Hey guys,
I graduated in 2007 and went to work in the trading analyst program at one of the big bulge bracket banks in new york. Unfortunately I had an undiagnosed blood disorder that conveniently started to show itself right as I started the job and progressively (but slowly) got worse. To make a long story short, I stayed with the program for about a year but didn't have any energy, felt shitty all the time, and thus was all around not a very good analyst. I also didn't learn nearly as much as I could have since after the first month or so I was struggling just to get by. After struggling through for a year I was in really bad shape, it was clear to everyone that there was something wrong, and I went on medical leave. I got treated, got better, but it took a while including a lengthy hospital stay.
So after I got better, I was quite embarrassed about what had happened and didn't go back to my employer - I'm not sure if I could have anyway since I had been gone for about 9 months and this was during a time of shrinking balance sheets and staffing for the banks. So instead I bought a plane ticket and went on a round the world trip, something I'd always wanted to do but never had the free time or money. I spent some time volunteering, learning a foreign language, and trading my own funds.
That was 2 years ago, as of a week ago I'm back home. I've done pretty well trading, I have about twice as much cash as when I left the states, but I'm at heart a risk adverse person and can't see myself continuing doing this (with my own cash) as a job. Plus, in spite of everything, I really liked working in trading. I love following the markets, learning about them, trying to predict them, etc.
So I'm wondering about getting back into trading with a bank (or hedge fund, or asset manager). On he surface it seems like quite an uphill battle, at least from my point of view. When I was an undergrad it was tough to get in, but as a senior in college at least all the programs offered by the banks were geared towards people like me. Now I'm an outsider with 1 year of experience which is not enough to interest anyone as an experienced hire, but I'm too experienced to apply as an entry level analyst, or even if I could I'm not in school which is where they recruit.
Briefly, a bit about me: I went to a well regarded public college and majored in the sciences with a good gpa. I had a full ride and a 1600 on my sats which probably went far towards getting interviews, since I had no background in econ or finance.
So I'm wondering if you guys have any suggestions regarding how to get back into things, or if this is just an impossible battle and I should look into other things. Thanks.
That seems like a tough go with the health stuff. It's tough enough to do this job with the lack of sleep and even a grungy cold / flu so I can sympathize.
I'd reach out to some friends / people you where close with during your program that are still at BB's. I've found BB's aren't really that much harder to break into than smaller shops when you have good connections, so I'd say that should be your first stop. Have you kept in touch with anybody consistently since you left?
Second option would just to pull out your old undergrad networking skills and start pounding the pavement. Cold emails, ask for chats on the phone / meet for coffee. It'll take time, but if you put a good story together and are worth your salt then it's just a matter of time and effort. If you have the fire in the belly for it and don't give up you'll land back at a shop. Hope that helps.
What Stringer said was dead on. You obviously have the skills and probably know more now then you did when you first started. It might take some work but you definitely can make it.
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