Currently a Financial Analyst at Canadian Tire how to exit into dream job?

Hello all, I recently graduated from a 5 year BBA with co-op from a non-target in Ontario. I had a 3.3 GPA-80%/A- Average but with a 3.7 -86%/A average my last two years. I graduated last April and have been working as a Financial Analyst at Canadian Tire a major Canadian retailer, after working there in my co-op terms in the same role. I want to hack into either Private Equity, VC, a hedge fund or management consulting. I have my CSC, level 1 CFA, and CAIA (Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst) designation. I have been networking for the last 3 years and have solid contacts in many of those fields and will continue to pursue more. I have a good knowledge of Python, R, SQL, and financial modeling. I am expecting/hoping to be promoted in the next 6 months and plan on getting a 680+GMAT score. I have heard that in Canada PE funds have been hiring people with experience in energy and have some contacts in that industry and from there have thought of some courses of action: 1.Promotion-Ivey/Queens/Rotman MBA-IB/Consulting Internship-Full Time in PE/HF/VC/Consulting 2.Promotion-Boutique Consulting Firm-Ivey/Queens/Rotman MBA-IB/Consulting Internship-Full time in PE/HF/VC/Consulting 3.Promotion-IB-PE/VC/HF/Consulting 4.Promotion-PE 5.Promotion-Lateral to Energy-/Queens/Rotman MBA-IB/Consulting Internship-PE/HF/VC/Consulting 6.Promotion-Lateral to Energy-IB-PE/VC/HF/Consulting 7.Promotion-Lateral to Energy-PE I am also working on a business I founded with a friend during my undergrad and hope to sell for somewhere in the six figures, I thought this could make me more marketable especially for VC or MBA programs. I was wondering which course of action or alternatives courses of action are the best given my circumstances and which would be the best given my company does vs does not get sold.
I know a 3.3 isn't a great undergrad GPA especially from a non-target, I hope my last two years of marks, network, coding skills, designations, GMAT and my company will be enough to break the barrier. I am sorry for the long post I have wanted to work in finance since I was a kid and appreciate any and all guidance.

1 Comments
 

Qui quasi ut voluptates aliquid. Expedita corrupti sequi adipisci et fugit et. Quis tempora explicabo pariatur deserunt. Suscipit libero ex laudantium veniam. Aliquid vitae sit culpa nihil voluptas sapiente. Unde omnis hic suscipit harum nihil alias enim. Odio et ad consequatur et aut.

Quod doloribus inventore neque quod excepturi quas suscipit. Quis nesciunt temporibus deleniti facilis quo reprehenderit. Quos quia aut at a hic fugiat. Animi aut earum unde aliquam qui consectetur cupiditate. Rem corrupti officiis porro inventore officia incidunt voluptas et. Consectetur ducimus veniam quo et amet.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.3%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Ardian 98.5%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.2%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (100) $364
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (106) $280
  • 2nd Year Associate (236) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (414) $231
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (273) $126
  • Intern/Summer Associate (40) $79
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (357) $61
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”