I Would Appreciate Your Help In Navigating My Career

Hi Everyone,

I am been a long-term reader of WSO content and I love how helpful everyone is here. Now, I find myself in need of advice and help.

Just a little about me. I graduated university in Spring 2018 with a degree in Economics. My university is not an Ivy League, Public Ivy or even a school ranked among the Top 100 in US News & World Report rankings. My GPA was meh(3.2).

I didn't get any finance internships. My applied like a possessed madman to a boatload of firms and got some interviews but no offers. The main reason was because I started applying to finance internships/events very late.

When I came to university, I started out as a biology major(trying to satisfy my parents dream of me becoming a doctor). I realized that I didn't want to do that. I switched to Communications(don't ask, I don't know why either).

Then at the end of my Sophomore year, I switched to Economics. I was able to get an internship at Dow Jones(not the exchange, the folks that publish the WSJ and Barron's). I was on their revenue team. That was the summer of 2016. 2017 was when I applied like a possessed madman to investment banks, banks, PE firms, and boutiques hoping to get my foot in the door. Nothing. I mean absolutely nothing.

Then to make matters worse, I became so depressed with not getting anything that I got into a mental slump and didn't start applying for jobs after graduation until the day before my graduation(yes, I know, I'm an idiot).

I started applying to all positions that were entry level or recent graduates. I got a few interviews, but I was rejected a lot. It was rough, mentally. I remember going to sleep and not be able to sleep because I was worried that I wouldn't get a job. Add the fact that I had student debt and you can see how much of a toll this took on me.

Fortunately, after 4 months, I landed a job. Currently, I'm an analyst at a global commercial real estate firm on the valuation and advisory side. It's been 8 months so far and I'm learning a lot about real estate, but while I like real estate, I don't want to work on the valuation side. I want to work hopefully in IB, PE, or equity research. But I'm open to other areas like asset management and capital markets.

I've been applying to different firms hoping to land an offer. I've been a lot more selective to the positions I'm applying to because I don't want to take up a position and end up in a career path that I don't enjoy or interest me.

My plan was to quit my current job within 1 to 2 months (I've already paid off student loans) and purchase financial modeling courses from Wall Street Prep to study. Once I'm done, I can add that to my qualifications. When I apply to a lot of finance positions, they typically say "strong financial modeling skills", and I have literally ZERO financial modeling experience. Will this help my chances? I understand it may depend on the industry or position, but in general, will it or will it not?

I also plan to connect with my university alumni and try networking through LinkedIn. For someone like me, with a low GPA(3.2) and went to a college that's not ranked in the Top 100 of schools in the country, this may be my best bet. I've been going to networking events as well. I went to an event hosted by The Carlyle Group and floated my resume. Is this the right way to go about networking or is there a better way? Let me know.

I want to work for 3-5 years and start an MBA at a top business school. I see the MBA route as a chance to "reset" and start over. I live in the DC area so Georgetown is my top choice and I believe the business school is ranked in the Top 25 of B-schools in the country. I know B-schools look at WHO you worked for and that prestige of employer is important. This is why I want to get something in finance/wall street before applying to B-school.

This is my first ever post and it's obviously too long, but you get my dilemma. I would welcome any feedback, constructive criticisms, and any ways to improve my situation and break into finance/Wall Street.