Reality Check - Hundreds of Job applications and no interviews - Please help

Hello everyone, a recent graduate here from The  City college of New York. applied to hundreds and hundreds of job applications with no interviews. is it my resume? is it the market? is it the jobs that I am applying for are not for me? please help!

I am applying to Credit Analyst role, Portfolio Management Role, FP&A, Investment Analyst, valuation analyst, Leveraged finance, private credit analyst and venture capital and still no interviews.

Attached is my resume.

https://imgur.com/a/K2zKNRV

Please help

5 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Your resume definitely falls more on the week side - more so just based on formatting and bullet point structure. I think a resume rewrite will help improve your chances quite a bit. 

For instance, you were a Teaching Assistant for financial analyst bootcamp, but didn't specify how many students you were overseeing, the financial concepts you taught and what your workflows were. You could rewrite that with the hypothetical bullet points below. The below was a combination of me making stuff up and getting a skeletal structure for ChatGPT when typing in "give me 3 bullet points for a teaching assistant in financial analysis with a emphasis in Excel-based assignments". 

  • Assisted faculty in developing and grading Excel-based financial analysis assignments, ensuring alignment with course objectives and learning outcomes including detailed discounted cash flow analysis, comparable peers analysis and use of advanced logic functions, pivot tables and what-if analyses for over 50 students.
  • Provide support to students during weekly tutorial sessions, offering guidance on Excel functions, financial modeling techniques, and problem-solving strategies exercising my interpersonal communication skills helping address over 100 inquiries and questions throughout the course
  • Facilitated tutorials on Excel proficiency, including topics such as pivot tables, financial formulas, data visualization, and the end use of the financial models within he investment banking ecosystem.

For your investment Summer Analyst position, you didn't detail the impact of your work nor the transaction volume of the financial models you were developing. You always want to focus on the larger workflow and goals rather than the day-to-day minutia. Making a DCF is great, but saying that you formulated a BUY recommendation for Company X through thorough due diligence and valuation analysis which included a DCF shows that you didn't just make it for the sake of making it. 

Much of your resume should be rewritten to change the narrative from an operational day-to-day view to a more holistic view addressing the value you brought to each firm/experience. 

I would also outright remove your experience as a member for the Financial Analyst Bootcamp for three reasons: it's not paid work, you're leading/teaching the bootcamp, so it's assumed you know the content thoroughly and you can better utilize this space to speak to your club involvement or other extra-curricular experiences. 

On a final note, it's not common to include your legal work authorization in the resume itself, you can disclose that in the application portal when they ask if you have the legal authorization to work in the country for where the role is based. 

All in all, the resume content and format could be greatly improved. This will lead to more interviews. You have a case of strong experiences, weak resume. 

 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some insights and actionable steps to improve your job application process:

  1. Resume Review:

    • Professional Review: Consider getting a professional resume review. As mentioned in the WSO thread "A non-target's failure," you can email [email protected] for a free resume review during their weekly intern chat.
    • Tailoring Your Resume: Ensure your resume is tailored to each specific role you are applying for. Highlight relevant skills and experiences that match the job description.
  2. Networking:

    • Build Relationships: Online applications can often feel like a black hole. Focus on building real relationships through networking. Attend industry events, join relevant LinkedIn groups, and reach out to alumni from your college.
    • Informational Interviews: Increase the number of informational interviews you conduct. This can help you gain insights into the industry and potentially lead to job referrals.
  3. Application Strategy:

    • Targeted Approach: Reduce the number of applications you send and focus on a more targeted approach. Apply to positions where you have a realistic chance of getting an offer and where your background fits well.
    • Research Companies: Make sure you are applying to companies that align with your career goals and where you can see yourself fitting in culturally.
  4. Interview Preparation:

    • Mock Interviews: Practice with mock interviews to improve your interview skills. This can help you become more confident and articulate during actual interviews.
    • Storytelling: Develop a coherent and convincing story behind your application. Be prepared to explain why you are interested in the role and how your background makes you a good fit.
  5. Market Conditions:

    • Economic Factors: Acknowledge that the current job market might be challenging. As noted in the WSO thread "Honestly it is feeling hopeless," the hiring process can be tough due to economic conditions. However, improving your networking and application strategy can increase your chances.
  6. Feedback and Improvement:

    • Seek Feedback: If you are not getting interviews, seek feedback from mentors, career advisors, or industry professionals. They can provide insights into what might be holding you back.
    • Continuous Improvement: Use each application and interview as a learning experience. Continuously refine your resume, cover letter, and interview skills based on the feedback you receive.

By implementing these strategies, you can improve your chances of securing interviews and ultimately landing a job in your desired field. Good luck!

Sources: Honestly it is feeling hopeless, Is the Hiring Process Broken?, Nine Months of Soul-Crushing Unemployment - Advice Needed, A non-target's failure, A non-target's failure

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Serious question. Are you like dyslexic or otherwise challenged? Or just have a massive inability to devote any attention to detail? You have been workshopping your resume on this board for well over a month now, maybe nearly two months, and your resume formatting and content are both still fucking dogshit. You’re not a good fit for this field (or any high-paying, prestigious fields) if you can’t even figure it out how to properly write a resume ffs

 

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