<p>So like half of the entire population, my dream job is IB. However, I am struggling with unemployment more than a month after graduation.
At the lowest point of my life (so far), I start thinking how wrong I was on my way to graduation and achieving my goals. I had taken a handful of leadership positions on campus (nothing really is grandiose even though I honestly felt I met great people thanks to these positions) and graduated with cum laude in Economics (my major GPA is 3.9 but a minor in Accounting destroyed my magna cum laude dream). I am an international student who transferred from CC. I got rejected from my dream school and got into another school which opened a new door for me as I met so many great friends here (I kid you not, I did not have a single friend in CC). Anyway, as an international student, I faced stiff competition because all 4 interviews which went very positively all led to rejections due to my future need of work authorization (which is a year from now). Most of the friends I made are American and they just didn't understand why it is so difficult for me to find a job. The only international student I knew told me I should have found internships instead of wasting my time on those leadership positions. However, one thing that stopped me from doing so was because I knew it would shorten my OPT period. Therefore, I got a campus job instead but it was still a sales/customer service job in nature and no one (recruiters/HR managers) cares about it. The worst thing is that was the only work experience I have so far. Big 4 was also out of the picture for me since I did not get their internship last summer because I took 2 classes for two summer sessions (8-week each) and it felt like full-time.</p>
<p>So now I'm just lying down on my bed, applying to as many companies out there as possible. I am not even exaggerating that this is like my full-time job since I spend an average of 8 hours a day to search, tailor my resume/cover letter and submit my job application. My parents' money is eaten up and time is definitely not on my side. Do you guys suggest anything I can do? I may be able to get an unpaid internship but it is LA here and I may have to eat dirt to survive then. About my dream, I am willing to work hard but I do not even know where to start now. It is probably too late and it should remain being a dream.</p>
<p>I cannot believe that I do not have anyone else to talk to about this matter as I find myself here, a forum I only visited twice two years ago to get transfer process information.</p>
<p>Also to any upcoming graduates out there: your GPA matters, just not a lot. Get as many relevant internship as possible and also network like crazy.</p>
<p>Have you tried applying to jobs outside of IB, at least for the time being you can be building up work experience, your networking circle, and make some money? You will have the business background to do most accounting, finance, and insurance entry-level jobs.</p>
<p>Yes, that what I have been done for the last 6 weeks (so since 2 weeks before my graduation). I have applied to entry-level managements, finance, internships, etc. I got 12 calls from possibly 100 companies. 5 of them are strictly commission-based (insurance or telemarketing type) so I rejected them. 1 of them is in automotive industry and they rejected me (I admitted I did pretty horrible in the 2nd round of interview). 4 of them went very positively but they rejected just because my need of visa sponsorship next year (according to all of them, they want their employees to stay and grow with them). I applied to a lot of internships (paid and unpaid) but only got one. However, I postponed my decision as they want me to work for free for 6 months in LA.</p>
<p>Is there anyway you can go home and get a job there? </p>
<p>The problem is that you graduated with a major that a number of US grads have, and you are competing with those students who aren’t limited by Visas. Employers don’t want to spend the time and money filling out those sponsor forms when they can find other employees who are just as capable. Its tough and if the US can’t guarantee jobs for its citizens, finding jobs for international students is even tougher.</p>
<p>You want to work in IB and you did not take up an internship during the summer before senior year? Oh my… My friend is doing an internship this summer and he is doing it under CPT, so it doesn’t eat up any of his OPT time.</p>
<p>Which school did you go to? The internationals I know who got jobs after graduating were helped significantly by their schools’ alumni. Yes, they networked extensively and had to work harder than their American counterparts but it all paid off in the end.</p>
<p>@"aunt bea" Yes, I will go home, want it or not, in mid-Sept if I still don’t have a job by then.
@International95 Yes, I am trying to network, too. I went to UCSD and my friends who are in the same circle (Econ/Accounting) are all struggling (most of them have it easier than me because they’re already American) because the companies want people in Accounting major and I’m just not good enough as in Econ (no internships).</p>
<p>With no relevant internships, you will have a tough time getting into investment banking. Try applying to private wealth management then after a few years get an MBA. From there you will be able to move into investment banking starting as an associate rather than an analyst. If you cannot get sponsored, you will probably have to give up your dream of investment banking.</p>
<p>@ooohcollege I see I’ll try to do that!</p>
<p>Popkorn: I am also in San Diego, and I’ve heard from friends that the business market in our area is tough. San Diego is not a big IB community so the few jobs here are limited. Most of that business area is in LA. </p>
<p>I have a friend whose husband graduated two years ago from SDSU with a degree in Finance. He worked for two years at Fry’s selling phones and contracts before he finally got into his bank job through his college network. He is a permanent resident so he’s had more time than you do. He had real estate experience through his internship, so he was hired to handle that aspect for his employer after someone else was promoted. </p>
<p>You may have to focus on L.A. and without a related internship, your job leads will have to come from your college networking system. </p>
<p>@"aunt bea" I see. Right now I am currently having a few unpaid accounting internships in LA and I’m not sure if I should go with that. I definitely look into real estate and private wealth management internships. Thank you.</p>