So looks like I am possibly going to be unemployed at the end of next month. Brief background: 3rd year BB M&A analyst. I've had strong performance reviews and comp as well as decent relationships with a few senior bankers. Unfortunately, my team is against A2A for some reason, so I'm on my way out. I could have pursued it, but I didn't want to have people to advocate for me only to turn around and leave in the next few months.
Problem is in interviews now, people come in with a lot of skepticism about why I don't have a job lined up already. The real answer is I haven't looked very hard until recently; in hindsight, that seems like a big mistake. I'm worried that once my job ends, I will be viewed in an even worse light. I'm not even sure how to look for jobs once I'm unemployed. Will headhunters still be willing to even talk to me? I'm not expecting to land a very sought after role at this point... but I don't think my career should be over either. Any advice you could give me would be most welcome.
Take a deep breath. Your career is far from over.
I would respond to that skepticism with exactly what you just said: you didn't want to damage relationships by pushing for an A2A promote and leaving immediately thereafter. Explain that you should have thought that through in advance and started earlier. Explain that you have learned from that mistake. Reiterate that there are senior bankers who will serve as references for your performance.
While I didn't start in IB, but I'm certain recruiters realize that no one gets offered a third year as an analyst in BB if they're underperforming. You weren't let go after a year without a job lined up, and there's a colossal difference in perception between the former and the latter.
Also, while your situation might not be ideal (is anyone's ever really?) this is about the best time in recent years that you could find yourself looking for a job.
Sounds like a good time for business school. You could probably study for the GMAT for a few months and make first round applications in the Fall. You'd likely have a strong app with that background and your recommendations.
Top 10 MBA of course.
Agree with the above. Just relax. Outside of investment bankers, not everybody is hypersensitive to every day that goes by without you having an offer lined up. Even within finance/IB, if you just explain yourself and start to hustle soon, you should be able to find a solid job pretty quickly.
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