What should I do for full time after college
Currently, I'm going into my senior year as a finance major at a Big Ten engineering-heavy school (non-target), and I do not know what I want to do full-time. I am currently in my second internship at a large biotech powerhouse in Boston doing Corporate FP&A. I do not love what I do as it is pretty tedious and boring, and I am not learning nearly as much as I thought I would. Last summer, I had an internship at a boutique consulting firm, which I thought was much more entertaining than my current FP&A role. I have a solid resume for a college kid with tons of club involvement, but the only thing really holding me back is my GPA, which is a 3.3.
I have thought about a few industries such as private wealth management, management consulting, some sort of credit, commercial real estate, risk management, and maybe SDR or BDR (not in any order of preference).
I always thought when I was going into college that I wanted to do IB, but I honestly did not know how early the industry started recruiting, and by the time I realized what I needed to do, the ship had sailed. After reading this site, I was also less motivated to 100% commit and try to break into IB. I've always wanted to work in a firm and not large biotech, but I am somewhat lost in how I should be thinking about a full-time role. Obviously, your first job does not matter THAT much in comparison to your whole life, but I want to start at a competitive place that will allow me to learn as much as possible about finance. I grew up around a ton of finance professionals and have solid connections at a lot of great places, but I am so lost with what I want to do full-time.
ABOUT ME: Everyone has told me I would be great at sales, but it's not the place I want to start my career. I have always been well-liked by mostly everyone (maybe people hate me idk) , and I have been known to make people laugh. I love going out with my friends and having a good time. I am known for being super social. In almost every organization in college I am in, I have been elected to the executive board. I am Vice President of my fraternity with 200 guys, VP of the Financial Management Club, etc. I have great conversation skills, but I wouldn't say I am the most analytical or quantitative, but I can hold my own. I only wrote this section so people have an idea of the type of person I am.
At the end of the day, I am just a 21-year-old who's lost with all the different finance opportunities out there. I am fine working 60 hours a week but don't want to be consistently putting in 70-80+. I'm looking for other people's opinions on the potential jobs I listed above and what their experience was navigating post-grad life. Any info is helpful. Thanks!
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some insights and advice for your situation:
Potential Career Paths:
Private Wealth Management (PWM)
Management Consulting
Credit
Commercial Real Estate
Risk Management
Sales Development Representative (SDR) / Business Development Representative (BDR)
Key Considerations:
Actionable Steps:
Final Thoughts:
Your first job is a stepping stone. Focus on finding a role that offers growth opportunities and aligns with your strengths and interests. Given your social skills and leadership experience, roles that involve client interaction and relationship management might be a good fit. Keep an open mind and be proactive in your job search.
Good luck!
Sources: Should I Slow Down?, What should I do the summer after freshman year?, Over 30, still no undergrad, finance career options?, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/1-year-after-graduation-need-life-and-banking-advice?customgpt=1, Intern Burnout, Considering Full-Time
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