3 Months Away From Graduation, What Opportunities are Left?
Hello all, I hope all is well.
I'm a senior at a non-target in the midwest and am only a few months away from graduation. I didn't expect to be in this situation, but I do not yet have a job secured and my prospects aren't looking good. I had a commercial banking internship with a relatively mid-sized regional bank this past summer, however only one of the five interns working at the office got an offer after we were lead on for almost four months and told that we would likely be getting offers. I was applying to jobs during that period and have ramped up my efforts since I received the news that I would not be offered a full-time position, however I haven't had much luck.
I wasn't tracking my applications before the start of this year, however I have submitted almost 100 applications since I returned to school early last month and have since had interviews with two companies. One turned out to be a sales job no better than NWM and the other is a financial analyst position with a pet food distribution company that I am still interviewing for. I've been applying primarily to corporate finance positions recently, as that appears to be all that is being posted as of now.
At this point I'm not sure what opportunities I can expect to arise before I graduate in a few months. I expected the recruiting scene to pick up this time of year but it isn't doing so as much as I expected. I have been looking for jobs in commercial banking, wealth management (my minor), and corporate finance, but almost every position I have found recently is a corporate finance position that is not meant for entry-level candidates. I should also note that I have been looking primarily in the Eastern MA-Southern NH-Rhode Island area as that is where I am originally from.
Any input on what opportunities I can expect to arise before I graduate and what else I can do to secure a job so I'm not in a failure-to-launch situation come graduation would be great. Thank you!
Stats for context:
School: Non-target Midwest State School (Big Ten, not one of the good ones)
GPA: 4.0
Professional Experience: 3 Commercial Banking internships (2 back office, 1 front office, all at regional banks)
Campus Involvement: Former fraternity president and treasurer, TA for two classes, school security job.
Willing to send resume if anyone is curious.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s what you can do to maximize your chances of landing a role before graduation:
Leverage Your Network Aggressively: Start reaching out to alumni from your school, fraternity brothers, and any professional connections you’ve made during your internships. Use LinkedIn to find people in your target industries and ask for informational interviews. Networking is often more effective than cold applications.
Expand Your Geographic Search: While you’re focusing on the Eastern MA-Southern NH-Rhode Island area, consider broadening your search to other regions where opportunities might be more plentiful. Cities like New York, Boston, or even smaller financial hubs could have more entry-level roles.
Target Smaller Firms: Many smaller firms or boutiques don’t have structured recruiting timelines and may still be hiring. Look into regional commercial banks, wealth management firms, or smaller corporate finance teams that might not post on major job boards.
Consider Temporary or Contract Roles: If full-time positions are scarce, look into contract or temporary roles in finance. These can often lead to full-time offers and help you gain relevant experience.
Utilize Your Campus Resources: Visit your school’s career center and ask for help with job leads, resume reviews, and mock interviews. They may have connections with companies that are still hiring.
Tailor Your Applications: Make sure each application is customized to the specific role and company. Highlight your 4.0 GPA, leadership experience, and relevant internships prominently.
Broaden Your Role Search: While you’re focusing on commercial banking, wealth management, and corporate finance, consider roles in financial planning, credit analysis, or even operations at financial institutions. These can serve as stepping stones to your desired career path.
Follow Up on Applications: After applying, follow up with recruiters or hiring managers to express your interest and inquire about the status of your application. This shows initiative and can help you stand out.
Prepare for Interviews: For the financial analyst position you’re still interviewing for, make sure you’re well-prepared. Research the company, practice behavioral questions, and brush up on technical skills relevant to the role.
Stay Persistent: The job market can be tough, but persistence pays off. Keep applying, networking, and improving your skills. Consider taking online courses or certifications (e.g., Excel, financial modeling) to make yourself more competitive.
If you’re open to sharing your resume, you might find someone willing to provide feedback or even pass it along to their network. Keep pushing, and don’t lose hope—many people secure roles close to or even after graduation. Good luck!
Sources: Career in Finance - Reality or Reach?, Small(er) town finance jobs, Job Oppertunity - Commercial Real Estate Finance, Job Landscape/Opportunities in the Philadelphia Area, Please Advise: Never-Ending Job Hunt
Bumping ts
Apply more. 100 applications isn't enough.
I've definitely submitted more than 100, that's just the number from the past month and half after I made a spreadsheet to track applications.
Any ability to leverage the fraternity network? Buddy of mine was president of one of the fraternities at our school and he was able to parlay it into getting on the phone with some fairly senior alumni. He started recruiting later in college and didn’t do the hardcore IB path but ended up with a decent tech / consulting job.
It's possible but the options are quite limited. The chapter is only 10 years old and thus doesn't have a very large alumni network and most of our active members aren't very rich. One of of our recently alumni has connections at one of the Big 3 Automakers but that's about it.
No national presence? The chapter at our school was fairly new too, so my buddy was networking with alumni from the same fraternity at other schools. Really expanded his network. Regardless I think you should get creative and leave no stone unturned. Best of luck man.
We do have a national presence but it is small. Worth looking into, good point.
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