Out of work 10 months. What to do?

Okay, I quit my job due to being treated like shit there. I had a job lined up so decided to make the move but unfortunately, they had a freeze on hires and I never got it soon after. Since then (January 2014), I have been looking like crazy for a job but I just can't find one. I have had tons of interviews but for one reason or another, I didn't get the gig. During this time:

-2 jobs I was verbally offered were then withdrawn because of a hold on hiring
-2 more I was certain to get but then I later found out they were fucking with me, and only judging the market before they hire someone internally
-1 more was offered only for them to withdraw again due to getting an internal person moved from another office to fill the role

I feel like I have shitty luck. I got 3 years Compliance experience, Oxbridge degree and international experience. Not sure what else I can do.

Any advice?

 
Best Response

There's no magic nugget. Just keep trying. Since you have experience and Oxbridge reach back into your network even if you haven't spoken to them 10 months ago. Don't sound desperate and play it up to them, and generally, that you're working on a few deals/startups and they may pop but you're up for a full time gig doing whatever you do if the opportunity is good enough. It's tough to stay positive and you can be freaking out internally but play it cool to the outside world and make it seem like you have cool start up or whatever options.

Fill in the gap with what you've been doing and overplay it. No one can really determine if the "startup" was something you and your friends started coding in your underwear and is going nowhere but just spin your story.

Good luck man. Never easy being out of work. And this is by no means meant as an I told you so because you don't need it, but as a lesson to others: don't leave a job with a paycheck if you don't have something else lined up. Unless that job is causing you physical harm, stay.

 

Echoing the thoughts of another user - where are you based? Since you said you took the NY bar, does that mean you are based in New York? Second, are you interested in continuing in Compliance? Or are you looking to lateral into something else?

If it's the former, I do know an MD in compliance at a large, non-US bank's New York offices. From what I've heard, they are constantly adding to their compliance headcount. It would be very easy for me to forward your resume to him. PM me if you are interested.

 

I can definitely empathize with the OP. I have been unemployed for about three months now. I have an economics degree from an ivy and a BB capital markets internship under my belt. During my free time, I have been networking with alumni and interviewing with companies but i have not secured an offer yet. Any advice? I wouldn't mind doing PWM or a back office position.

 

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