27M | Corp Finance → FP&A | Laid off & Unemployed 3 Months | Studying CFA Level 1 | Want to Pivot to IB/PE/Corp Dev/Investment Analyst — What Should I Do?

Hi everyone — I could really use some honest guidance here.

I’m a 27M based in Southern California with a bachelor’s in finance from a non-target school. My background includes:

Unfortunately, I was let go due to “performance issues” — nothing malicious, but I didn’t meet the expectations of my manager. This happened at the end of March, so I’ve been unemployed for 3 months (resume shows 4 months). I’ve since committed to studying full time for CFA Level 1, which I plan to take in August.

My goal is to transition into an investment firm, ideally in Private EquityInvestment Banking, Investment Analyst, or Corporate Development, and eventually work my way into a high-income role — targeting $300K+ base + bonus within the next 5 years. I know I’m aiming high, but I’m serious about the effort and long-term trajectory — I just need help figuring out the smartest way to get there.

So far, I’ve:

  • Applied to hundreds of roles across PE, IB, Corp Dev, Credit, etc.
  • Cold-messaged hiring managers and professionals on LinkedIn related to those roles (with tailored messages)
  • Had a few final rounds, but still no offers

Now I’m at a crossroads:

  • Should I stay unemployed and continue studying full time + applying to investment-side roles?
  • Or should I take on contract or temp work to avoid a growing resume gap?
  • If I go the contract route, what kind of roles would still keep me aligned with my long-term goals and not “dilute” my investment-focused narrative?

I’m trying to stay grounded and realistic, but I’d be lying if I said the situation isn’t starting to wear on me. I’d really appreciate any advice — whether from people who’ve made a similar pivot, hiring managers, recruiters, or anyone who's seen this path play out from either side.

TL;DR:
27M | Non-target B.S. Finance | 2y9m Corp Finance + 7m FP&A | Laid off | Unemployed 3 months
Studying CFA Level 1 (Aug) full time
Applied to hundreds of roles + cold DMs on LinkedIn
Goal: IB/PE/Corp Dev/Investment Analyst → $300K+ base + bonus within 5 years
Looking for advice: Keep job hunting while unemployed or take temp/contract work? If so, what kind?

Thank you so much & I appreciate any help. Please feel free to also provide any advice to my Resume below:CDN media

1 Comments
 

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