Probably a waste of education
As the title suggest, not sure why I forked out over £40,000 on fees for BSc and MSc from a business school. With no experience and s*** a levels. They look at me like I'm a failure, I have tried for 4 years to break into Banking. I guess now it's time to learn from everyone else and see what I am doing wrong. Lucky to see this forum, it should help me.
As for my A levels, I have 2 A levels, 2 As. Thats 240 UCAS points,
Non-target uni BSc Financial Econ and got a 1st. Then went to A business School in London (a good one) got a distinction but even still...
I have had no luck!
I'm pretty sure you need at least 300 UCAS points... Additionally, how are your extra-curricular activities?
Extra-curricular activities... well if you mean finance societies and such. None, I have spent most my life working self employed to finance my self. The only extra stuff I have done is usually in my life of work. Other then that, not much extra curricular acitivites. As for 300 ucas points, your right.
I really have no idea why I hoped doing a MSc from Business School would help me show that my a levels were a glitch.
I may start cold calling, I need to learn how to appraoch this though.
Did you have any internships?
Thanks for the kind advice, I am from London and tried to apply to loads of boutiques, still no luck. Internships? haha no, I would do anything to even have one for a week. It's crazy, I can do financial modelling and all the other stuff. I just cant even get past the HR screens.
Never give up, seriously. Don't go for the big banks, aim low, and work your way up. Lot's of people have to do it like that. Have no shame and keep your heap up. Good Luck!
London is tough, I only had 1 real internship so it's not the end of the world. Have you tried your school's network? BTW I use to live in Clapham with a relative. It was a great summer. I miss LDN so much.
Basically, neither of my parents have an education. Migrants. And then growing up in East London, I messed around and wanted to be a gangster. I messed about so much that really getting into university was just for the fun of it to get funding to do stupid stuff. I had no idea what banking was, no idea what PE was. I never knew what an internship was and every time I clicked on one and saw 320 ucas points. I gave up. I repeated this 100 times, viciously.
I then thought let me pay £20,000+ to go to Business School, then I was around all these people that had industry experience. I was very nervous as to how I would fit in. I don't share the same life style and I never had the opportunities they did. I was an outcast; no matter how hard I tried. But I changed; I learnt how to talk to people and approach people. I did excellent at my Business School, I got a distinction and made loads of close friends.
It's all about experience for me, I am slowly learning. I never had some one to look up to or tell me, do this or do that. I have had to learn everything the hard way. That's fine, but now that I am broke and in debt and literally no money. I have no idea what to do with my life. I don't want to go on Jobseekers because I have too much pride. It's been 7 months since I finished my post grad and I have done nothing.
It sucks.... immensely.
Best.
I here ya, both of my parents came from nothing and hustle through to get good jobs nothing in finance. Both of my parents are the 1st to go off to uni, so never give up on your goal. Don't we all have bad past as youth? I went from getting expelled 2x, burning stuff in the sink (I was a devious kid), working at Subway, to getting into a state school. It can be done. I have a friend that graduated from Northwestern and is now working a retail job. A few months ago I was working overnights at Walmart it sucked, but you have to stay motivated. I also worked with people who were homeless and on foodstamps, but going to school to achieve their dream. If it takes you to do Jobseekers to find something, then do it. Also keep in mind that youth unemployment not just in the UK, but globally is terrible. Never be ashamed seriously, I bet most people in your class year is in the same boat or something similar. Don't let people fool you. I know lots of wealthy kids that commuted over an hour for a retail job so their friends and family wouldn't find out. PM if you want more advice.
I think the biggest problem is - I don't know what to do. Traditional methods (the easy path) are all not available to me. I have to go the long way. So I am going to do my research and make a plan of action to get this done!
Hey man, good luck -- it may take an indirect path and some extra time but life is not a race and when you accomplish what you set out to it's going to feel massively awesome. I don't have any sage advice other than that it's definitely possible to get what you are after so go for it.
Dude I left my first undergrad with a sub 2.0 GPA, graduated from a low tier school after that (basically community college 2.0), couldn't find a job or internship for the life of me in 2009. Similar background as you, my mother came from a working class family, my dad came from a poor white family with 12 kids in a 2 bed house. I finally landed an entry level role in private wealth after 9 months of interviews and a LOT of building a network from scratch. Not what I was looking for but I worked harder than everyone else there, took a few quick promotions, am finishing my CFA and now headed to an MBA business schools ">M7 MBA with ridiculous banking placement. It's funny, 5 years ago nobody would pick up the phone, now I know that if I play my cards right I have a shot at getting into any major institution. Don't let the debt bother you too much, it seems like a lot now but if you play the 'long game' and keep advancing yourself however you can it could still pay off.
Wow man, that's a crazy story. Well done, you all inspiring me. I just picked up an internship in Structured Products. looking to get that sorted out asap! Get the ball moving... I will do a MBA one day. I will be active and get this done!
Congrats!
Just thought I would let you know... I got a job in derivatives (sales + analyst) now I am looking to move over to the banks. Still grafting !!!
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