Stay Strong Guys!
Well, I just wanted to take the time to share some insight and a wonderful success story about me!
I have a degree in Econ and have taken some investment courses via CSI (canada). My GPA was embarrassing and I had zero internships, and I was set to enter the financial/investment industry!
This task many people told me to not bother, or that I'de never get in, but I am one of the most persistent people! Everyone tells you to take ANY job you can get, and gain the experience. While this is good advice, make sure you are atleast heading in the proper direction..... Myself I had no interest in Sales/Calling people non stop so did not want to gain my experience from a bank. I spent THREE YEARS on the hunt for the perfect job. In the meantime I bartended in a position I held throughout school.
Now I will be the first to admit I made some mistakes along the way, but nothing is the end of the world with persistence and belief! Yes I felt down at times, but I just kept applying and applying for positions that I would REALLY enjoy and some that were "tolerable".
As for mistakes.....
*Make effort in school, get a decent GPA, it does not need to be outstanding...but make it DECENT!
*Network and get involved in clubs within/out of school that are related to your dream job
*CALL PEOPLE.... this was perhaps my biggest error, I did not cold call anyone. This made everything much harder.
I was told to take any position I could take, but my gut told me not to do it! I have sent over 1500 Resumes out, and had 10 interviews. I was offered 3 positions. (yeah wow I suck). at first I accepted a position as a broker, but after going over the contract in extreme detail I knew cold calling and commission was not for me. I would not enjoy myself. I ended up turning down the job.
Another job I was offered was an Investment Advisor role, again too much cold calling and phone work for my liking.... Turned this one down too and people called me crazy. Parents were frustrated.... Everyone thought I was an idiot and wasting my life away.
I then got a phone interview that went very well! and in 5 days the company flew me out for a face to face. Unfortunately I did not feel this interview went well, I froze and could not answer some technical questions I normally could. I was heartbroken....felt defeated and starting to second guess every decision I had made.
I got a phone call 6 days later and was offered the position! I was excited, I mean super excited. This job was a DREAM COME TRUE, perfect for me. Just what I wanted and even when I thought my odds were slim it worked out!!! All of my persistence paid off. Today I just finished my first week at the job, and LOVE the place, people and tasks.
I have thought back and some close friends have also chatted with me. Imagine if I took one of those two jobs I turned down....would I be happy for just grinding for experience. In both of the roles I would not be happy and this would have NEVER come along. Too all those losing hope, stay strong, something WILL come to you. If you currently have NO job, I do suggest taking something industry related and just keep applying. Do not get yourself into any long term contracts.
Seriously, too all those struggling I do know what your going through, trust me! I had some long days, some sad days and some days where I questioned myself and my decisions...Was I wasting time? Would I change some things I did (YES, check my mistakes and make an effort for them all). Overall I am one of the happiest people right now, super excited, overwhelmed and proud of myself.
I held out for my dream job and it came to me! Of course this does not happen to everyone, but do not take a job you will regret you took EVERY time you go to work. You are all better than that, have patience and stay strong!! Hope this gives some of you hope and cheers you all up!
Best advice even if it is a hard thing to do:
GPA---get one thats reasonable
NETWORK--join clubs in/out of school where you meet people
COLDCALL+EMAIL--Just do it, This is my biggest regret
LISTEN TO YOURSELF--In the end it is your life, do not do anything to please someone else, Do what you want to, not what other tell you.
STAY STRONG- Cheer up, stay strong, keep plugging along. Persistence pays off!
Hope you all have a great day, and some of you take my advice, or at least feel a little more positive with yourself and what you are capable of!
Goodluck to you all! Take care and go get a job you love!
Congrats man! This is awesome! I'm on the same path.
do you want a medal or a chest to pin it on?
Not trying to gloat, but to share my story with others, giving hope and confidence to some of those who may be feeling down. Odds seemed to be against me, but I did not give up or give in, I pushed through tough times. Tell others of my mistakes and perhaps how to job hunt a little better. Giving an inspiring story that is not from your average person with tons of internships and a perfect GPA... but one who had the odds stacked against him perhaps....
Don't mean to come off gloating, yes I am happy, but just trying to share with others, gives tips and confidence!
Do you like exclamation points!
You never said what dream job you actually landed.
Details I don't find that important, but I managed to land an Asset Control Analyst with a very large fund in Canada. It is entry/intermediate level, but the company is great and I love doing my tasks.
Congrats man! Thanks for sharing!
Congrats. It's always a great relief to make that step into a role you enjoy. Make sure you keep pushing hard.
Also---
Is your name Yoda?
Soooo.... what's the job?
Thanks for sharing, was a really nice read. Congratulations on the job man, glad you enjoy it.
Congrats on winning the position. Would love to see a write up about it in a week or two.
The sheer persistence of sending over 1500 resumes alone is awe-inspiring. Well done sir. Which city are you working in? Will buy you a beer if I'm ever in town.
I have lived my whole life in Saskatoon SK.....that is up until now. I now know nobody in Edmonton, AB. The whole change is overwhelming, relocation was interesting, tough to say goodbye to some friends back home. I knew for the industry in Investments I would have to relocate to either Ontario or Alberta.... Alberta was the one that got me a job so I am here now :-) And I am not lying, I sent 1500+ resumes, yeah it was tough, but quitting gets you no where. To keep myself going I treated each day as a new one, looking for jobs and forcing myself to apply for as many as I could find on a daily basis. minimum 2 a day (that may seem low... but EVENTUALLY there is only so many knew jobs to look at each day). I was very self disciplined and cut out other things of my daily routine until I was content with my applications then continued on with my day. #1 priority was job hunting.
Sounds great, will do my best to do this in the next few weeks. Currently the company is changing over there recon system to something 100% new, so I have been learning the "old" way and starting next week I think we all start learning the "new" way. I am interested to see if things got easier or harder with this new system.
congrats!
Congrats. Great story!
Update!
Week 2 is now complete! It is a long weekend here in Canada, but most of Trade Support is working overtime all three days! (overtime is apparently rare with this company but time will tell, just busy changing systems). Anyways, I am still too new to be of much help, so unfortunately I do not get to go in (I am the type of person who has no problems working overtime or long hours as long as I am of use....Still too knew to be doing these system transitions and no use paying me to watch someone). So that is unfortunate.
I am still shadowing a summer student who is super kind, and I have been slowing gaining more and more access on my computer. This week I did much more individually and then asked questions when need be. The amount of information and terminology I am being buried in, is overwhelming, but I like the challenge and I try to take as much in as possible. This coming Friday will be my first day on my own! Going to take my final notes, to ensure I am confident with all steps of my daily function. (hardest part seems to be remembering what folder everything goes into!!). This whole process is both beneficial and negative in the fact we are changing systems. I am currently learning the old system, just incase we encounter future issues. Shortly I will begin learning the new system. This is great, getting a full understanding of what we are changing and fixing and the pros/cons of each system. The negatives however is EVERYONE is super busy, and perhaps some instructions get rushed through, cannot take as much time to teach me as they had hoped. Again, with two systems it is very overwhelming, but I am fully confident in the next week or maybe two, I will be fully comfortable in my role (atleast with the old system...Hope a lot carries over!!)
Anyways, to those still on the hunt, best of luck. Patience is very important, and don't settle for something that you will not enjoy longer term. If you are wanting to get into one industry, stay industry related, don't branch the other direction if you know thats what you want.
I had no intentions to enter the Retail side of investing, just not my thing. Saw lots of positions I qualified for, but knew in the long run, it was just a step in the wrong direction (OTHER THAN GETTING IN WITH A COMPANY that perhaps has other sections). It is a tough call to make, but do what makes you happy.
Will update you all how next Friday goes, I am nervous, excited and eager for it to come.
Well tomorrow marks my 1 month! And I promised an update.
When I first started, it was overwhelming, but shortly learned my daily responsibilities and how the system worked.
Once I got comfortable, we got SLAMMED with work due to a new system coming in place, so we were dual processing and ultimately 2-3 times the work. I worked extra hours and weekends (nothing to crazy).
Once we went "officially" live on our new system work was *supposed** to get easier. However like all new things, that doesn't happen right away. The struggle of the new system was VERY overwhelming for me. Not only was I knew, but now the system I was comfortable with is not existent. We have now been live for almost two weeks, and just now am I beginning to get somewhat comfortable again. We still find issues and flaws but are slowly fixing everything. Managers and Co-workers have been very supportive and a pleasure to work with. It made the whole process much easier.
Shortly the individual who trained me is leaving (1.5 weeks) and I will be 100% on my own. I still have a lot to learn with him on the new system, but I am feeling quite confident in myself, and if I have any issues I know others will be willing to help.
I am still loving this job, it has not all been rainbows and sunshine, but challenging work is something I enjoy. I love to continually push myself and learn new things. I like to be proficient at any task I am faced with. So all and all, my decision to wait for this job, and turn down a couple others I do not regret at all. So to all those wondering if my opinion would change of this job: it has not, I still love it.
To all those heading back to school shortly, start focusing on what you want to do, and plan for it. Network the best you can, and try to meet the important people you need to and the process will be much easier for you. I got lucky, perhaps my persistence paid off, but if I had to do it again, I would put more effort into networking and school just so my hunt for the ultimate job may have been shorter.
Sounds like a good story. Still not catching what you are doing though
I am an Asset Control Analyst, I am in charge of daily reconciliations for positions,holdings and transactions. From our system to our custodian, collateral pledged, our system to Eagle and Charles Rivers. I should be a Reconciliation pro in no time!
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