I was honorably discharged as a sergeant from the Army in Dec. of 2012, began my undergraduate at Fairfield University in the Spring of 2013, and graduated two weeks ago with a B.S. in Finance. Good GPA and 13 months of GI Bill Benefits remaining. Also eligible for voc rehab. I am 27 and married with a six week old baby. Looking for work in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York, and seriously considering a part time MBA at night. My dream job would be to get a foot in the door at a bulge bracket bank in NY and begin climbing that ladder. I have found it difficult getting a job. I have applied like crazy to what seems to be everywhere. Every week I have been casting a larger net. Now considering B-School. I was thinking, maybe shoot a little lower with a more achievable lower paying job, get my MBA at night, and in two to three years, try shooting for the stars again.
From my research into MBA programs, especially for investment banks, the name brand really matters. Is this really the case? Or will I be able to leverage my extensive military experience to compensate for not having a HBS or Columbia MBA under my belt?
Answers
Dear David, I am a fellow Fairfield alumnus (Bachelor of Science '95) and my husband graduated from there also with a Finance degree. He quickly got a job at William Mercer and then spent 10 years at Fidelity Investments in Boston. I know you said you wanted to work in banking but Fidelity has so many different types of job offerings from Defined Benefits, Portfolio Management, Financial Planning etc. Before the MBA, you might consider a Project Management Certification (PMP) as this provides valuable training for almost any industry. Good luck and thank you for your service!
Thank you everyone! This is a pivotal moment for me in the coming months. I just want to take the best foot forward. All of your advice has been very helpful. I have a "Mock Interview" and networking event next week at a big bank in NYC. Hoping to make a great impression.
DJ
P.S. Are mock interviews just a way of filtering?
I don't know much about the exact geographic market you are targeting, but an MBA such as what you are describing probably won't be worth the time and money to gain employment or make a big leap. Those who benefit from such degrees are those already in an institution with a known promotion ladder, where a positive change is virtually guaranteed as long as one stays with that employer. You're young and that MBA needs to last for 4 decades or more, so it should be from a quality program. Keep moving forward & best wishes!
David
Thank you for your service. Congratulations on all of your achievements thus far, I am sure your persistence will pay off. If you can handle the demands, I do think a MBA could be worthwhile. Do not underestimate the power of networking within those programs. I do also believe your service matters. In terms of brand recognition, it certainly helps, but not everyone can attend ivy leagues. While some schools may not have stature of others, they have great programs. Find what works for you and approach it with vigor. If branding is a must, consider some executive education programs given by most of the Ivy League business schools. That could be a good work around that would not have the same requirements and demands. Hang in there, it is a tough market out there. If not already, get set up on LinkedIn. Glad to continue conversation and assistance. Best- Doug
If you are considering an MBA, please try to get from a top school, even if on-line. A second tier school, in my opinion, will not help the door being opened for you. Consider starting at a bank as a teller while working on you MBA. Good luck and thank you for serving
Your experience in the Artillery will mean little to your employer. They do not know the difference between a FO and a green bag. Suggest you shoot lower and get going with a firm...all they are really interested in is can you increase the bottom line and bring in more commissions. Perhaps credit swaps are too 2007. The next frontier is M&A in health care.
Your Answer
Please log in to answer this question.