<1 year at current company & zero hits applying for jobs - correlated?

I've been in my role for just under 1 year and have been applying without a single callback. No intro calls or feelers from employers. I think that I'm a strong candidate based on my experience and my current shop's reputation. But I feel like I'm not getting looks because I'm jumping ship so early.

Would you agree with that and if so, what's an optimal time to seriously apply for new roles? For reference, I have 5 YOE, with 3 years at my last firm ~11 months at this firm, and a year at my first job.

14 Comments
 

Similar situation to me also. It’s been tough. Why you looking to jump?

 

Anonymous Monkey:

Similar situation to me also. It’s been tough. Why you looking to jump?

I want to work in NYC (I live right there), but am currently commuting about 3 hours daily and being paid below market with no internal growth opportunities due to it being a tiny dev firm. I’m learning a lot here with very scrappy and efficient professionals but it’s not a place I want to stay longer than a year really. Took the role as a resume boost and to learn more about CRE as a whole.

 

I mean, isn't the job market absolutely horrendous? Would expect roles to be harder to pick / if there is a role, the firm already knows who they would hire

 

Well part of the reason I wrote this is because of the top thread in this forum that had people claiming a lack of quality candidates and that the companies that are hiring what plug and play hires. I'm sure the competition is no slouch, but given my experience I feel like I'd be getting at least the courtesy of a screening haha. Not hurt about it but just wondering what gives

 

You will be fine. Have a good story as to why you are leaving and why you are targeting x firm. 

I am coming off a previous six month stint. Currently just over a year at my firm now and I am testing the job market waters again. I have unfortunately been dealt a couple poor hands at my last two jobs where it just was not a long term fit. If you can articulate that in an interview, it will not be a problem. 

I have had a couple of interviews, with one or two appearing to be promising, so keep grinding. 

 

Associate 1 in RE - Comm

Could you explain how you spoke about you shorter stints in interviews? In a similar position to OP and trying to figure out to navigate those discussions.

Sure, but I will caveat that I have over 8 years of experience, so YMMV depending on your experience level.

It is best to say the role or team was not a fit, the JD did not match actual duties, or misalignment of long term goals, and then crafting a story about why x, y, or z did not work out. Never come off with the attitude of "I just hate my current job and trying to get out ASAP". Hiring managers can smell that, especially when they ask you why are you leaving or why you want to join their firm. 

There is no secret sauce to it, just be professionally open as to why you want to leave, state your piece, and move on. If the hiring team has a problem with it after your explanation, so be it. There are other roles out there that will listen to you. 

 
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Analyst 2 in RE - Comm

Can you give a good example of "misalignment of long-term goals"? Struggling to figure out how I would frame that without making it sound like "I hate my current job and no way I can stay here."

I was talking about this with my friend earlier this week so I will use him as an example. His background consists of debt brokerage/lending and currently works in commercial banking doing underwriting and portfolio management. It's very process/admin/policy heavy and not too transactional, so he dislikes it and is looking to get out.

In that example, he could say "I have spent the majority of my career in roles that were transaction focused (underwriting and closing deals), whereas my current role has shifted more towards portfolio management and processes. This experience has been valuable from a credit and risk perspective, but I realize I thoroughly enjoy working on live transactions. I am now looking to get back into a role that is directly focused on structuring and executing deals."

This way you are not disparaging your team or company, rather positively explaining what you have taken away from your current role and how it has benefited you for the future. 

At the end of the day, the team just wants to know you won't be a flight risk, and that is most easily mitigated by explaining the misalignment of long term goals as stated in the example. 

 

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