Good Morning,
I am 22 years old with a B.S. in Economics received in May, 2007. I'vebeen working for a medium-sized, well-established and growing corporation sinceSeptember. I am complacent in the position that I am in, though I ammore-often-than-not bored. Sometimes the work gives me a rush and Ireally enjoy what I do, but about 80% of the time I am very bored. I feellike I am being under-utilized and I am getting little satisfaction from myjob. A description of my job would be a financial analyst; more specifically, I analyze new bids, proposals, and ongoing programs. But sometimes I think I'm a corporate monkey.
I think that I am a people person-- I realized this while I was reading a bookcalled "The Tipping Point" by Malcom Gladwell. It's really anexcellent book so far, but anyway... One of the people he describes is called a"Salesmen," referring to the attribute of selflessly persuadingpeople to do the right thing or buy the right item. A"Salesmen" in his words is not a pressuring, cold-calling, annoyingfigure like so many of us imagine. This I am certain that I am not.
I love helping people; always have, ever since my days as a part-time worker inretail during school. My favorite part of the day was when people wouldask me questions. I enjoyed giving them information and knowing that Iwas selflessly aiding them in their exciting purchase of a new lawnmower(that's what I sold).
Anyway, I am really interested in the financial services sector. I havefantasies of becoming a hedge fund manager some day. I made a friend atthe gym I go to, and he is an estate planner. I told him about my problemand he said that I might not like the financial services industry because it ISabout selling and traditional "sales."
I am not good at traditional networking. I am a very kind, generous, andexpressive person, but I hate when people are fake with each other becausetheir only purpose of speaking is "networking."
Anyway, the company I am with currently pays for my MBA, which I will bestarting soon. Also, there is an opportunity to do a stint in the UK which I amgoing to try and get. I would be able to study at the London School ofEconomics if I went over there.
True, I only have 6 months of experience, but I also feel like I don't want topursue this career path for much longer. If I am going to make the move,should I make it soon or take a couple of years, get my MBA, maybe travel abit, and then move on? I have very high expectations of myself and I justdon't see much opportunity for growth here- it's a corporate environment so theraise/promotion patterns are very regimented.
*edit* I also wanted to mention that I have an inherent passion for thefinancial markets. I mean, Hell, business makes the world go'round. I read the WSJ almost every day, and keep an eye on themarkets. Also, given my Economics background, enjoy tracking themacro-economics sector as a whole, and reading articles dissecting the Fed andBernanke.
What do you guys think? Thanks a lot for the advice. I will keep aneye on the thread and answer any other questions.
I have two thoughts here that may seem contradictory. First off, you not only have only 6 months experience in this field, you only have 6 months experience, period. All entry-level, new grad jobs have an element of boredom and mundaneness to them. What you know about the real World of Work fits in a thimble at this point and it is important to gain experience, build good references and also to get a feel for the corporate culture. As time goes on, you start going into jobs that are more challenging and better suit you.
If, however, you want to try financial services, I recommend Edward Jones. They VERY fussy about who they take in and yes, the job (especially in the early days) IS about sales, but unlike many other financial services sales jobs, their focus is on doing what is right for the customer, not just churning accounts to generate profits. Their rewards are incredible, they have a fantastic training program and it might really suit your interest in helping others while using your economic background. You can establish the type of clientele you want to work with and build your portfolio accordingly. Check out their website and read up on applicants. There are several pages of what's involved and an on-line interest test. If you pass that you'll get a call from someone and continue the interview process. You can also call and make an appointment with a local Edward Jones rep and ask them about what it is like working there, what they think etc.
Tess