into Barclays, etc. prestige chasing with NYC dreams and struck out completely. Shifted gears a bit, got back at it, and now I work for an equivalent level of prestige firm in commerical real estate, albeit in a smaller market, but who cares? I love my job, it is awesome, and I'll have one hell of an income potential.

Who wouldn't want to be a billionaire? Hell, who wouldn't want to "just" have a couple million in the bank? You gotta work on being a thousandaire first though, big guy. You gotta work on being employed. Don't swing for the fences before you even know how to hold a bat

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 
CRE:

I wanted to be a billionaire growing up too from owning a pizza shop, being a secret agent ala James Bond, playing in the NFL, and being an action packed paleontologist like in Jurassic Park. I also rocked out with Pokemon in my spare time.

Who wouldn't want to be a billionaire? Hell, who wouldn't want to "just" have a couple million in the bank? You gotta work on being a thousandaire first though, big guy. You gotta work on being employed. Don't swing for the fences before you even know how to hold a bat

You're officially my favorite poster

 
Fetter:
CRE:

I wanted to be a billionaire growing up too from owning a pizza shop, being a secret agent ala James Bond, playing in the NFL, and being an action packed paleontologist like in Jurassic Park. I also rocked out with Pokemon in my spare time.

Who wouldn't want to be a billionaire? Hell, who wouldn't want to "just" have a couple million in the bank? You gotta work on being a thousandaire first though, big guy. You gotta work on being employed. Don't swing for the fences before you even know how to hold a bat

You're officially my favorite poster

I feel like I've been riding CREs jock for a few weeks now but guy spits truth and has unique stories and is willing to share. Quickly rising the ranks of top posters.

This to all my hatin' folks seeing me getting guac right now..
 
Fetter:
CRE:

I wanted to be a billionaire growing up too from owning a pizza shop, being a secret agent ala James Bond, playing in the NFL, and being an action packed paleontologist like in Jurassic Park. I also rocked out with Pokemon in my spare time.

Who wouldn't want to be a billionaire? Hell, who wouldn't want to "just" have a couple million in the bank? You gotta work on being a thousandaire first though, big guy. You gotta work on being employed. Don't swing for the fences before you even know how to hold a bat

You're officially my favorite poster

Nice

fist bump

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 
CRE:

I wanted to be a billionaire growing up too from owning a pizza shop, being a secret agent ala James Bond, playing in the NFL, and being an action packed paleontologist like in Jurassic Park. I also rocked out with Pokemon in my spare time.

Then I turned 8 or something and grew up.

I had a much worse GPA from what I'm assuming is a worse university with a non-business major. In short, I was far more fucked then you. So here's your tough love road map to getting a job:

1. Take a shit job and make money. The quality experience gap on your resume is going to suck either way, but do you think it looks better to sit on your ass for half a year "applying really hard" or does it look better to show that you have a work ethic? Employers understand that the economy is awful. They don't understand laziness. I graduated in May and was a GameStop assistant store manager until November. Did I hate my life and take a dump on my self respect? You bet. But I now had a proven track record of hitting awesome numbers in my respective field, got one more example of "leadership experience," made at least something over that time period, and got to tell my eventual interviewers that I would do whatever it takes to get something I want. Finding a job while you have a job is far better than finding a job while you don't have a job.

2. Network your ass off. "I keep convincing myself that I should keep applying and not network that much." is exactly why you're unemployed. You can apply to far more than 10 jobs a day and still strike out every time. You have finance professors, internships, part time job experiences, and FRATERNITY BROTHERS IN THE INDUSTRY and you can't even get an interview? Come on man, you're doing something wrong here. Call people up, grab beers, grab coffee, or just do something. Most people want to help other people out. There's an awesome feeling of satisfaction when you recommend someone for a job and they get it. It makes you feel good and it makes you look good. You just have to keep asking...

3. Realize that there is more to life than banking...especially if you didn't go to Princeton undergrad or Harvard for an MBA. If you are as entrepreneurial as you say you are, banking probably isn't even right for you. I applied to Goldman & MS, networked into Barclays, etc. prestige chasing with NYC dreams and struck out completely. Shifted gears a bit, got back at it, and now I work for an equivalent level of prestige firm in commerical real estate, albeit in a smaller market, but who cares? I love my job, it is awesome, and I'll have one hell of an income potential.

Who wouldn't want to be a billionaire? Hell, who wouldn't want to "just" have a couple million in the bank? You gotta work on being a thousandaire first though, big guy. You gotta work on being employed. Don't swing for the fences before you even know how to hold a bat

great stuff, next blog post? just needs a title.. "From GameStop assistant store manager to CRE"
WSO Content & Social Media. Follow us: Linkedin, IG, Facebook, Twitter.
 
AndyLouis:
CRE:

I wanted to be a billionaire growing up too from owning a pizza shop, being a secret agent ala James Bond, playing in the NFL, and being an action packed paleontologist like in Jurassic Park. I also rocked out with Pokemon in my spare time.
Then I turned 8 or something and grew up.
I had a much worse GPA from what I'm assuming is a worse university with a non-business major. In short, I was far more fucked then you. So here's your tough love road map to getting a job:
1. Take a shit job and make money. The quality experience gap on your resume is going to suck either way, but do you think it looks better to sit on your ass for half a year "applying really hard" or does it look better to show that you have a work ethic? Employers understand that the economy is awful. They don't understand laziness. I graduated in May and was a GameStop assistant store manager until November. Did I hate my life and take a dump on my self respect? You bet. But I now had a proven track record of hitting awesome numbers in my respective field, got one more example of "leadership experience," made at least something over that time period, and got to tell my eventual interviewers that I would do whatever it takes to get something I want. Finding a job while you have a job is far better than finding a job while you don't have a job.
2. Network your ass off. "I keep convincing myself that I should keep applying and not network that much." is exactly why you're unemployed. You can apply to far more than 10 jobs a day and still strike out every time. You have finance professors, internships, part time job experiences, and FRATERNITY BROTHERS IN THE INDUSTRY and you can't even get an interview? Come on man, you're doing something wrong here. Call people up, grab beers, grab coffee, or just do something. Most people want to help other people out. There's an awesome feeling of satisfaction when you recommend someone for a job and they get it. It makes you feel good and it makes you look good. You just have to keep asking...
3. Realize that there is more to life than banking...especially if you didn't go to Princeton undergrad or Harvard for an MBA. If you are as entrepreneurial as you say you are, banking probably isn't even right for you. I applied to Goldman & MS, networked into Barclays, etc. prestige chasing with NYC dreams and struck out completely. Shifted gears a bit, got back at it, and now I work for an equivalent level of prestige firm in commerical real estate, albeit in a smaller market, but who cares? I love my job, it is awesome, and I'll have one hell of an income potential.
Who wouldn't want to be a billionaire? Hell, who wouldn't want to "just" have a couple million in the bank? You gotta work on being a thousandaire first though, big guy. You gotta work on being employed. Don't swing for the fences before you even know how to hold a bat

great stuff, next blog post? just needs a title.. "From GameStop assistant store manager to CRE"

Andy hook me up with some WSO credits so I can shower CRE with 'nanners. kthx

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 
CRE:

I wanted to be a billionaire growing up too from owning a pizza shop, being a secret agent ala James Bond, playing in the NFL, and being an action packed paleontologist like in Jurassic Park. I also rocked out with Pokemon in my spare time.

Then I turned 8 or something and grew up.

I had a much worse GPA from what I'm assuming is a worse university with a non-business major. In short, I was far more fucked then you. So here's your tough love road map to getting a job:

1. Take a shit job and make money. The quality experience gap on your resume is going to suck either way, but do you think it looks better to sit on your ass for half a year "applying really hard" or does it look better to show that you have a work ethic? Employers understand that the economy is awful. They don't understand laziness. I graduated in May and was a GameStop assistant store manager until November. Did I hate my life and take a dump on my self respect? You bet. But I now had a proven track record of hitting awesome numbers in my respective field, got one more example of "leadership experience," made at least something over that time period, and got to tell my eventual interviewers that I would do whatever it takes to get something I want. Finding a job while you have a job is far better than finding a job while you don't have a job.

2. Network your ass off. "I keep convincing myself that I should keep applying and not network that much." is exactly why you're unemployed. You can apply to far more than 10 jobs a day and still strike out every time. You have finance professors, internships, part time job experiences, and FRATERNITY BROTHERS IN THE INDUSTRY and you can't even get an interview? Come on man, you're doing something wrong here. Call people up, grab beers, grab coffee, or just do something. Most people want to help other people out. There's an awesome feeling of satisfaction when you recommend someone for a job and they get it. It makes you feel good and it makes you look good. You just have to keep asking...

3. Realize that there is more to life than banking...especially if you didn't go to Princeton undergrad or Harvard for an MBA. If you are as entrepreneurial as you say you are, banking probably isn't even right for you. I applied to Goldman & MS, networked into Barclays, etc. prestige chasing with NYC dreams and struck out completely. Shifted gears a bit, got back at it, and now I work for an equivalent level of prestige firm in commerical real estate, albeit in a smaller market, but who cares? I love my job, it is awesome, and I'll have one hell of an income potential.

Who wouldn't want to be a billionaire? Hell, who wouldn't want to "just" have a couple million in the bank? You gotta work on being a thousandaire first though, big guy. You gotta work on being employed. Don't swing for the fences before you even know how to hold a bat

Wow. Well put, sir.

 

same situation man i have 3 internship a 3.5 and am a double major its tough out there im looking at an internal audit position just to hold me over till i can break in the industry i graduated in dec as well best of luck this shit sucks and its just how its gonna be for a while even though the job market seems to be improving

 
CoochieMane:

CRE deserves kudos for that post.

OP, post your resume up here. Everybody thinks they have a great resume, but let's make sure.

Thanks man.

But ya, for what it's worth, my resume was the tits too - but if no one sees it no one cares.

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 
AllDay_028:

CRE is a tool, believe me

(he doesn't know I know him IRL)

(this got weird)

I hope you are who I think you are haha

I am also not a tool

edit: ya you definitely are hahah and "in real life" is a stretch, big guy

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 
AllDay_028:

CRE is a tool, believe me

(he doesn't know I know him IRL)

(this got weird)

At least he doesn't have dreams about an internet forum...

;)

"For I am a sinner in the hands of an angry God. Bloody Mary full of vodka, blessed are you among cocktails. Pray for me now and at the hour of my death, which I hope is soon. Amen."
 

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