I can't even get a back office job. I don't know what to do anymore.

Long story short, I don't know what else to do. I'm at a disadvantage because I didn't go to a target university, but thought I wouldn't have a problem getting a job. I graduated in 2018, started my own business at the age of 15, worked for a financial services company and sold financial products during college, got a job for a year in the marketing department for a financial services firm (which I loved), and was to start another role in March. The role got rescinded due to COVID-19, and I've been applying to entry-level roles within the marketing and communications departments at banks. The worst part is the main industry I am passionate about is wiped out due to COVID, and my background is very niche. 

I've sent hundreds of LinkedIn Requests and 200+ messages to recruiters. 

I've applied to more than 300 roles, many of which are back office.

I've spent hundreds on resume reviews, financial modeling courses just because I thought it might help and I find it fun and interesting to do and improve my chances.

I'm getting rejected from Client Associate roles and roles that don't even require a college degree.

I've reached out to my very few connections I have who are VP's, and they are too busy to help and aren't that great at letting me know how I can improve since they were poached from other firms and haven't edited a resume in years.

I genuinely don't know what to do anymore. People don't respond to LinkedIn messages, and I'm two months away from giving up my apartment in NYC and moving back in with my parents where there are very little job opportunities. 

Does anyone have any tips or trips on how to really connect with others? LinkedIn no longer works for me, my connections at banks are all in IB (a department which I'm not very interested in and doubt will be able to break into) and are only analysts, and I'm at the point where I will stand outside of the main entrance of a financial institution to just hand people my resume. 

I'm not looking for sympathy, I'm looking for suggestions on how I can do everything I possibly can to at least secure the first interview. Does anybody have any tips? 

4 Comments
 

Not sure if I might be of any help but what I did was to go to government department to retrieve all the financial services firm in my city and cold email every single one of them to see if they are willing to take any interns.

Did that in sophomore and managed to get a few interviews, i am honestly not sure if this advice can help you but just sharing my experience.

Most importantly, don’t give up man, life always work out !! I was also depressed during recruiting but recently saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Push on man!

help u to bump this post as well, hope others can see this and help you !!!

 

Est expedita ea voluptatum ipsa et. Et debitis voluptate voluptatem assumenda repudiandae doloremque veniam. Sed est esse corrupti quos et consequuntur et deleniti. Veniam velit tempora mollitia nisi ut similique nobis.

made new unrelated account - dont reply or message as i never use it. 

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.7%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”