50 Applications, 0 Interviews. Suggestions?
After reading a similar thread, I've now discovered 50 applications is...well it's adorable to think I'd get a job interview with so few. However, my situation is slightly different than the thread I was reading so I'll ask the WSO community for input.
Job Hunt Quick Facts:
Education
3.96 GPA
Non-Target School (Rutgers Camden)
Summa Cum Laude Honors
Beta Gamma Sigma Honors
Beta Alpha Psi Honors
Business Leader Development Honors
Athenaeum Honors
Leadership
Toastmasters Area Director
Competent Communicator
Advanced Communicator Bronze
Advanced Communicator Silver
Advanced Communicator Gold
Competent Leader
Advanced Leader Bronze
Triple Crown
Certifications
Bloomberg Market Concepts certificate
Ethical Leadership Certificate
R for Finance certificate
Experience
Research Assistant to Accounting Professor
Wealth Management Internship
Job Boards Searched Daily
Talent Oasis
OneWire
BrokerHunter
FPA
E Financial Careers
Financial Job Bank
Applications
50
Interviews
0
I hope that was more digestible than a wall of text! I'm frustrated, as I've watched everyone I know from my class with lower GPAs and less accolades get snapped up and I can't get an interview for anything, anywhere. I got rejected as a bank teller six times! I was told by a former banking executive:
** "Absolutely none of this matters. You should have spent all your time networking and gotten straight C's, you'd be hired immediately". **
So, WSO monkeys, I'll ask you. Is my lack of a good school dooming me to not be able to work in this field, or is my pool of 50 applications more 'kiddie' and less 'Olympic'? Finance is my absolute passion, and something I'm willing to fight tooth and nail to obtain a job in.
I'd love to hear your brutally honest thoughts and comments about how I can at least start getting interviews!
Hey man don't worry too much as hiring season is ramping up in the end of summer again anyway. I too came from a non target school (Saint Joseph's University). My GPA was also not as high as yours. I did probably 150 apps and heard from 6, hired by one. In short the cards are stacked against you at times but that's life.
The question is what for you want to do? If you want some big BB analyst role kiss that goodbye unless you get some miraculous hook up from a reference or MD. Where did you intern? Honestly dig deep and be realistic but also continue to shoot for things that your passionate about. Solid GPA could get you a big 4 interview in Philadelphia probably, there are also a slew of Private Wealth Shops in the PA and South NJ area. The biggest thing is to reach out and sell your brand not necessarily all the bullet points you listed. People want to know why you want the job, not why you think you deserve it.
PM me if you want and I can talk more on this. The company I work for is always hiring.
Thank you so much for the suggestions!
For clarification, I adore financial planning and would love to be on track towards becoming a CFP. I interned at a high-net-worth planning firm whose parent company was Lincoln Financial.
Also, that's a wonderful piece of advice, 'why I want the job, not why I think I deserve it'! I have an obsession with wealth-management (I scored two CFP manuals from the thrift store for $1 and read them twice!). I need to find a way to let that shine through.
Apply to Vanguard, they have a Financial Advising Development Program. Not sure if the app is closed. Even if it is get an entry level job here and you can apply internally to the same program after a few months here. Up to you, definitely worth a shot. Also UBS has a decent program for aspiring CFPs and wealth Strategists.
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LinkedIn is also a hell of a good recon tool!!!
Can you upload a copy of your resume (all personal info hidden)?
I'd love to!
How...how do I do that? I see the 'attach image' button but I don't see an option to select a file. (I've never used any type of message board before, so forgive me!).
For me, when I hit "Start Discussion," on the right side, there is a button that says "Upload Image," and below that there is an option that says "Upload File," so I would just put a PDF there
Networking is always your best bet. Don’t stop applying via online postings (it really is a numbers game), but put the majority of your effort into networking.
Good luck, and don’t give up.
Thank you for the kind wishes! I am starting to see now that I did things backwards, and I certainly am going to put more effort into networking. I'll be out at the annual FPA event in Chicago this year. Hopefully that will help me.
I am in a very similar boat as you right now, except for the fact that my GPA is MILES away. Like the others have said, networking is key and if you want to get that dream job, make sure you stay very vigilant for any company news/open days/careers fairs or any other opportunity where you can meet them face to face. Once this is established, I think the whole application process get a lot easier.
On a side note, how the hell do you send out 100's of applications and still manage to pick up the phone and be able to handle the "why have you chose to apply to x?" question?
Thank you so much! I also would love to know the answer to that question. Something tells me that "Because I want to work for the best" won't cut it!
I have reviewed thousands of resumes and am always astounded how really smart entry level candidates don't know how to format their resumes properly - so it could be that.... google resumes for the types of jobs you are applying for and copy them. also people mostly just care about your relevant experience and your GPA … everything else is the icing on the cake - so make sure your internship sections are solid and are phrased well with skills / experiences that folks want to see (look at the job descriptions and try to mirror what they are looking for).
Came in this thread to post exactly this. OP, post your resume for review. My credentials are worse than yours and I get many more replies to my applications. Your problem is not your credentials, it is likely your resume (format or wording).
I'm not the best with internet lingo, but I will assume I am OP?
I have attempted to attach the hyperlink to my resume before, but every post I make with it shows up for about 1 second and then disappears. I'm not sure how to rectify this. Does anyone know how to fix it?
most career services are mediocre at teaching students how to format resumes.
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