Recent Grad- In need of Advice BBA in Finance

I saw an opening at HSBC for ECM at analyst level, does anyone know in-depth about the firm's recruiting process? I joined WSO late in the summer of 2020 after graduating a few weeks earlier by then I was too late learning about the job search protocol ( networking, recruiting,  what a BB is, and everything). Sleeping under a rock as person would say. I did manage to land a few internships finance related in financial accounting and commercial real estate during my time at Baruch in NYC. However they were not at boutiques but small firms in the area, my neighborhood and virtually during the beginning of the pandemic. Grad school was on my mind but i didn't like the idea of masters without at least 1-2 years experience. I know I want ECM roles but i don't know where or how to start.

Any career or professional advice is welcomed. Thank you.

 
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I'm a 2020 grad too (Fordham GSB). it's tough out there I'm not an IB guy but I worked a few temp roles in trading and LP fundraising support 2020-2021. I think it's important to get any type of related experience if you can (just don't do northwestern or axa lol). If you like ECM sales side maybe get a job in any type of sales for the time being but for IB it's really tough to break in outside of analyst recruiting and pulling from summer positions. Also consulting roles are pretty good if you can do something related to ECM. Id recommend just keep building the resume to show you weren't sitting around during this bad time and be able to show why you're more prepared for jobs than the class of 2021. The hiring is picking back up and right now they are our biggest competition. But we have the advantage of the hard but possible opportunity to have resilient and maturing work experience while they were in school.

 

I know it's not ECM but if CRE interests you, you might be able to network into a smaller firm and then lateral from there to somewhere better since you have internships in the industry. The CRE forum is pretty active on here. 

If that's of no interest, apply to anything/everything capital markets related and network your a** off. Cold email juniors and get them on the phone. That's really the only way you'll get an interview. Just make sure you're keeping up with the markets and don't ask questions that you can find the answer to on google. 

You could try MSF (doesn't require experience) but according to wso there's only a select few worth going to. idk how true that is, just what i've read on here. names that come to mind are UF, Vandy, Princeton, UT Austin, and maybe like Uva or Nova idk

 

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