Unsure what to do (26M at a mid size bank)

Unsure what to do (26M at a mid size bank)

Need some guidance. I’m 26 years old, 4 years out of college and have been at this Fortune 500 bank since graduating. My resume is not the greatest outside of work experience. I was able to hold a few hats which I am grateful for but I’m still not where I’d like to be, how uncommon.

I’ve been working MO trade support for the last year and a half and before that was a compliance role. Desperate to get out, I took anything to get closer to our AM division.

This last year has been tough. My mental has not been the greatest. My grandmother passed in September which was around the time my team was understaffed and we working 55+ hours a week. For trade support it’s ridiculous. A week before she passed unexpectedly I signed up for level 1 of the CFA as I had interest in pursuing it given I had no finance degree and of course want to further my candidacy.

I’m about 1 month out from my May exam but I’m very concerned about this job market and where I stand. I’ve came really close to a few execution roles but was passed over in the last round due to “better” educated candidates. It’s a tough market and I understand that, but I really do not want to be stuck doing what I’m doing due the toxicity of the company and my team. I’m shotting myself in the foot everyday by being here it seems like. My manager is accross the country and have no meaningful relationship with him. My company pays shit and growth is nonexistent. Before u say Networking, its very hard within my company given my location. I’m in a totally different location than our traders and front office folk. They know my name but not a face. I’m not passing these people in the office nor have ever had a conversation outside of work related discussion. Again, growth is hard to come by at my company and very political.

I’m just not sure what to do. I’ve done the cold outreach which has gone no where. Had some very good emails too and they either end up ghosting or not replying. I don’t have a family member “in” or a friends dad. Im proud of myself for putting my head down and gaining a surface level understanding of this field through the sie and level 1 but I don’t think it matters in this job market.