Can I be an investment banker?
I graduated with a finance degree - but my GPA was pretty low: 2.49
I spent most of my post graduation time (about 4 years) working low end jobs with very low pay.
However, ever since I discovered this site in 2013, I have considered making a move towards building a real career.
Most employers balk at my GPA and lack of experience. A staffing agency even declined offering my resume out for the same reasons.
I have taken a job at a financial firm in my state as a CSR - but its basically a call center job - and it pays less than my blue collar work. I have also passed the first actuarial level exam FM and prepping for P/1.
I have started taking classes at a community college to boost my gpa and I am preparing to apply to as many top business schools I can get in. Most of these classes are math based because I am also considering a petroleum engineering degree. From my estimation a top MBA will take about 2 years - about the same time needed for a petroleum engineering degree.
The reason I am posting this is because I am not sure if I would make a good candidate for what banks are looking for and I am questioning if finance is better than engineering? I am 29 and I really want to make the right move that would be financially lucrative as well as emotionally rewarding.
this is my first post - I hope I will get some honest responses and advice on if i can make it or what steps I can take.
Thanks a lot.
From my point of view the real problem here is your gpa since it's quite low. And you can't make it up with your experience, because you get blocked by your gpa... loop.
Have you thought of doing a master or something? You've been talking about entering a top tier mba but about all I've seen they ask for prior experience and great gpa. Of course you can try, nothing happens. In this case I'd recommend you at least a consistent GMAT.
Do you have the possibility of studying abroad? European universities are easier to get in.
What about your own personality, networking, and face-to-face interview attitude? Probably this can also be a drawback.
And... mm switching from a ba in finance to petrol. Eng. Isn't it too much? I mean they have nothing alike. Are you sure you can make it?
I just pretend to make it clarear since you don't give enough information.
Thanks for your advice. I have thought strongly of doing a masters in finance. My first GMAT was 600 - got me in to some schools - but I couldnt go for financial reasons. Now I have some money - so I am ready to retake the GMAT and get more competitive scores. Ya the engineering part is a bother cos I have almost nothing in common - but the local school here would let you complete a second bachelor's in P.Eng in 4 semesters. I am not so sure if I like engineering tho - except it pays good. I am not so good at cold networking - but I have a good personality and make contacts easily. I am not sure if paying for coaching is a good deal.
I am in a state in the bible belt - and most of the employers here are oil based and the banks here are mostly retail banks.
Let me know if there is more info i can give
You're welcome :).
The first thing you need to do is to increase your GMAT.
What I perceive is that you are not very sure of your path in life. I mean, in order to succeed in this field you have to hit high, not just being in the middle.
That been said, you have to work hard on getting into some good finance prog. In your case I see the MBA pass a bit hard (that's why the master). Also another problem here is that mba's are extremly expensive, as any other master you could do, of course. I get that you have some mobility barrier since you've said that you'd move into eng. at a local school. I don't know which it is, but wouldn't it throwing the money? This is valid for whatever. Branding everywhere is gold. There are many gals out there from ivies enough to discard you.
So, the way I'd proceed in your case would be redoing GMAT, checking masters, getting letters from those professors that can back you up (also check if any went to your target uni or any other of relevance), writing down a good sop (indicating why you ended up with that gpa but you can perform well, etc.) and finally applying to all the places you can. If you get in any good place it can boost your opportunities.
About the engineering stuff... pheww. I don't doubt you have good maths skills and so on, but it can a be a real pain in the ass. And maybe even if you graduate, you can't get into the job you want. Plus it doesn't even call you... you just want it because that's what locals do.
I think networking is a key point. In here there are guys and girls who didn't got a reply after more than 70 emails or so. Keep trying and sell yourself. Don't pay any coach... they'll just rip you off.
Thanks! This is really great advice. I have never done the networking thing - but I will definitely start working on it - I hope to see results.
It is true - thinking about moving away from this crappy jobs has got me really confused on what path to take. I have friends clearing $70k a year just working in the oilfields - and its got me thinking of it. But really I am sure I wont be happy doing that.
I am preparing for my GMAT now - I was really thinking of MBA but I seem to think a good MSF would work greatly in my favor too.
@Aether - thanks so much for your reply.
If you need more help with academia stuff just let me now and I'll try to shed some light on the matter. Just PM me. Good to hear this helped you somehow.
I see you a little bit lost in this pool of opportunities. However you know, there are some that born privileged and get it easier to the top, and others have to fight to climb up there.
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