Stalled in my finance career at 33 after pivots and break - advice appreciated
Im currently 33 and doing a VC internship at a small fund after a mandated break and relocation
- Previously worked at top 3 IB (think JPM, MS, GS) as an IB Analyst for 2 years in Asia
- Did a Masters (Ivy League) in the US (also have a masters and undergrad from Asia)
- Worked at international org at US in a finance role (think World Bank / UN)
I have been getting rejected for jobs though Ive tried spray and pray as well as targeted applications. When I do get a few interviews, Ive made last round + case study twice and got rejected first round a few times. Feedback for my case study work is positive.
Im confused, not sure if Im aged out. Right now Im considering VC, growth equity and project finance. Im considering going back to school for yet another degree but don't know if I can get a good admit or whether that will age me out even more (2 years min unless I do a part time program).
Im frustrated about my prospects and have been hunting intermittently for nearly a year. Would really appreciate some advice. Questions:
- Am I too old for jobs in finance? Or should I just be more patient?
- Spend more time on school applications or networking / job applications?
- Should I opt for coaching to change the outcome?
- Change my focus areas within finance?
- Quit finance altogether? Suggestions on where I can go
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s a breakdown of your situation and actionable advice:
Age and Career Stage Concerns:
Education vs. Networking:
Coaching and Skill Development:
Focus Areas Within Finance:
Patience and Persistence:
Alternative Career Paths:
Immediate Next Steps:
Remember, many professionals face setbacks and pivots in their careers. Your diverse experience and determination can be assets if positioned correctly. Keep pushing forward!
Sources: Lesser known MBA career options? Looking for advice on what to do post-HBS., Two Internships Don’t Equal a Job: My journey from an NGO to a VC, Grad School and Age, IB Associate and VP Exits - Where are you now?, Are there careers within finance with these characteristics?
Rough time to be going out for those areas - esp as a non-traditional candidate
Yup, rough seas - any suggestions on other areas?
Rx consulting is staffing up, I made more at a top 2 there (Alix / A&M, FTI pays way less) vs banking over a few years. Bonus range was wider in IB tho so mmv.
The twist is you want to focus on debtor only shops. Non-debtor shops pay half or less.
Partnerships, corp dev,
Sorry - I wish I could be more helpful, but I’ve had a weird career where I’ve gone from one niche to another. I definitely think you can get back in, especially in niche expertise fields such as energy.
There are a bunch of 35-39 year old associates in Houston doing oil banking for example
33 is young, bro. You'll find your way don't worry just keep plugging away.
Thanks dude, appreciate the vote of confidence
As retarded as it is, I think you just have to keep trying until you get lucky. It's an industry of hard workers and long tails.
Thanks, I can live with that. I just thought something was wrong with me - working this hard to land one role when all my peers in Tech are breezing through jobs (and anyway ahead given my sideway pivots). Helps to know I'm not an outlier
I started in banking about 25 years ago and since then have had a few times when I wanted to try and do something different. I also tried various things, including getting an additional degree (in Maths, my first degree was in Business/Finance) and various qualifications (CFA, FRM). I applied to a large number of roles. I was very willing to start from a low level, but the reality is that HR and hiring managers are just used to hiring fresh grads for entry level roles and worry that an older candidate will be difficult to deal with and just odd as you might be older than the person you are reporting to. Anyway, the one and only way that worked for me was not the degrees or qualifications but was contacting people who knew me well, as I had worked with them in some form before. On two occasions I was able to get a role in a different field because I spoke to people who knew I would not be a nightmare to manage and that I would be competent in a different role. As I said that was the only way that worked for me so maybe that is also something you can try.
This is immensely helpful, thank you for sharing your journey making it through these changes. Ive been plagued by these very questions - degrees or qualifications vs networking and applying. Im hoping if I work hard in this internship (been 8 months, practically unpaid but Im doing quality work), it'll help with building the right reputation and connections with people. And prove Im not a "nightmare to manage".
Additional question, how did you develop / maintain your network of people you've worked with? - Did you take up any extra project/internship work and generate more working connections? Or were you just really good at keeping in touch with networks from your previous degrees/ jobs etc?
Either way would love to hear.
Regarding developing, maintaining my network: actually this is something I never put any effort into at all. I am not a very social person, so never kept in contact much with former colleagues. The one and only way I used to keep connections was LinkedIn. So at the few points when I wanted to change I got in touch with people on LinkedIn. In your situation the best option might be though as you say from your current internship. Good luck!
33 isn't too old, especially given your education and previous experience. You are also fairly international and well-traveled (relocation/global careers take a toll on time).
But, there is something companies aren't allowed to say and what WSO can't give you - "how you come across".
When the job market gets tough most firms hire not only the best, but also the "most fitting" candidate. Random advice from an internet source like reddit or WSO can't replace trusted people around you.
While every applicant believes they might be the best candidate for the role, it's hard to compare yourself with the hundreds of applicants for each job. It's unlikely that any one of us is the most polished or best version of a staffer the firm is looking for.
The only thing you can do is keep going and apply for any role you can find. Best of luck.
True that - and very sound input. Since Jan, I was a competitive candidate in final rounds for 2 roles - a client solutions Associate role (big bank) and another Senior Analyst role (Corporate VC) - but just missed both times. Feedback was - I was too senior for one (compared to another candidate), and for the other - my case study analysis was really good but simply not exactly how they did things internally (which another candidate knew better). Both of these felt like "most fitting" rejections.
While you are indeed an online poster, I do appreciate the frank feedback. It's what I hoped to get out of posting here. And thank you, will keep at it.
Hey bro, I’m sure you’ll eventually get where you want, only a matter of time until stars get aligned! I’m curious, seems from your post that you’ve worked at a DFI (in an investment role?) - how was that experience and how does it impact your current job search?
Just saw this, thanks man. It was really great experience - I was in a very unique team that did financial design and thankfully not bureaucratic. Super innovative and fulfilling work and could be as challenging as we wanted it to be technically. There were other DFIs roles that are clearly operationally investor roles - this role was more investment design. Growth is slow but benefits after 4-5 years in are high. I had to leave and relocate for reasons unrelated to the role.
As for the current search, it has maybe hurt me but not directly. In the interviews I've had, they've been impressed with and interested in the public sector work, it brings a new dimension to what I can add. But the problem is having enough recent private sector experience. I am trying to move back to private sector after a break and in a bad market (recruiters hiring for fewer roles have their pick and choose based on who has actually done the exact same role most recently). With my last private sector role more distant and my international org experience not an exact match for private sector roles, the process is more challenging. Hence the internship, to get more recent private sector experience and find my way back in.
I'm in a similar position and I turn 39 tomorrow. 33 is still very young and you still have time to do whatever you want at that age.
Former IB M&A Director who had to leave the bank, and now I'm thinking about pivoting to Consulting on the RX or M&A side and interviewing for said positions at a lower level and less comp.
My career is full of long periods of unemployment, stints that didn't work out. It's hard and can be frustrating when you see your fellow Analysts of old hit Partner level in PE or similar, but that's life I guess...
Thank you for sharing your experience and empathizing with how crappy this can feel sometimes - its just as you say, sometimes I ask myself if I made bad decisions to not end up in the same place as my old peers. Its easy to question myself in a vacuum, but thats why Im grateful I could put this out here and share. Helps me remember I just did things differently and made tough decisions that reflected prioritizing family and wanting to try different things. I easily forget how stifled I felt back when everything was cushy, grass always seems greener somehow.
Hey man, I can completely empathize. Currently in my early 30s and have spent my career in sell-side equity research and then more recently in on the buy-side. I was at a boutique long-only for the last 2 years and a few months ago the founder decided to retire and leave the industry. That meant winding down the firm despite good performance. I've similarly been plugging away at apps and talking to head hunters (but this feels like running into a wall), and have gotten rejections from three different processes after making through the final rounds. It is demoralizing, to say the least.
Unfortunately the market doesn't look like it is going to improve any time soon. I guess we just have to persevere and keep plugging away.
Thanks for sharing dude, and that's a sucky turn of events. Though I daresay you seem to be in a good place with some great recent experience as well. Im here for company - I'm committing myself to clawing my way back if I have to, even if it means plugging away in obscurity for a while
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