What am I doing wrong? Need help finding a full time role in this confusing job market

Hi there.

Let me give you a quick rundown:

Im a recent grad (Dec 2022) from a non-target with a degree in Finance and a minor in Analytics (Magna Cum Laude, President of two business orgs and had two finance internships in college).

I interned last summer at a MM at and did work in their Ultra High Net worth space. I even got 1st place in their Venture Vault Intern competition. 

I’ve always wanted to pursue investment banking and wanted to use my UHNW experience to lateral from AM to IBD. I had studied all the specific banking technicals, exhausted my alumni network to get first round interviews, and even got a few super days. 

However, in each opportunity I pursued, I hit a dead end. Hiring freeze, companies halting their recruiting processes, and hiring managers straight up ghosting me after a super day. I even had an offer from BAML Global Credit that is frozen because of “HR not giving them a clear timeline.” All the alumni that I spoke to all said the same thing: “The process wasn’t anything like this for me.”

From IB roles to AM and PM roles, I had to step down and apply to middle and back office roles for which I was still getting rejections and being ghosted by recruiters. It is really taking a toll on my self-esteem and I’m beginning to think that all the hard work i did in college is going to be wasted. 

I need to know what I’m doing wrong and how I can secure a full time role soon because it has already been 6 months since i graduated. I’m humbly asking all WSO bankers for any and all help. 

If you would like to see my resume for your reference or to pass on to any recruiters or places that are hiring on the East Coast, please message me or reply to this post.