Toronto, Canada. Marketing background; general questions!

Hi there,

First of all, I'm very excited to join this forum because I find myself fascinated by the little things in life, and instead of watching a movie I'd rather be online learning/discussing/etc. So hello!!

Secondly, I am from Toronto, Canada and graduated with a B.Comm in Marketing. I was the only Toronto intern for Red Bull's head office, I was the marketing assistant fulltime for my University, while taking full time classes, and now work within the entertainment industry with a project to project work load.

I graduated last May and seem to never get called back for any interviews unless it's a major firm. Weird I know, but I've had interviews for marketing, consulting, and basic analyst positions for all the major banks, a few investment firms and a few law firms. No luck yet, but I am currently deep in a few recruiting steps a 2 very large companies (Paranoia, I am afraid to name drop).

Basically, because I studied marketing, I can't seem to break through in a more general consulting/analyst role given I have no experience in it and that's the major reason I never get selected (So I'm told...). Is it possible for me to switch? As I keep talking with these major companies and seeing their offices down on Bay street I fall more and more in love. Be honest, is it too late for me to get a regular finance position in a corporation like that? I have extensive experience in marketing, my side projects are admirable and leadership outside of the classroom/office were always extremely strong. It's just unfortunate I never went into finance!

If you need to shoe me away into another business forum, I'm more than willing to leave if I'll find a forum that is able to help me! I'm a business minded secret genius, would love to work in finance for these firms, not in marketing. If there is a marketing/general business website like this, please let me know (If this place won't be able to help!)

Excited to be a part of this community though

-Veddy

 
Best Response

You need to network with bankers & consultants to show that your smarter than a finance major - and even then it will be hard to make it (since in Canada, almost 100% of junior bankers have a major in finance) . Your in a really tough environment, I suggest to focus on consulting gigs, since it's more of a generalist role, but everyone knows hard majors are feeders into consulting (i.e. engineering for Accenture & McK), so again your going to have a tough time.

Doing the CFA and looking into business dev. might be a good option. But if you are in mkt, why not join a big global firm in Toronto like Hudson's Bay, Nestle, Coca-Cola, etc..

Anyways honest assessment, is that you know $hit-all about finance, are entitled, and you will get wrecked by the Ivey, Queens, UfT & McGill kids

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