Do I stay or do I go?

This is just my perspective, but it sounds like you acknowledge that you have barely done any networking yet have a partner at a firm already willing to vouch for you to get an interview. I think this boils down to your risk aversion, whether you are more comfortable taking the 'safer' choice and extending your time abroad or forcing yourself to begin networking more seriously, come home as scheduled, and put foot to pavement on the job hunt. Personally, I say you should buck up and take things into your own hands. It's never too late to start networking, and if you have strong connections, they ought to help you at least land interviews in time to start this fall. Either way, best of luck.

Thanks so much for the help APAE.

I guess I should have quantified my level of networking, haha, I've sent about 20-25 emails through my alumni network, had info interviews with 3, all at the same firm and they all said they would act as a referral (the highest level being a partner).

I should also mention I could sign up for a second year here, and then resign my position if I am offered a spot somewhere (again I guess this would come down to risk aversion)...

Also in an unrelated question from another thread, APAE, it's been about a month since I talked to this partner, I've been polishing my cover letter/resume (used a resume review service) and talking with other alumni from the firm, should I apologize for the delay in applying (I think my reasons are legit) or should I just see if he mentions it...

Thanks!

Is there any way you could realistically increase your networking efforts while also abroad? How about aggressively emailing, following-up by phone (Skype?), and setting up phone or video-conferencing interviews?

How far away is your abroad program? Would it be feasible to continue applying for jobs, and fly back for an interview if need be?

Also, what about part-time jobs? Anything you could find somewhat related to consulting that you could do in between now and fall 2013?

No matter what: if you can already recognize that your networking efforts have been lacking, you need to step it up immediately. No excuses here.

I think I could continue through email and what not (I should say I've done SOME networking 20-25 emails, just not going at it 100%, I feel like I go hard for 2 or 3 days, then cool of for a week or two) I mean I've had three informational interviews through skype, I guess I should just mention my program is in Japan as I've said that on previous posts. I guess I could be able to fly back for interviews when necessary (I could about 25 vacation days). I should also mention my job pretty much allows me to have 4-5 hours of free time while I'm "at work" so I should have plenty of time to do something maybe internet start up related in the next year too to add to my resume...

I'm just thinking that there aren't many jobs that have a definite end date like this one (except of course teaching back home, which I don't really want to do) so this way I can say for certain that I will start at whatever date...

Bump, as you can see I really am giving out silver bananas pretty openly...

cooooome on

stay where you are, and network from there for another year.

Got any reasoning behind this? I guess big firms wouldn't be able to start me until next year anyway, If by chance I do get hired while I'm here and the firm is able to start me sooner would it be possible to defer to start with the 2013 grads? I could also leave here early, but I would rather not...

you don't want to be idle when you come back. you want to stay in motion. coming back here and waiting for a year to start a job that is not locked in is not rational. you can position yourself as someone who always wanted to go abroad to volunteer/help the less fortunate, and you thought the best time to do this was right after you graduated. it ultimately depends on your credentials. if you position yourself properly, and sell yourself in the right way, i think you will be just fine

but i guess coming back to the states will increase your chances of getting a gig, so i see your point. i think there is so much that can be done from where you are though. and i would definitely lean more on staying for another year.

Thanks hnic, SB to you, I feel like I could get a coaching job at my high school or something, and I could also get a campaign job (but that would only pay to about mid-December probably). How big of a death knell is having empty space on your resume?

it's a huge downside. look at it this way. the more time you spend unemployed, the less marketable you are. have you considered looking for a finance/consulting gig where you currently are? i think you are better off doing what you are doing now than a high school coaching job or campaign job( from a career perspective). ask the partner about internship opportunities. i prefer the idea of coming back to do an internship this summer, and then waiting a whole year. it's not too late. internships dont start till June. And I wouldnt place too much weight on what the partner said because so many things can still go wrong along the way. you are not even in the interview phase yet

Home is suburban Chicago so definitely able to meet in person, however, I came from a West Coast school, so while there is an alumni presence there, it is not THAT strong, but it is there, unfortunately the majority of "successful" alumni are in legal professions so it's not something that I could really leverage there. However, I do ultimately hope to work in Chicago.

Many of the big banks house a good part of their industrials coverage teams in Chicago. If you're interested in banking, that ought to be your focus. You mentioned consulting, and I am less familiar with how the major consultancies are set up, but imagine it would be similar. Given you're from Chicago and want to work in Chicago, I would recommend coming back.

I don't think re-upping for another year abroad so that you don't have blank space on your resume will show much better than explaining to interviewers that the teaching opportunity was a great experience and something you had to do, but you had always intended to ultimately enter a career in [consulting/banking/etc] and decided it was time to come back and pursue a handful of opportunities.

Thing is, I feel like most recruiting spots open until next fall anyway, it's too late to get something FT starting in the fall granted there are many things I would love to do with a year off back home (none of them work related), all of them just personal experiences, travel and I would actually enjoy coaching etc.

Also would anything bad happen if I sign up for another year, and then get an offer where they say I can start this Fall or maybe in January and then quit my current job, would that come back to haunt me in anyway?

The full-time positions for "analyst class programs" that start summer 2013 will in general be filled between October and December this year. Your background is somewhat non-traditional and your focus is regional, so you shouldn't limit yourself to recruiting for program positions. There are one-off hires that groups sometimes make outside of the analyst program throughout the year which you might be able to snag snag.

The odds that quitting your current job early will have any negative repercussions are extremely remote.

Gotta make a decision within the next five hours, as of right now I'm leaning towards staying abroad for a year, but to actively search for jobs and will pull out if a firm can't wait until fall 2013 to start me, last chance for input!