Entry level jobs (no finance work exp/non-target/bad gpa/off-cycle)
I'm graduating this month from a non-target with no finance work experience (only an IT/data analytics internship), a bad GPA, no real network (i've reached out to maybe 10 alumni, but no dice yet and feels awkward). I'm well aware this isn't an ideal situation to be in.
I've applied to ~125 jobs or so, mostly analyst jobs. Had 1 phone interview for a PE Analyst position at a no name MM PE firm, didn't get it. Had 1 phone interview for a Capital Markets Analyst position at a real estate brokerage (CBRE/JLL/C&W), still waiting to hear back. Have an upcoming phone interview for a Financial Services Professional position at a brokerage (not that interested in this, seems like call center type stuff). (Side note: I'm awful at phone interviews, went full potato and choked during the first two.)
I trade options and futures and have have taken an options/futures/derivs course (i have on my resume), and have read the Hull book -- don't really want to be a trader, but i've still applied for a few trading jobs. Have completed BIWS financial modeling course (I have on my resume).
My leads have been all over the map. I don't have a set direction I want to go in clearly. I obviously can't be choosey so my plan is just to adapt and plan for whatever opportunity I land, because I just want to work in finance. Is it normal to be applying for positions all over the map? Any advice or input? Just keep applying to any and all analyst positions?
I was in the same position recently, tried to get into investment banking like crazy but nothing happened despite my best efforts. I reached out to a local AM shop, and long story short, I almost have an internship with them. I realize now that I actually don't want to do banking, I was just doing it because it offered the most money. I now realize that buy-side is more my thing, and it offers better hours (usually). my advice to you would be to:
Really take a hard look at your career path and evaluate what you want to do, and along with that, practice your interviewing skills, even if you have to pay professionals to help you with it. It will be worth it in the end.
Don't hesitate to reach out to local shops, because your chances of getting in there with no finance experience is greater than at Citi or Lazard, for example.
Read those articles and let me know if you have any other questions.
AM also has long hours depending on the group, including PE as well.
true it depends
PE is almost like investment banking all over again, because of the long hours
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