Venting and feel like i need advice about getting into IBD

Mainly writing this post just to vent. I graduated from college back in 2017. I did an internship in investment banking but didn’t get a return offer due to headcount issues. I tried getting another full time offer but failed in doing so and had to resort to contract roles with other firms doing risk management and operations. I hated it, and still wanted to get something in banking. I also learned about what i dont like and about the skillsets that I like which revolved around financial modeling, credit analysis, and analyzing companies and sovereigns to see how they’re performing.

Furthermore, i got laid off from one of my contract roles, which really sucked even though I didn’t like the role. I ended up getting another offer with another bank a few months later which turned into a full time offer. Offer wasn’t in the division or team that i wanted but was happy and grateful that i was able to land a full-time gig. After about a year of this current role I switched to a slightly more quantitative role so i can get a bit closer to investment banking. Throughout all this, i have been rejected probably around 1,000 times or more who knows.

Currently, im still in the slightly more quantitative role that i mentioned above, which provides good visibility and exposure. However, the team is not the best at least in terms of culture, and I get a feeling that I will get laid off soon. Additionally, i am continuing my search for a banking or at least more banking related role, both internally and externally, and I have gotten 2 interviews from two different firms so far. I think my interviews went well but still feel defeated when I remember all the rejections i have gone through in the past. Dont get me wrong, i’m very happy with all my successes, just saying that sometimes i feel defeated when i think of the rejections i have gone through and how i may potentially experience that again now that im continuing my search for banking again. But I know i have to continue pushing hard and will definitely do so as im no quitter. The other thing thats stressing me out is that I potentially may get laid off, so not sure how that will affect my recruiting process if i do end up getting laid off before attaining an offer.

Overall, I really needed to get this out of my chest. I welcome any advice that anyone has to offer as im always looking for ways to grow and be a better version of myself. Also, anyone that knows of any places looking for analysts preferably in IBD financing teams please let me know.

To anyone who made it this far and read the whole thing, Thank you.

#morganstanley #ibd #houlihanlokey #advice #recruiting #finance