I'm lost and need serious advice
Hi guys.
This thread is coming up as a result of a lot of frustration, fear, and lack of direction.
I am 24 years old and I have no ib/pe/fin experience. I worked with new york life for a little back in 2011/2012. I graduated with my finance degree from st. John's university with a 3.0. I have a very small network. I really don't know what to do.
To be perfectly honest, i didn't expect to graduate or even be alive at this point. I messed up big time with my life at the most important time of my life and its haunting me daily.
Long story short, went to Fordham u my freshman year, family loses house, leave school, work and go to a community college for about two years. Get my money right, back to nyc and go to st. Johns.
My second year, first semester there, I get hit by a car and wake up in the hospital. They amputate my right leg. I miss out on fall 2012 semester, go back spring 2013. I got my prosthetic leg 1 week before, and i overvalued my own strength. Worst gpa semester of college.
Whatever, grades and my health become my focus and I graduated jan 2015. Right now and for the past year i have been off and on applying to anything and everything.
My goal is to make it into investment banking. I have been working long hours, standing, at a restaurant so my body is willing. Mentally, I cant stop thinking about how bad I want a change.
What I am asking from all of you is not to have a pity party for me, I am responsible for my life situation. I chose not to work until graduation.
I want you to tell me, if given this life situation, what would you do if you wanted to get into the industry.
If you need my resume or have any questions, just ask. I need brutal honesty and feel free to call me an idiot.
It sounds like an MSF may be the best route. Your grades may not be the best but with a solid GMAT you may be able to land an interview (work experience doesn't really matter), and as much as you don't want pity you would blow an interviewer away.
They're usually 1-year and not too expensive. They buy you time to do an internship and go through recruiting again.
Post your resume for some clarity please.
probably not realistic to expect to get directly into ib in your situation.. try to get a job - any finance job - at a bank, financial institution, local S&L, maybe even assistant to the treasurer at a small local non-profit. Getting some work experience is key for you at this point.. you are probably serving staff at the restaurant - which doesn;'t really help your IB aspirations but stick it out until you get another job. I second the advice about trying for an MSF in a couple of years but getting some work exp is key for you at this point..
I had a nontraditional background too; 2x cancer survivor, multiple operations, no network, and a weak gpa. I did what I could to make my resume strong.
I started volunteering and leveraged that to secure my first front office internship which later helped me get into equity research. Is it ideal? No, actually I resent it tremendously and wish I was in IBD every day but it is better than nothing. To fix it I'm doing my best to make my MBA application stellar.
You need to get a finance related job and start branding yourself for a career.
-The most important thing I did was network. (I looked at GettingHired.com) BTW all you MilitaryBrahs should know you are also eligible.
-Tried to offset my gpa by demonstrating my work ethic. I prepared for the CFA, GMAT, and volunteered. (Not fit for everyone)
-Get really good at rejection if you aren't already.
-Brutal honesty? Work on your writing.
Good luck.
If you are set on a career in finance, I second one of the other posters in suggesting that you go back to school for a Msf or a MBA. At 24, the window is slowly closing for you to get in on the analyst/entry-level without prior work experience, a stellar academic record, or a network. I wouldn't say it's impossible but it's certainly not probable. Rather than waste another year hunting for quality jobs to start from the bottom, you can devote that time to crushing the standardized tests, getting accepted to a decent-enough program, and have a better (real) shot when you graduate. You seem to have overcome much adversity, I congratulate you for not giving up and wish you the best in achieving your goals.
I understand that you feel the deck is completely stacked against you. You think that you're not able to go any further but you're wrong.
If you have purpose, you can do make it.
My advice: get an MS in Finance. If you have to move from NYC, you can try and come back after you get the Masters and some work experience. Your GPA is kind of low, but you can get past that with a great GMAT.
You've already gone through hell before, this is nothing to you. You got this man.
Agreed, you're in the most competitive city with lackluster grades, but a unique story. It's important that you are honest with yourself and the reality, you'll have to overcome a hell of a lot to get into arguably the most competitive industry in finance.
Best of luck, keep after it.
It's not over as long as you're still breathing. Keep Grinding.
An MSF is the only route for you.
I was in a similar position as you (worked in a restaurant and in retail after college) though I was fortunate enough to have a very high undergraduate GPA and didn't suffer anything remotely similar to the tragedy that you went through.
You have a legitimate story though you're going to need to frame it differently. Don't make it sound like the horrible tragedy that it is - turn it into an obstacle that you will overcome. Also, and this is very important, you need to KILL the GMAT. Study for it - I mean really study for it. Take as long as you need, but you need a 700+.
Getting into a top ranked MSF is only the BEGINNING. You're going to need to secure an internship, obtain a stellar GPA and work your ass off.
Good luck.
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