Unfortunately I have been an underachiever… With 8 years experience my career is sh*t
With that said, my resume looks a lot more impressive if I exclude the first 4 years and make it seem like im a 25-26 year old (level 3 candidate!)… My plan is to keep everything factually correct on my resume but just not include a college graduation date (through clever formatting). Im also leaving out that I got an international MBA which has been completely worthless.
In the past four years I actually did work as a sell side equity research analyst (2 years) but I made a big mistake moving to my current role which has been a dead end (credit research at a third rate bank)… I have the skills and will do fine in interview but just need a good chance. My goal is to work at a top tier firm but worried I will be disqualified for being (too old/ with too much baggage). Compensation is not a problem since my current salary is low and likely consistent with a good junior role.
sure why not. as long as you’re cool with the salary
i flat out lied about the work i did for two years as soon as i graduated from college. i was self learning stuff and just put that in the CV along with the original company name.
anyway, some recruiter called hr for a reference without asking me and they were just like uhhhhh. he calls me back and hes like j no one know what you did and im just like yeah man it was an ‘experimental’ role, i was working alone. never heard from him. i wonder why
pro tip : get some mates to do you reference checks and clue them up before hand if you’re fibbing
I would rather be a (first year analyst) at a major hedge fund then a mid level AVP at some third rate firm(which is what I am now). Those HFs or a place like GS/MS would never give me a chance in hell because i’m old and have “baggage”… BUT If I can make it appear that ive only been out of college for a few years (3-4) with just my most recent work experience they would consider me for some good junior roles that have solid growth potential. I come in for an interview and knock the questions out of the park with knowledge “beyond my years” would make me look like a superstar… no?
You need to reset your CV. If it were me, I would quit and get a 1y MS or even MFE at as prestigious a university as possible. If you’re making entry level compensation as mentioned, you have very little opportunity cost. There is no escaping the past 3-4 years history in a dead end job; you can only focus on moving to something incrementally more presentable. You have essentially no chance of entering an analyst or associate program at a top end firm as is.
If someone worked 6 years in compliance (for example) and then by luck(or whatever) was moved to a real front office analyst role> I think there is a case that including the compliance role on the resume could be perceived negatively. You might disqualify yourself from roles looking for someone with just a few years of “analyst” experience.
The resume would look sharper just focusing on current role.