First post! seeking career advice.

Hi guys,

This is my first post, I know there's tons of interesting topics around on the site so I'll keep this brief to save everyone time.

Profile:
Currently 4th year university undergrad. Major in Math (get a bachelors in math Dec 2011 when I graduate) but also qualify for the accounting professional exams when I graduate after masters, that would be September 2012 (if I pass that I'll be an accountant).
GPA: dunno, from non-US school use % scale. cumulative average in low 80%.
Course wise, the usual finance courses, econ, deriveratives etc etc. Nothing that would stand out.
Just passed CFA level 1
Exp so far: currently have about 1 year exp in accounting firm through university co-op. Audit/compiling financial statements for clients. dunno if this makes any difference.

Goal:
First get into a decent MBA program then get a decent job in finance. Hopefully break into IB.

So, here are the paths I'm thinking:
1. Math Bachelors -> finance job with a bank for 2 years (boost my application for MBA in the meantime) -> apply for MBA -> hopefully decent job in finance.

*by finance job I don't mean only IB. It can be ER etc, any type of job that would boost my MBA app, if that is possible.

  1. Math Bachelors -> accting masters/accting exam to get designation -> valuations section of accting firm -> finance job for 1-2 years (boost my application for MBA in the meantime) -> apply for MBA -> hopefully decent job in finance.

*as you can see this costs me about 1.5-2 years more than #1.

  1. No fucking clue, i've been studying for 3 years to be an accountant. I'm not that creative. Open to suggestions.

Also with my current marks. have not done GMAT yet, do I stand any chance at all at a good MBA school?

Thanks guys, I tried to keep this as concisely as possible.

btw, i'm from Canada.

Cheers!

Feel free to post something here or message me! any feedback is greatly appreciated so I can get a understanding of my chances. realistically.

 

I vote for option #1. Would be the most reasonable path.

EDIT

As for working for 2 years, you might have to make it 3. Also, you might have to settle for something less than IB/ER/S&T etc. until you come out of b-school. If you think you need an MBA to get into a decent finance job, then odds are, you're not confident enough in your background to get that job now.

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 
Best Response

Thanks, for the response! I'm not confident now is cause i have bad marks, no finance exp ( didn't start finance club and stuff). But if I take #1, after December i'll have no job. It will not be about confidence, but desperation. I realize it that's y I'll fight to break in now. But that being said. Option 1 means I won't have the accting designation or valuations exp. Would the lack of those 2 still enable me to get an okay job in finance? (in terms of preping for MBA)

As for "settle for less than IB/ER/S&T etc. do you mean pre MBA jobs or just career in general. Any recommendations besides networking to boost my chances?

Thanks a lot again, I really appreciate it. Each post here will be worth about 2 months of my life. You're helping me more than you know.

 

It seems that your biggest short-term goal is to build-up a good resume/"story" for your b-school applications. If that's the case, I'd say you should look to other types of jobs outside of banking (finance division at a Fortune 500 company or join a start-up.

Here's my logic:

Most of our MBA mentors that were in finance before their MBA typically worked at bulge-bracket banks. While it's possible, with a low GPA and no formal corporate recruiting channels, it's going to be hard for you to land a job at one of these firms. If you get a job at a smaller bank, you'll be put into the finance bucket during the b-school admissions process and will competing for a spot with kids with brand name banking experience. That's coupled with the fact that you'll need strong professional experience to overcome your GPA.

Two things you should consider to make yourself a compelling MBA applicant is to join a start-up or to get finance jobs at some of the blue-chip companies - P&G, General Mills, etc. Landing a job in the finance division of a blue-chip company is still very competitive, but maybe you have a better chance because there are a bunch more options (just go through the Fortune500 and target a 50-100 companies). I'm a little biased when it comes to start-up experience, but I'd say that joining a start-up would be the best way to make you a stronger MBA candidate. It's a great time to be working at a start-up, and you could gain a lot of interesting experience and leadership responsibilities that you can speak to during your application process. Start-ups are also going to be the least concerned about your GPA.

If after b-school, you want to get into finance, as long as your at a top b-school, you'll have a number of opportunities to do so. The advice above doesn't mean that you can't get a good job in banking and get into a good school - it's possible. I just think another route (Fortune 500 and/or start-up) may be a better route to increase your chances of getting into a good b-school.

 

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