No MBA, no Top Tier education, yes experience

I am interested in moving on from my current firm. The people in my firm are great, the Principals have allowed me to grow, the environment is great for growth, the problem is fewer deals are walking through the doors. I have worked here for a year, and moved up to Vice President of Finance, but have been told that fewer deals are coming in than before.

I have worked on multiple deals across many industries, and in total have closed over $100M in deals. I am experienced in financial modeling, creating business plans, and creating BVs. What I have in experience I lack in my resume. I went to a local college, and not a top tier school. I do not have an MBA, though I am working towards my EMBA. I don't live in a big financial hub, so jobs in investment banking are few and far between.

What advice would you give me for trying to move on from here, and still be able to stay in investment banking?

5 Comments
 
Best Response

You say you're going for your EMBA? I'd say finish that while still at your current firm. If you're doing it right now, it seems to be that where you work, you're able to do that without disturbance from work. Then for post graduation I'd leverage the MBA to find your next position. You could utilize the career center even. The only downside, the smaller regional areas where there isn't too much banking going on, it's all about networking and getting lucky about knowing when a body is needed as like you said, firms aren't always hiring.

In the end.... If you're worried about the firm closing shop or laying you off, I'd start getting out there and trying to lateral sooner than later. If you're just worried about being bored at work, I'd say, use that downtime to not go crazy while finishing your EMBA and then just network and get your name out there to lateral after graduation, or at least close to the end.

make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier
 

Thanks for the advice. The projects have been coming in slower and slower, and it just has me nervous. I wouldn't mind leaving my current location and traveling back every other week for my classes. Its just the uncertainty.

 

The problem with leaving and going to a new firm no matter how much you don't mind going back every other week for classes, is will they be requiring you to work weekends? How much longer do you have until you complete your EMBA?

make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier
 

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make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier

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