Recent graduate with no offers - Now what?
In a nutshell, I recently finished my masters from a major target in the UK. I tried really hard for recruiting this year and had a few BB interviews but the markets being the way they are in London, wasn't lucky enough to land a job. Needless to say, it's been a horrible few months for me.
So I'm wondering, now what?
I do have good credentials (competitive degree, good grades, BB internship, high GMAT score, extracurriculars ). I thrive on that kind of competitive environment and do not want to settle for an average 9-5 job. What are some of the things I can do to stay in the game? There is really nothing left with the banks since it is off-season.
To prevent having a huge gap on my resume and to somewhat beef it up, I've thought about:
1) taking a post-graduate programming certificate (Java, Matlab, C#) which may boost my competitiveness in Sales and Trading and Research. The added bonus is that I may be looked at more like a recent graduate because of the additional education.
2) I'm also thinking about doing some academic financial research for a professor
3) CFA
4) Take a random back-office job (I'm afraid this will actually hurt my resume)
5) cold email funds for an unpaid internship (I know this is likely the best option, but stil need something to fill up my resume until I can land one)
Out of these options, what is the best way me to position myself for full time recruiting next year? I'm not so picky anymore about the exact job function anymore , but I know I want a challenging high-pressure high-reward job: I am looking at everything from S&T, IBD, Research, ECM/DCM, IM and Consulting (MBB).
Sorry for the lengthy post- I would really appreciate any advice !






mba
mba
I would recommend to do
I would recommend to do number 3 (aim to get Level II by December) and number 5. In addition, expand the funds to prop firms.
Wait and see what happens... number 1 could be an option but that starts in the fall...
You can come work under me.
You can come work under me.
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Ouch... I would have applied
Ouch... I would have applied to some backups in MO or something just in case. Really consider it cause beggars cant be choosers
Not to bust your balls but
Not to bust your balls but given the # of areas you have been considering have you ever thought that maybe you came off as not having any idea what you want to do to recruiters? ---- Short story is a recruiter at a top MM told me after I didn't get an offer the reason I was ding'd was because they were not sure I wanted to be in banking as opposed to S&T, at the time they were correct as I had no clue what I wanted, when I stepped back and read into what each career entails, I decided IB was right for me.....there are a lot of boutiques out there looking for candidates at this time of year, have your considered sacrificing some pay just to get your foot in the door? After a year im sure if you network and have all the credentials outlined you'd be able to transfer into a larger shop.
its one way or the other: hate me or admire.
Use your ASSets if you have
Use your ASSets if you have any.
Follow the shit your fellow monkeys say @shitWSOsays
3) definitely do this,
3) definitely do this, especially if you have nothing else on your plate. Level 1 is not difficult if you studied finance in undergrad
4) there are "random back office jobs" and there are back office jobs that offer decent opportunities for someone in your position. I wouldn't rule this option out just because of a general stereotype.
if all else fails, go be a navy seal. that can't hurt your resume.
Id say go for the CFA
Id say go for the CFA probably the most relevant and will help you out the most. However, not sure how the UK views the CFA.
ron paul revolution wrote: 3)
3) definitely do this, especially if you have nothing else on your plate. Level 1 is not difficult if you studied finance in undergrad
4) there are "random back office jobs" and there are back office jobs that offer decent opportunities for someone in your position. I wouldn't rule this option out just because of a general stereotype.
if all else fails, go be a navy seal. that can't hurt your resume.
Change your name immediately.
Don't do L1 its a waste of time. Especially in this environment its what everyone is turning to in order to make themselves more marketable while not realizing that that time is better spent networking, chasing down leads, and practicing your non-regional diction
First thing, delete the other
First thing, delete the other thread about your having an offer.
http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/leveraging-a...
Just saying. Next though, go do an internship while you keep looking. And get ready for the pain.
“...all truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.”
- Schopenhauer
Back Office Job = better than
Back Office Job = better than no job.
Plus it opens you up to networking to guys in FO.
If you're really that insecure about having it on your resume then just leave it off. At least you're getting paid and you have an opportunity to meet people.
Thanks for all the advice.
Thanks for all the advice.
seabird, I don't intend to take that offer because I realized it's really different from what I want to do and not relevant at all. I don't understand what you are implying by saying that I should delete the post ?
In terms of MO roles, it was my mistake to not apply to any but at the time of recruitment I thought I had a great shot at FO, only finding out after I had already applied that many of the BBs weren't even hiring this year. Because they only let you do one application per year, this also shut me out of the MO applications.
I took extra care to make sure that all my applications to the different areas were tailored and read like I really wanted the role, so I dont think lack of focus was the issue... It simply boiled down to the fact a lot of BBs were hiring 0-5 analysts (not even exaggerating here) - I lost one of the jobs to an experienced hire and another one did not progress past first round after the headcount was lost for the position. I didn't apply to consulting this year, but it's just another option I have to explore now since as someone said, "beggars can't be choosers"
I'm not being choosy when it comes to boutiques or internships and would be perfectly happy with that, but have not had great luck with finding these either. I know doostang has a lot of posts but these are mostly in the US, which I don't have a work visa for.
Is 1) not really a good idea? I will have to take about 10 courses to complete the diploma/certificate from a local university, and I feel like it will actually be useful for S&T and research which I'm more interested in. Also, I'm wondering if it will almost be like delaying my graduation and giving me a better shot at the next recruiting cycle?
Thanks again for all the suggestions !
damn bro, sorry to hear about
damn bro, sorry to hear about your situation.
you might want to check out consulting, or some other areas of employers such as corp finance, etc.
btw, what major did you pursue at your grad school? If you did MSF, and didn't get FO in finance, that really sucks.
if you have good math and
if you have good math and high gpa gre/gmat whatever, why not look at princeton and MITs msf?
I need a crib, a big estate, I need a boat and that need a lake, I need some salmon that need a plate, that need a chef so I feed my safe
From trading equities to slanging wine in Latin America
A ship is safe in harbor, but that is not what a ship i
Raise some capital, start
Raise some capital, start your own business and be your own boss.
Get you CFA or whatever you want to do to help pad your resume in the mean time...
A little entrepreneurial experience will never hurt your resume as long as you maintain your network.
ragnar danneskjöld
Flake wrote: You can come
Lily_1988 wrote: Flake
Follow the shit your fellow monkeys say @shitWSOsays
Lily_1988 wrote: Flake
How long can you do #2 for?
Am I missing something? She
Revolution wrote: time is
"There are three ways to make a living in this business: be first, be smarter, or cheat."
heister wrote: Lily_1988
Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
Haha All joking aside, I
Flake wrote: heister
Lily_1988 wrote: Haha All
Sandhurst wrote: Revolution
Lily_1988 wrote: Haha All
You don't want back
No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he'd only had good intentions; he had money as well.
network network network.
We might have found an
Follow the shit your fellow monkeys say @shitWSOsays
Yohoo wrote: You don't want
I understand its tough - but
The phone is a great
What rothy just said is
Beast
keep on looking, dont give up
runningcitylikediddy
No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he'd only had good intentions; he had money as well.
Not trying to be an ass or
Take up the offer you have on
rastarocket: So my advice: 1.
"Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself."
Currently: quantitative marketing/business development
Previously: management consulting, investment banking
rastarocket wrote: I
Hey thanks for the advice
most times, when somebody
rastarocket wrote: most
well I started in BO, but
have you tried places like
Have you thought of join a
relinquis... Killing the GMAT this December; Over/Under set at: 725 GMATs.
rastarocket wrote: have you
Relinquis wrote: Have you
societies dont help... just