Fired From Job (and have NYC rent to pay) ... Need Advice On Next Steps

Hi All,

I graduated from a top 25 school last May, and was working in finance in NYC, not investment banking, but like credit research at a mid size firm. I made some mistakes and rubbed some people the wrong way at the beginning (while most of the directors were a-holes, I should have killed them with kindness) because I did not play the office politics game and environment was just toxic. I was not really interested in the work, but I made some mistakes which I take responsibility for. I definitely am staying in NYC and would like your help on how I should approach the job search. I have enough money for the next two months of rent, but want to move as efficiently as possible.

What should I do next? I was only at the firm for three months. So should I put this on my resume and say that I left because it was not a good fit and I wanted to spend my time looking for other opportunities and increasing my skill set, or leave it off my resume and have a 1 year gap. I do have two i-banking internships on my resume. My old employer will only confirm the dates of my employment and will not say anything else.

I have been in conversation with this bank that focuses on private placements and raising funds for private equity and hedge funds that said they could take me on and pay me $35 an hr and sponsor me for my series licenses. They would put me in a WeWorks since the office is not in the city. Is this a good move (I know my options are limited) and what should I do in case it does not work out?

I am definitely using this as motivation and a learning experience, but would love your suggestions on what i should do short-term in terms of what to put on resumes, telling alumni, interviews etc.

Thanks

9 Comments
 

Definitely do not put 3 months of experience on the resume. It shows major red flags and most employers will assume you were fired - nor are your employers likely to provide a positive reference.

You were not licensed, consider this a blessing. Had you been licensed, your employment with your mid-sized firm would have shown up when you authorized them to access your CRD. All things considered, I would take the $35 an hour gig.

I feel for you, that really sucks, but best of luck moving forward

 
Best Response

Are you kidding?

Take the job. Doing work on private placements is a natural door to some great opportunities. Learn from this and do everything possible to kiss the asshole's asses next time.

Second tidbit: if you're going to work in a corporate environment, know these rules by heart and follow them. Quote below.

In 1988, Robert Jackall wrote a book called Moral Mazes published by Oxford University Press. He said organizations today follow this code:

  1. You never go around your boss.
  2. You tell the boss what he wants to hear, even though your boss claims that he wants dissenting views.
  3. If your boss wants something dropped, you drop it.
  4. You are sensitive to your boss’s wishes so that you anticipate what he wants; you don’t force him, in other words, to act as boss.
  5. Your job is not to report something that your boss does not want reported, but rather to cover it up. You do what your job requires. You keep your mouth shut. [Emphasis added]
 

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