Graduating Senior Contemplating Options
Hey guys. I'm a graduating senior at a Top 3 undergrad business school (Wharton/Haas/Ross) this year and recruiting has been rough. I'm an entrepreneur looking to spin my experience into a finance or consulting job post-graduation, mostly for the training and experience. Currently I have only a final round in F500 Corporate Finance at Visa after OCR this fall. Other options are TFA or starting up my own business once again. I am contemplating taking an extra semester in order to recruit for summer internships and full time recruiting next year. What would you do in my situation? I feel like I didn't network enough, could work more on interviewing, and could tailor my resume more towards the jobs. I appreciate any advice/feedback.
I would hit the networking trail hard in spring when the summer recruiting efforts are in full force. There may be left over spots due to a number of circumstances. If nothing is there for FT you may be able to convince a smaller firm to take you on as an intern with the possibility of being promoted to FT at the end of the summer. Also you might want to consider a one year masters program in finance/accounting. I'd apply to a few of those and pray to god you snag a job/internship in the spring.
I have a 3.7 GPA, but my work experience is non-traditional. I worked at a technology startup company with $15MM in VC funding in a business development role where I advised clients like Proctor and Gamble, ESPN, and Target on their social media marketing strategies.
I co-founded an profitable internet pharmaceutical retail company, running operations and managing product offerings to the tune of $200,000 in profit over three years. I also founded a real estate investment fund in Southeast Asia targeting palm oil plantation estates where I raised $300,000 in capital commitments from Asian investors, invested in a high return palm oil plantation (12% annual return, and sold at 125% land equity appreciation), and returned profits to investors.
Overall, I think I have a ton of experience that I can contribute to any company, but the biggest issue is convincing companies that I can work in an analyst role after all of that. I did get interviews during OCR, but I feel like I wasn't good at communicating how my past experience links to the position I was interviewing for.
Well your resume crushes mine in terms of work experience, so I'm not sure y you haven't gotten more interviews. Are your problems moving from 1st->2nd round? If so, I'd spend a great deal of time formulating your response to the "why banking" question....to the point where you can rattle that garbage off without even thinking. As a start, banks like to see that your are self-motivated and ambitious (entrepreneurial spirit, check). You work well under pressure (had to manage a P/L, had the burden of running your own company)...etc. Feel like thats a good place to start.
sounds like solid experience, more impressive than a lot of formulaic PWM internship positions that people usually get. i wonder how it wasn't conveyed well enough in interviews?
anyways from your experience I would look into working for start-ups or starting up your own company. if you had the will and means to found two different companies in undergrad than you should be fine coming out of undergrad. seems a waste to go re-recruit for banking when you have such abilities
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