Completely Lost.... Anyone mind providing some advice?

To make this story short, I have a finance background and worked in finance after graduating. A little later, I did a startup, which ended up getting funded, doing product management/marketing. The startup folded and then got a marketing/business dev manager gig at a company the investor runs. However, in the end, they screwed me over and have to start from ground zero now and look for job.

I'm thinking of going back into finance, but assuming I even get a position now, it would most certainly be entry level and I'm not sure how to even explain my odd career trajectory for business school. Or, another possibility is trying to wing it and apply for some marketing/biz dev positions, which makes more logical sense but again, might have to end entry level again. Anyone care to give me some input?

 

Thanks for some input. To answer your questions.. Semitarget top 20, west coast

I think I like startups/product marketing/bizdev...etc more than finance. However, my priority right now is not on what I like more but more on what I can do to best position myself for business school. The most logical position for me to try to obtain is something in product marketing. The problem though, is that I'm non technical, and many product marketing jobs or even general marketing level jobs require 5+ years of experience.

Getting a finance job might actually be easier for me with my background and degree, but then I think this would look really bad for business school because the trajectory would make no sense an reveal lack of focus or something (finance --> startups/marketing --> finance)

 

^ This. Pick the area you like best. Go for it with everything you've got. Your background in the startup, etc. will count as experience for marketing positions. You won't be going in as entry-level.

Currently: future neurologist, current psychotherapist Previously: investor relations (top consulting firm), M&A consulting (Big 4), M&A banking (MM)
 
andts:

To get a better job, expand my network...etc same reasons why most people opt for it

Most people opt for b-school to: 1) Make a career change 2) Check off the boxes on their way to management positions So which is it for you? What do you want to do when you exit b-school?

Also, if you previously worked in finance, why do you think you would be relegated to entry-level finance positions now? You have the experience - it's not like 2 years in a startup erases previous experience or something. I think you're selling yourself short here.

Currently: future neurologist, current psychotherapist Previously: investor relations (top consulting firm), M&A consulting (Big 4), M&A banking (MM)
 

I think for me it's to make a career change back into finance.

Because I hear that most companies do not look too highly on startup experience unless it's a highly entrepreneurial company or another startup. Also, even if I apply for financial analyst roles, many seem to require a minimum 3-5 years of experience.

 
Best Response
andts:

I think for me it's to make a career change back into finance.

Because I hear that most companies do not look too highly on startup experience unless it's a highly entrepreneurial company or another startup. Also, even if I apply for financial analyst roles, many seem to require a minimum 3-5 years of experience.

Depends on what kind of financial role you're looking at. I can find you a handful of finance roles that would at least offer you an interview with your experience.

Also, don't look so harshly on the minimum experience requirements. A while ago I got an interview for a job that requires 5-7 years experience...

I'm 1.5 years out of college.

If you can get a product dev/marketing gig at a good company (i.e. not a no-name boutique), that will position you just as nicely for b-school as the finance experience will. In fact, I would almost argue that your path makes a lot more sense if you pursue the PM/marketing role. Plus, the variety of your experiences, if spun right, might be able to land you as one of those "unique career path" hires (along with the kids who did the military/TFA/JET/musical vagabond path).

Go post on Betsy's MBA applications thread too, she can give you more insight than we can.

Currently: future neurologist, current psychotherapist Previously: investor relations (top consulting firm), M&A consulting (Big 4), M&A banking (MM)
 

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