Hey, I just thought I'd throw my story out there and see if anyone has any advice or suggestions:
So I recently graduated in May from one of the best, if not the best, undergrad business schools in the US and have struggled to find a job. In the past year I can conservatively say that I have interviewed at least 25 times. Ideally, I want to end up in IB at a BB (the only one I haven't interviewed at is Goldman). I've had some really interesting work experience, most recently at a very well-respected mid-size PWM shop in NY. I am still getting interviews here and there, but unfortunately nothing has worked out.
One thing I have noticed is that my GPA has been brought up in most of my interviews. I have a respectable GPA, but below what I would expect to be the industry average. Probably should not have gone out so much in college, but I had the best 4 years of my life and wouldn't change anything.
I've recently been using some of my contacts in HR at the big places and I have gotten mixed signals. At this point, I definitely want to go through a formal structured training program, which means that I would have to wait to start until next year and hope to land a job in a 2011 analyst class. I know this isn't the traditional path, but does anyone know if I will even be considered since I'm older than the ideal prospect?
I'm definitely a decent interviewer and almost all of the feedback I have gotten in the past has been very positive. I've just gotten a whole lot of the "you did really well but this year was extremely competitive" BS.
I really don't know what the best plan of attack here on out is. I am on Doostang applying to any decent looking job in finance, but I feel like I'm not making any progress as I'm one of a million people applying for such a small number of positions. Not to mention in my opinion living at home as a 22 year old will land me in a mental institution if I have to stay more than another month or so. The good thing is I'm taking GMAT classes now in the city to keep me doing something productive with my life.
I'm ready for that cash flow. The determination is there, just need the opportunity to fall into place. Thanks for reading and please, feel free to be honest any advice should be helpful.
Whats your GPA?
HR Contacts are better than no contacts, but ideally you want non-HR contacts.
3.37
At some point in the recruiting season (i.e. last year) you should've started applying to non-financial jobs as well (consulting, corporate finance) so that you'd have a some kind of a job right now. Many people wait a year (or even two) before they become banking analysts and most of them go into a consulting / corporate environment out of school and then make the switch. While the lateral or "as-needed" recruiting process is not as streamlined as the on-campus one, there are still PLENTY of people who make that jump into a MM or even BB shop (mostly MM, but the outstanding candidates can do even better).
The worst thing you can do is have a big gaping hole in your resume, so what I would recommend you do now is apply to everything ASAP - but make sure it's still a decent job for what it is (i.e. economic consulting or some shit, no administrative assistant stuff). In the meantime, see if you can brush up on your banking / finance skills by enrolling into a workshop or something. These things cost, but hey, it's an investment and it looks decent on your resume. 3.37 is not bad and has less of a bearing the further you are from graduation.
And, oh yeah, continue the networking process and don't sound like a douche in your email solicitations ;). That last one is the hardest thing to do, given your level of desperation. But it's doable, though you need to start working now.
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