Profile Evaluation: Masters and potential career path
Hi everyone, I have been thinking a lot about this and I thought it would be great to hear someone else's honest opinion. While traditional "Profile evaluation" posts are only about applying to masters, I would like to ask what job roles you could see me in as I keep being rejected for the roles that I aim. Perhaps I aim too high by targetting junior roles in AM and IB (more on that later). Some people will immediately recognise me. If you do, please do not out me :) I apologise for the wall of text but it is important for me that you know the details.
Education:
- Maths & Physics in Eastern European school. Grades equivalent to BBB A levels in UK
- High First (>77%) in Finance at non-target in UK (think Aberystwyth, Plymouth, Salford) / Graduating in June
- CFA Level I passed in my final year
Work experience: During my first free summer, I started as an intern at a large local wealth management company. MDs liked the quality of my work and that I was a great cultural fit, so they offered me to continue working part-time throughout my studies. The company sold to an AIM-listed wealth management company. In total, I have been in wealth management for about a year and a half now. I mostly work on administrative tasks but I have been exposed to all sides of the business (visited a HNW client meeting, Due Dilligence tasks on Acquisitions, Finance (Receivables), writing documents that clients read before deciding whether to invest (80% of my job), often creating things in Excel for my MDs etc.). The AIM-listed company will soon have approximately £4bn assets under advice.
Leadership & Extracurriculars:
- President of Finance society - not very active as the university hamstrings us but I managed to secure a corporate sponsorship that amounts to twice our annual budget. This will provide the future President with a good platform & I will stay involved in the society post-graduation in a "Non-executive" type of role. I see it as a good opportunity to continue giving back to the community.
- During school, formed & led a team that created a video for a video contest open to all schools in my country. We were the public's favourites by votes and we won that category because of my marketing strategy.
- Ranked Top 10 in reputable Philosophy competition in my Eastern European country during school days
- Approximately 20 medals as a teen in a niche physical sport that is very well known in Switzerland & Scandinavian countries.
End goal:
Equity Research at well-known fund such as Fundsmith or at a Hedge Fund. I think I could be great in PE too but I love public markets too much.
Question about jobs:
I have been trying to get summer internships in IB/AM but I can't even get an interview out of 70/80 applications. Have tried networking with lots of people but barely any responses. Perhaps they know my profile isn't competitive enough. So, as my background does not allow me to stay unemployed after graduation - what should I gun for? With my profile, in what type of role do you see me? I have currently applied for about 20 positions I am actually passionate for but the hiring freeze does not help. Waiting for feedback currently & continuing to network.
Potential career path in my head:
- If I get a good job (or a job that I like upon graduation) > keep working my way up > crush GMAT ASAP > complete the CFA program and/or ACA if it is relevant > after 5yrs of exp go for MBA at top school (M7 maybe?)
- If I can't find a job that I enjoy and has little potential > crush GMAT > apply for Masters at places like LSE/LBS/Oxford Said/Cambridge Judge/Imperial/Bocconi/HEC Paris with a 2021 start
This brings me to my second question - how competitive is my profile for one of the aforementioned schools for a 2021 start? Thank you for your time. I know it was a long read. I appreciate any advice.
straighttohellxo, pure crickets, that's where I come in. Any of these useful?
Hope that helps.
bump
Going to any of the three universities you mentioned will involve a severe uphill battle to get into finance. In the UK, networking is much less important and screening is often done based on university and grades. With your current work experience, I think you'd be better oriented towards a Master's at a good school, rather than an M7 MBA. M7 MBA's have usually worked in large, prestigious firms before enrolling. I also think staying in your current role would be a good solution, until you may be able to lateral across after doing the CFA.
That said, you have a really good classification in your UG so I think it would be possible to do a Master's at one of the schools you mentioned, providing you have an excellent GMAT score.
Ultimately, if you want to do ER for a prestigious firm, you'll probably have to do a Master's. It just depends when you would want to, or be able to do it.
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