Non-Car Related. Venting - Cuz I'm gonna flip my shit.

"Sinanigans" (Sinanigans)
03/12/2014 at 13:49 • Filed to: None

I currently work in finance, but I've been looking to leave my firm since August. I've applied to close to 500 positions (globally) and to say that I'm losing my patience is a gross understatement. I'm even looking outside of the industry. Today I got 4 rejections 24hrs after I applied and can't even express how I feel. To make matters worse, one of the interns is actually getting interviewed for one of the jobs I got rejected for, and now I'm pretty sure I'm gonna burst a bloodvessel...

DISCUSSION (33)

Brian Silvestro > Sinanigans
03/12/2014 at 13:54

five hundred?!

Kinja'd!!!

Party-vi > Sinanigans
03/12/2014 at 13:55

Is there something that's keeping these employers from picking you up? Are your salary requirements too high, or does your current firm have that bad of a reputation that no one is looking for talent from them?

Casper > Sinanigans
03/12/2014 at 13:56

Are you lacking some supporting qualifications or did you make someone mad that is giving you the non-information bad mouth when they call for references?

djmanila > Sinanigans
03/12/2014 at 13:56

so an intern is getting hired before a regular employee? That sucks

jlmounce > Sinanigans
03/12/2014 at 13:57

If you're qualified for these positions and you're getting almost instantaneous denials I would give a serious look at your resume. It may have something glaringly wrong with it that puts it immediately in the trash bin.

Remember, the resume is your first line of contact and also your first impression.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Sinanigans
03/12/2014 at 14:02

I made around 350 phone calls looking for a job a few years back and got nothing at all. It gets pretty depressing. Just be happy to have a job and keep trying. I ended up finding my job by by seeing the company's truck on the highway. I went home and looked up their website and called them. They were impressed with the story and brought me on. Don't give up. You'll get a hit eventually.

Jagvar > Sinanigans
03/12/2014 at 14:02

Online job applications are tricky, and often they're eliminated automatically before a human being even has a chance to look at them. If certain word patterns aren't present in your application/resume, or there aren't enough hits for particular keywords, a computer "filters out" the application, and it never even gets to HR.

It's a rotten way to do things. But often companies get so overwhelmed with high numbers of job applications that they resort to using these electronic gatekeepers.

The best advice I can offer is to look at the key words used under "job requirements" and pepper them throughout your application.

cazzyodo > Sinanigans
03/12/2014 at 14:02

Dude, I feel you. I've been casually looking for the past few months as my role has changed and someone I trained (when I was part time in the office) got a promotion. I've been here for almost 3 years in various roles so I've been trying to find something else in all sorts of states in all sorts of industries...but nothing.

Oh and the person I trained got a promotion...which I expected because he's been full time longer but it solidified my opinion of where this is headed.

Sinanigans > Party-vi
03/12/2014 at 14:03

What I'm getting paid now is a fraction below market rate... So even just below market rate is ok by me. I just can't figure it out. I feel like I'm inherently unhireable. :*-( I even paid an old friend of mine who was a former recruiter for Goldman and Morgan Stanley to help me out... No dice

Party-vi > Sinanigans
03/12/2014 at 14:06

Keep your chin up. You're employed now, and as long as there are people there will always be jobs. I would take another look at your resume to see if anything stands out as to why employers aren't calling you back. Contact the people that rejected you and find out why - what deciding factor made them reject you? This will probably offer the most insight as to why none of these fish are taking your bait.

PatBateman > Sinanigans
03/12/2014 at 14:07

Networking, bro. That'll get you a good finance job.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Sinanigans
03/12/2014 at 14:07

I can't say without knowing, but with that kind of volume it sounds like you're doing a lot of online apps/emailing resumes and whatnot. I think some face to face contact and genuine, non-desperate networking may be what you need.

Sinanigans > Casper
03/12/2014 at 14:07

I don't know what to think anymore...

Sinanigans > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
03/12/2014 at 14:09

Been doing that too. A couple of things that may be in the pipeline, but I'm just losing my patience...

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Sinanigans
03/12/2014 at 14:11

I can imagine so. Keep after it, networking and the sort takes its time to work, and the timing of how it works out can be so arbitrary. Have to imagine it's been tough, but the law of large numbers says a good opportunity is closer than it is far away given your sample size, no?

Casper > Sinanigans
03/12/2014 at 14:15

Well ask that guy who got the interview for his resume (just tell him you are going to show it to someone who might be interested or whatever) and see what he has listed you don't.

The Dummy Gummy > Sinanigans
03/12/2014 at 14:15

I'm in finance/accounting. What type is position and industry are you looking for? I will keep my eye out at my company, but we are currently downsizing. We are a major world org though.

Sinanigans > cazzyodo
03/12/2014 at 14:15

In all honesty, I'm just looking for a gig that will pay my bills and give me a little to save towards starting my own business. I've become so disgusted with corporate America as a whole and the finance industry especially.

Sinanigans > The Dummy Gummy
03/12/2014 at 14:17

I'm currently a trader/equity research associate (I'm actually doing almost exclusively research these days as we've got two new traders. Frankly corporate development would be nice but I'm open to just about anything...

The Dummy Gummy > Sinanigans
03/12/2014 at 14:22

Oh ok. We don't do trading here other than forecasting global markets, but that is for internal not external. I actually work in the corporate division, but there aren't openings. I will definitely let you know if something opens.

cazzyodo > Sinanigans
03/12/2014 at 14:38

Were we twins separated by birth?

I have been pitching ideas to myself over the past 5 years about a business due to the fact that I've become increasingly frustrated with how various places I've been are run.

Favorite color, on 3! (jk)

journeymanbaiter > Sinanigans
03/12/2014 at 16:35

I'm self employed. 35 years. Happy and carefree as a pig in shit.

brner123 > Sinanigans
03/12/2014 at 18:50

If your in Research/Equity Trading do you have your CFA?.. and on the subject of equity trading hows your P/L? or was it more of a personal decision that your now doing research and not trading, i guess what i'm getting at is there a reason that there is new hires on the trading desk and not you.. either way just keep your head up and if you don't have your CFA i'm sure it couldn't hurt for Research at least

Sinanigans > brner123
03/12/2014 at 19:08

I don't have my CFA unfortunately. I took Level I but didn't pass (even though I put ~400hrs into that bitch). As for the trading, I'm on the sellside - my firm never sponsored me for my 7, 63, etc. BUT, I would do the trades, and write up the trade finals, etc., without talking to the clients. Technically I was allowed to do that as long as I didn't interact with clients or give them advice. I'm back and forth on the CFA - I learned so much, and I loved that part of it. But what a commitment!!! As for research it's all for "internal use". Meaning I do research, and give it to Sales/Trading team, and they use it to talk with clients.

If I'm honest, I'm starting to debate whether I wanna stay in the industry. In the end it is still downsizing, the hours suck, and as the talent pool increases, pay and job opportunities decrease. I'm just looking for something to bootstrap a business for myself.

Sinanigans > journeymanbaiter
03/12/2014 at 19:10

Honestly, that's what I wanna do. But I need capital to bootstrap my business...

Sinanigans > cazzyodo
03/12/2014 at 19:13

LOL BLUE!!!! I think the best way to truly build wealth is to do your own thing. I feel like the days of making lots of money by making lots of money for someone else are drawing to a close. Plus with all the competition out there, employers expect more and more out of you for less and less. I work extremely hard- so maybe it's time to work extremely hard for the person who matters most- me.

Sinanigans > The Dummy Gummy
03/12/2014 at 19:15

Forecasting global markets sounds great!!! I cover frontier and emerging markets! I'm happy to leave the industry... is there any way to contact you?

The Dummy Gummy > Sinanigans
03/12/2014 at 19:24

There isn't openings right now but I can let you know when/if there is. Like I said the company is currently downsizing. But I will definitely keep you in the loop if something comes up

Sinanigans > The Dummy Gummy
03/12/2014 at 19:29

Thanks broseph!!! I hope I don't get spam for this... but my email is sinan.aladdin at gmail

The Dummy Gummy > Sinanigans
03/12/2014 at 19:37

Just sent you two accounting positions currently open. Not really in the field you're in, but they both have international travel if that interests you at all.

cazzyodo > Sinanigans
03/12/2014 at 19:54

Dude...my favorite color is seriously blue. I'm scared.

Deputy Kovacs > Sinanigans
03/13/2014 at 22:14

I'm majoring in finance... should I be concerned? What are you doing particularly? Analyst? Associate?

Sinanigans > Deputy Kovacs
03/17/2014 at 19:08

I'm a research associate. But I provide the research for our sales and trading team rather than the clients. It's a really tough industry, but coming out of a target school with good internships and a good GPA then you have a decent chance of getting a decent gig. But, its still tough out there. Not a bad to consider finance jobs out of the financial services industry- much more jobs available, more stable, and better work/life balance. But it's not as exciting and pay is not as good (though some companies pay quite handsomely).