I'm in my early 30s and I'm based in New York City. I've been interviewing for Financial Analyst and Credit Analyst roles. Despite having finished graduate school in May 2023, earning a master's degree in Finance, and passing the Level 1 CFA exam, I've struggled to land a full-time job offer, which is extremely frustrating. I've been working as a paid consultant for a firm that sells investment and risk signals to hedge funds. However, this position doesn't provide benefits or health insurance, which I currently pay for out-of-pocket. I plan to continue with this firm until I secure a permanent role.

Since last May, I've been targeting front office roles, but it seems like hiring at the bulge bracket banks has almost come to a standstill—I'm barely getting interviews. Is anyone else experiencing this slowdown? I'm eager to connect with other financial analysts and banking professionals across the United States to exchange job search strategies, especially for competitive markets like New York City, Boston, and San Francisco. Have you found it necessary to directly reach out to hiring managers on LinkedIn? This was not something I needed to do before 2020, and it's been a shock to adjust to these aggressive tactics.

I'd appreciate hearing about your post-graduation job search experiences in the current economic climate. How many rounds of interviews? I have done up to 9 rounds for equity research and the roles were not filled due to hiring freezes. How long did it take you to find a suitable role, and what do you think were the key factors that influenced your success?

I'm happy to help anyone with resume reviews and mock interviews, especially if you're interviewing at major banks like JPMorgan, Citi, BofA, Wells Fargo, or any asset manager. I have extensive experience with these interviews and would love to help others navigate their job search challenges.

Thank you for any advice you can provide. Feel free to DM me!