Before I start, I realize I've screwed up big time, so please try to be helpful instead of telling me everything I did wrong.
Anyway, I'm a rising junior at a semi-target (prestigious school, but not a huge finance place) with solid gpa (3.75), good extracurriculars, and I'm a white male. I went into the 2020 recruiting process thinking my school name and GPA would carry me into interviews and I'd easily land something, but I'm realizing now how wrong I was. I've applied to a ton of programs and only had 1 phone screen (that I haven't heard back from), and I have a bunch of rejections. I've done no networking and have no connections. I think I'm someone who is pretty good at interviewing and I know my technicals, but my issue has just been getting to the interview. I understand networking is important, but is it really that hard to get an interview without networking from a good school with a solid GPA?
Where should I go from here? What banks are still open and taking applications (and I don't mean they are taking applications but my app won't get looked at because they're already full- are there any places that actually haven't started recruiting yet)? Is it too late to start networking? If not, do I just start blasting emails to alums from my school and hoping they take the time to chat with me?
If banking doesn't work out, what are some other good ideas to explore? My goal is to end up in business school or at a good buy side shop in 5 years.
For further background, I've worked at a small (10 people) hedge fund the past two summers, which sounds impressive but I've done absolutely meaningless work. I've asked the guys I work for about helping me with recruiting, but they are shockingly unconnected and didn't have much advice for me. In the one interview I had, the interviewer seemed weirded out that I would leave the buy side to go work in banking even though I had a good explanation.
(also posting for a friend so don't go digging through my post history and tell me I'm lying)
Never too late to start networking. A network can only help. Full Disclaimer I have no experience, networking or going to the Buy Side, but why not shoot your shot at PE at a smaller shop. Also, smaller banks are probably still open for a lot of the summer positions.
Network immediately. You need to solely target VP+ people, preferably alumni. They can get you into the process. Look into all of the recruiting threads on WSO and see which banks are still open. Mostly BBs and Jefferies I think.
You're actually fine. There are plenty of firms that are still open for applications. People on here make it seem like everyone finished 2020 recruiting in 2015. Don't stress, just network and hope for the best. Good luck!
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