Job Hunt taking years off my life

I feel like I’m at such a dead end and I’m only 22. How could this be? I just settled for a bullshit finance call center job just so that I can have a paycheck and get licensed after 5 months of being unemployed and I feel that this was a big mistake but I don’t know why. I’m worried that this experience won’t transition into anything I really want to do since it will be mostly picking up phones and answering client questions. I really want to break into PWM. I recently had a couple final round interviews in private wealth but didn’t get them and this crushed me, ultimately driving me to give up and settle for the call center job. I know I’m most likely being dramatic but I can’t sleep with the thought that I’ll be a nobody at a call center. Am I making a huge mistake taking this job and ultimately ruining my chances of getting a great entry level job or will this be a good thing getting licensed and getting some client experience? 

 
Most Helpful

A call center can develop your communication skills very well. Being able to get licensed is even better. It may not be what you want, but contrary to popular belief you can definitely still get into PWM

If the job is sales-oriented, that’ll position you even more for PWM because at some point you’ll need to build your book.

Believe me, at 22 and working at a call center doesn’t make you a nobody. The harsh realities of life is that there will be times when you have to do things you don’t like to get to where you want to go.

This is a great lesson for you at 22 instead of getting what you want when you want it. It’s painful no doubt, but you’ll learn how to persevere. 

Give it your best and I’m sure you’ll be where you want to be in a year or so.

 

It took me nearly two years after graduation to land a role in the FO. Keep at it man, you will get there and like what Mumbles said, being able to get licensed and developing communications skills can be valuable. Interview is truly a numbers game, I was crushed several times after talking to top funds and banks, but in the end it all worked out. 

Go all the way
 

You should be able to break into PWM if you just keep plugging away, doing your thing, and applying.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Dude you got a job related to banking. Relax... The job will suck no question. I was in a personal banker role out of college and consumer banking is is the worse, lol. Jobs like the one you're in suck a lot too but you will be licensed and get good client facing experience. However, I have transitioned to an analyst role in PWM, making about 70k a year in a low cost city, I am just a couple years out of college, and it will not be hard for me to eventually in like 3/4 years go to ER... point being careers are long and the foot in the door is the most important thing to get. That role will suck but you will gain good people experience. You will just need to focus on eventually transitioning while the same time keeping the role for at least around 1.5 years. Maybe take the CFA or CFP in the meantime.

 

Getting that first legit finance job is just really really hard. I graduated from a top 10 public school and had the CFA L1 done, and it took me 14 months to get my first job. I questioned it the whole time - why not just get a lesser job to get started? But it worked out. So don't give up and don't settle, once you get that first good one, SO many doors will open. It really shouldn't be hard to get into PWM though. There are financial advisors/groups in every city, and honestly being a standard Client Associate is not too dissimilar to working a call center, I'd call it kind of a glorified secretary job. To be fair, your first year or two in any entry level finance job can sortof be considered a glorified secretary job. Anyways! It sucks but don't give up, it will come. 

 

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