no name MBA + no experience + jobless for 1 yr, what to do?

I graduated from a run of the mill MBA "program" last year. I enrolled in the program to pretty much maintain my immigration status here in the States. Before I went back to school, I worked at a mortgage broker that collapsed with the rest of the market (they were going to file my H1- B work permit for me also).

Since graduating from the MBA program last year I have not found a job, I believe it is because of the lack of a permanent work permit and the job market in general. I have taken the steps to solve the work permit issue, and I'm looking for a way to bounce back and finally break into the industry. I live in the NYC area. What steps would you take to break in after a year with no work and a less than stellar resume? Also any suggestions from NYC residents on ways to improve finance skills, maybe free courses, workshops, networking events etc. Would really appreciate the community's help.

11 Comments
 
monkeysamaIf I were you I would apply for managerial roles in all of the F500.

You won't get managerial roles (unless there's more in your background you're not divulging). Depending on your prior work experience, I'd probably hire you as an analyst or senior analysts.

You would need to take any finance-related position you can get.

twitter: @CorpFin_Guy
 

H1B is gonna be tough to overcome but if you apply for some of the tech/quant roles and you're good they'll easily hire you, since there isn't much supply and they wont care about the visa status. Try to network w/ alumni who were once international students.

 
Best Response
MrLoveBut at this point with a no name MBA and no experience, you should go after ANYthing.

+1

Everybody on here talks about networking. Just keep in mind that you don't necessarily have to network before you get a job. Sure, optimally you'd be networking when you're still in school, land a solid internship, have a job lined up before graduation, etc. But, for someone in your boat, it's probably more important to just find whatever you can get now. Once you get a job, start reaching out to people, doing informational interviews, and ultimately put yourself in a position to break into whatever industry you're interested in.

 

Not sure if this will do it, but it can't hurt. I'd start trying to do informational interviews with as many people from low-ranked MBA programs as I could. Maybe even focus on international students who did low-ranked MBAs. Ask them how they overcame it, as well as advice they'd give you. What industries are you interested in working in?

 

Do you have the Green Card? Even the MBAs from Top schools are having difficulty to find companies which will sponsor their work permits. You need to take an IT job or a quant job to get sponsorship for your H1-B visa.

 

Thanks for all the feedback guys, I really do appreciate each one. I am most concerned about explaining away the year of unemployment after graduation to potential employers.

At this point I am gunning for ANYthing both in and out of banking, I know I'm starting at the bottom of the barrel, and I have no qualms having to do what's necessary to get where I'm trying to.

I am very interested in these industries: commodities, energy, and technology, and RE.

I do not feel as if I am overqualified for analyst rolls, but from the feedback I have gotten from recruiters, they seem to feel as if I am, because of the MBA, I need to overcome that some way.

 

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