Navigating Post-Grad Challenges & Seeking Advice

Hi all, I come from a small town somewhere in Europe, I embarked on a journey to the US for higher education after completing high school, seeking broader horizons. My relentless dedication for two years paid off when I secured a spot in a prestigious Top 20 business school. However, life threw a curveball in the form of a major surgery, which significantly impacted my capabilities.

To finance my education, I began working at a startup. The experience was enriching; not only was I compensated with a fair salary but also with equity. This venture made me rethink my initial ambition of diving into investment banking, tempting me to explore the world of startups instead. Juggling school, extensive work hours and post-surgery recovery became my reality for the next two years. But as my academic was about to come to an end, the startup encountered turbulence and failed to sustain itself.

In my quest for new employment opportunities, the challenge of visa sponsorship arose, making my job search incredibly hard. Despite reaching the final rounds in a few interviews, the doors would always close just shy of an offer. I graduated in May 2023, and today stand at a crossroad, with years of effort seemingly leading to nothing. Yet, I'm confident that given a fair shot, I can outperform a majority of the competition.

I'm sharing my narrative in hopes of receiving guidance. I'm open to relocating and even willing to work without compensation for the right opportunity. Any advice to navigate this phase would be greatly appreciated, I'm trying to turn things back around and potentially re-enter the investment banking sphere if possible, but I'm also open to any other opportunity.
 

Thank you for taking the time to read!