What are my options here?

I currently live in the South (think TX or GA) and work in finance. I am tired of living in the South and I want to move to one of the following areas: NY, MD, DC, PA, or IL. I am concerned with finding a job because my schooling is from regional schools. I plan on staying at the job I'm at now until I relocate, which I planned on doing in a year or so. I figured it would increase my chances if I got a few years of experience.

My background:

  • 2 years as a commercial credit analyst/underwriter for a Fortune 25 company's asset-backed lender, in an underwriting role for 1 year (underwrite commercial and real estate loans), and 1 year as a commercial loan analyst (prepared loan documentation, made sure our security interest was perfected, etc.) other experience includes a few months in an internship at a public sector org, in a bond underwriting role)

  • B.S. in Economics (2.85 GPA) from a large state university that is only known in my state. M.S. in Finance, 15 credits complete, 3.7 GPA) from a small, private university of ~5,000 students which is only well-known in my current metro area.

I want to work in a public or private sector finance role (commercial credit, bond/loan underwriting, financial analysis) in one of the areas mentioned above but I am afraid I will not get a second look due to my experience and schooling being dominated in the South. I have thought about going back for an MBA in another year at a university in one of these areas if I had no other option.

 
Ruskii:

"My background (if I stick to what I'm doing now for the next 2 years):"

What does that even mean? Are you saying your only current work experience is your internship?

Guess I should've been more clear. I am currently working in the credit analyst role. I plan on staying at the job I'm at now until I make a move somewhere else in another year or so. At that time, I'll have 2+ years of the experience listed above.

 

Apply via LinkedIn, utilize the tools they have available, especially seeing who is actually posting the job from the firm. Apply to more jobs than you think you need to, follow up with everyone, and get out of your comfort zone (location, job title, firm). An opportunity will pop up when you least expect it. It's a numbers (amount of resumes you submit, the amount of hours you put into it, the amount of people you follow up with) and perseverance game. Sometimes a great opportunity will arise that you may have never even thought about that you can capitalize on and use as the next step in the right direction (even if that direction isn't closest to where you want to go).

 
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