Career Advice -- Early Stumbling Blocks --> Future Ambitions
Fellow Monkeys,
I've had a tumultuous start to my career. Prior to graduation at my non-target (3.8 GPA and it does have a top 25 undergraduate Business School) I was a Summer Analyst in DB's Global Markets program 2007. However, I did not receive a full time and as the market slowly started to decline my options after graduation were limited so I accepted an offer in mutual fund sales at a prominent, but small, value investing asset management firm.
Apparently I didn't do anything special at the AM and was caught in a round of lay-offs as the market troughed in March 2008. After 5 months on the job market, I was picked up as by a primary research firm providing services to a HF and PE client base. This current job, although the title sounds like a research analyst, is not a traditional equity/fixed income analyst role.
My questions are many, but I feel as though my options are limited...
First, is there anybody out there who experienced early failure in their finance career and can offer guidance as to what was most important in turning things around (CFA® ?, MBA?, networking?, finally catching on at a firm no matter what the role and excelling for a few years?)
Second, what are the chances of acceptance to an MBA program the likes of UT-McCombs or UVA with my strong GPA and potentially a CFA® and strong GMATs, but my application being burdened with the early dissapointment in my work experiences? Granted I am only 24, but to me failure to receive a summer offer and then lay-off in the heart of the financial crisis doesn't look too attractive!!
In my current call I make a lot of outgoing calls and feel that ultimately, a transition into Institutional Sales makes most sense. I am motivated by the CFA® material and prospect of re-igniting my career by eventually attending a top 25 MBA program (but not IVY caliber).
Any advice or condemnation for my stupidity in blowing the chance with DB would be greatly appreciated. I already have kicked my own ass plenty of these early failures (which can be blammed primarily on grandiose behavior).
Thanks,
The One Who F'ed Up Early
I am not learning much and not exposed to potential employers at my current boutique either. I'm interested to know what other people's experiences were.
As long as you do decent on GMAT, I don't see why you can't get in McCombs.
this is not a failure at all.
1) your employment prospects exist, most young adults face much more difficult issues 2) you are working in financial services 3) build your network 4) if you are interested in investment management take the cfa, follow the markets 5) you will get into a good mba program if you do something entrepreneurial as well
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