Applying with little or no results!

Ok, so here is my dilemma. I go to a non target. When I mean non target, I mean its not even on the radar of anyone in the financial community. I could have gone to a top 20 school, but passed up the opportunity to save money. In the past two summers, I have done two internships one being with an actuarial firm. To get the actuarial gig, I passed two actuarial exams which are fairly difficult. I will be graduating in 11 with a double degree in finance & mathematics along with a minor in accounting. Math GPA: 4.0 Fin GPA: 4.0 Cumulative: 3.77. This is despite entering school in 08. I have so far applied to at least 30 places and contacted probably 50. I will probably end up applying to 50 out of the 100 or so firms I have found within the city. These consist of both Asset Management and investment banking firms. I haven't had anyone contact me for any interviews. I have good experience and a strong resume. The only problem is that there is virtually no one in the alumni network and no companies recruiting at my school. Anyone Have any suggestions of how to improve my job search and actually get an interview. I have a good list of about 30+ pe firms that I havn't contacted yet. Should I contact those places as well. Any help is welcomed, I am desperate for an interview.

7 Comments
 

A few comments:

  1. Sounds like you're fairly set on an actuarial track, and yet you've only been applying to asset management? Given your disadvantage of being at a non target, you really should be leveraging your experience and testing qualifications.

  2. Are you applying for SA positions? How long has it been since you first sent in those applications, since generally recruiting for SA's start early spring. Maybe they just haven't looked at your application yet?

  3. I have never had ANY luck blindly applying online without going to the career center or having some kind of contact on the inside. Even if you do not have an alumni network, there must be other channels (friends of the family, friends of friends, cold calling HR) you should try to use.

 

you have an impressive profile - Are you applying through the [email protected] email? I've never heard back from those, but if you can just send a resume to a person's email ([email protected]) - go through the company's associates, analysts, etc - they will at least see the email / respond. this works pretty well for smaller firms

 

You shouldn't expect responses by applying blindly online. You need to at least get on the phone and follow up if you have.

Going forward, you need to talk to people in person (via info sessions by going to target schools) and talking to alums at least on the phone.

At the same time, you need to make sure your resume and cover letter are spotless.

I just posted some advice at the link below about how to get in from a non-target.

Chase Us, Break In!

The Recruiting Ace: An Inside Look at Banking, Finance, and Management Consulting RESUME AND COVER LETTER RE-WRITES http://chasingconsultantsbreakingbankers.blogspot.com/

 

eagles29: Would an appropriate course of action be to send a resume to an md and follow up with a phone call if the info is available?

breakingbankers: Is it possible to just walk in on other schools recruiting? I thought this wasn't legal or something to that affect. If so, there are definately some campus recruiting events at the other city schools that I should probably attend.

 

Going to other schools info sessions is legit as long as you can get in the building. Don't act like a tool you should be fine. I got my IB offer by attending an info session at another school.

 

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