Not sure what to do at this point
I've been trying to get into the industry for over 6 months now with no leads or interviews. Finally got a lead back in October for a Credit Analyst position at a large bank in their lending department. Had my final interview earlier this week and haven't heard back. Just saw exact job was reposted yesterday for location and my app status says candidate no longer in consideration. I've taken modeling courses and Argus, been reaching out to people everyday, numerous phone chats, coffee chats. Not sure what to do now. Currently in corp RE for year now with an F15 company and shit is just horrible. Not gaining any valuable experience and I am just miserable.
I'm starting to think to reach out to people regarding internships. Still living at home so can take the massive pay cut in income. Any advice?
You need to adjust your expectations, and with that, your attitude.
Just because hundreds have turned you down, doesn't mean they all will. You only need one offer, one opportunity. Keep grinding and at the same time realize that a lot of this is about timing. Once the holidays are over, a lot of companies will re-examine hiring. I wouldn't expect much to happen in December. Keep your head up.
Also, like I said, attitude adjustment. So many people go into the job hunt with this "oh I'd be so lucky to work there" attitude. Fuck that. They'd be lucky to have you. Every time they don't respond, every time they don't offer - that's them making a poor business decision and who would want to work for someone that makes poor business decisions in the first place?
Is it bullshit? Yeah probably, but so is the "I have no idea what else to do" mentality. Might as well keep it positive.
Well it's like chasing girls in that once you finally get an offer, you'll probably get 3 more the next month but all of a sudden you're taken. Life's weird.
I definitely understand hating your current job. I hated my first job in the industry. I quit and spent 6 months out of the industry, only to land another job that turned out to suck though, so my advice is to stick with it. One day you'll look back and have 1-2 years of F15 experience on your resume and think "hey, that looks pretty good" instead of me, who has a year at a major brokerage, then 6 months off, then a year at a bullshit company, before I got my shit together again.
Can't encourage enough to continue trying. I know what it's like to have a job that you dread going to everyday, but you have done the right things so far. First, just remember that hiring cycles can be longer that 6 months and that coming into the new year, groups are trying to forecast staffing needs which often result in additional postings. Second, continue to reach out and email people as it only takes one person/firm willing to give you a shot. Third, make sure you have your story down, and are confident in your technical ability. The benefit of having time is that it allows you to be as prepared as possible and present a polished overall version of yourself. Fourth, and most important is to keep a long-term perspective. Relative to the expected length of your career, 6 months is nothing. You see people who switch careers well into their 30's and still end up being successful. It is easy to get sucked into a negative mindset when things are difficult, but if you can remain positive and keep a long-term perspective, you will find that the small setbacks aren't nearly as debilitating.
I don't work in CRE and, quite frankly, don't know anything about it either, but I saw this on the front page and have been in a similar position, so I wanted to reply. Just for some context, I started my career off at a tiny investment bank and absolutely hated it. My associate (not sure about CRE, but in IB that is the guy right above you) was incompetent, my firm's clients were very financially unsophisticated, the pay was well below market, the work was mundane, etc. I dreaded coming into work every day. I graduated from a non-target, had an average GPA, and was terrible at interviewing, so to be frank, I was lucky to have that role.
From having been in your shoes, I can tell that judging by your posts that your number one issue is your attitude. I mean this in the most professional way possible, and I say that because tone is impossible to communicate online. But, your attitude is most likely turning off would-be employers and your networking. Quite frankly, judging by your replies, you are not getting job interviews because you are coming across as a whiner. Yes, your current job sucks, but big whoop, no one cares. Don't let your misery at your current job affect your networking or interviewing. Don't show up and sulk like a whiner. Don't badmouth your current firm. When asked why you want to leave, feed them some line like "I want to expand my horizons" (obviously tailor this to your space...again, I know nothing about CRE). Again, the reason you're not getting interviews if most likely because while you are probably capable of performing the job, would-be employers are thinking, "Wow, this guy is such a drag. I'd shoot myself if I had him report to me."
If you do get any interviews, my biggest piece of advice is to really work on how you answer some of these questions. What made a big difference for me was changing my answer to "Why do you want to work for us?". Instead of using the traditional lines where you rattle off the firm's accomplishments, weave in some of your own. Great, so the firm can offer you better experience, access to better learning opportunities, etc., but so what? Why should they give you that? This is where you finish your answer with something along the lines of that your experience can let you hit the ground running, your experience at a past role is with similar clients that this current firm deals with, etc. For me, making this one change was a real game changer. Good luck.
What exactly do you now?
I can tell you it isn't impossible as long as your roles keep evolving in the right direction.
I started out collecting rents and pm'ing shitty multifamily units in Brooklyn, a couple of yrs ago with a shit GPA at a non target. Same story as you, miserable and depressed going to work everyday. But kept chugging on looking for new roles (even internships) to get investment exp and networking, with a little luck and help in between, I am now at a multibillion fund on the acquisition side.
It is possible, just don't giveup and I'd recommend interning if you can to get real life modeling/argus skills. Refine your interview skills and know everything cold. Do you have an alum database to tap into too?
6 mos isn't long. It took me 9 mos of full-time networking to land my first job as a broker and 5 years of relationship building to land my current job as a developer. You just have to keep grinding.
You need to find a balance of professional and personal in your interviews. People want to work with people who are competent but also who they don't get sick of seeing every day. It's totally OK to be driven and ambitious, but I presume you're coming off as a Gordy Go Hard (been there too.) Chill out, read the person across the table, and have a real conversation with them. You're young and people don't expect you to know all the answers so be overtly humble (you're looking for a new opportunity so you can continue learn and grow as a person). If you're talking more than 10% of the conversation you're doing it wrong.