Not Quite Right: What Do I Do?
Hey all,
Honesty hour: Am I too old (26), too inexperienced (no IB, no internship, only Jr. Acct experience), or both to hope for any success?
I'm feeling pretty screwed, and I'm hoping people out there have advice on how to improve my future outlook. I'm a 26 y.o. Senior at a non-target school in NYC graduating December 2020 with a Finance BBA. I've never had an internship, but I work currently as a Jr. Accountant for a small business in CT. I also have management experience in the medical industry along with a list of other non-finance experiences. I've got 1st Honors Dean's List, 3.88 GPA, Beta Gamma Sigma member, and I'm feeling like all that won't compensate for being just the wrong fit for everything I find. Every internship program I find wants people for this summer who will be done in May, or who will be graduating later than I am for sophomore type programs. January 2021 programs and full-time positions seem to all want people with past experience.
Thoughts? Am I just wrong enough to fit into anything, or am I a seemingly good fit meaning it's something else that keeps getting me rejected?
Everyone has their own path. There is certainly nothing wrong with you.
Your work experience should assist you in moving into an assurance role with one of the Big 4 following graduation. Spend a year in assurance and explore options to sit for the CPA and/or CFA. If you’re a strong enough performer, lateral into an advisory group with your employer. If not, lateral to another Big 4’s advisory group based on personal and professional interest.
Spend 3-4 years in advisory, focus on the quality of your work with the intention of securing strong recommendations, land a 700+ GMAT, and matriculate to a T20 business program where you can hit the proverbial reset on your career. I know plenty of people in their mid 30s at some of the best business programs.
Comparison is a dangerous game of which I am guilty too. You’re good, my man.
Man, awesome how you just mapped out this very realistic and doable game plan for this guy. Nice.
Thank you so much for that response. It's immensely helpful to see a road map that I hadn't thought of. I've been super focused on just going down the IB route since that's the usual "first step". I appreciate the insight, and you taking the time to lay it out like that.
If you don't mind I'd love your thoughts on this: My school offers a one-year MBA program following their Finance BBA, If I don't manage to land a position, would it be worth doing that instead? Or would having a non-target MBA without undergrad experience make me a less appealing candidate? The programs (that I'd be interested in) include:
Business; Business Analytics; Corporate Finance; Investment Management; or Strategy and International Business.
Ideally my long-term goals are corporate M&A or corporate consulting. In your opinion, does the path you suggested, or quickly earning an MBA despite the school, better set me up for my long-term goals?
You might as well light money on fire than go to that MBA program.
26 is nowhere near too old - plenty of threads here discussing age. Very viable path to move to like a Big 4 accounting job, than transfer to a TAS role (or direct here if possible), and then move into IB potentially even w/o an MBA.
The MBA is not just like any other graduate degree. At a top 10 MBA program(some will say up to top 15 is fine), you can think of an MBA as a magic carpet, that will take you to heights that you would have never reached otherwise. Don't think of an MBA like just another degree to add on your resume.
I saw in your profile that you went to Pace for Undergrad. To be blunt, if you do an MBA at Pace, you will not break into any good roles. Instead of getting a magic carpet from the program, you'll just accrue more debt and no good employment opportunities.
You have a strong GPA, and I'm confident you can do well on your GMAT and in life. Here is my homework for you:
A) Read about MBA on reddit and on this site. B) Don't buy into the cost savings approach lower tier MBAs offer. Most of what you learn in an MBA won't be different from your undergrad classes. MBA's are there to give you a good network and brand name. Rule of thumb is any MBA not ranked within the top 15 won't help you.
Thanks very much, that's helpful to hear! I'll be sure to look more into MBA costs and benefits.
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