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Old 09-15-2010, 01:14 PM
 
Location: NYC
7,364 posts, read 14,629,211 times
Reputation: 10379

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Quote:
Originally Posted by slusher View Post
Thank you everyone for all your comments. I guess i should have included that I'm a finance major.

I'm feeling slightly better this morning but still not out of it. Its really nice that I found this forum because everyone here seems like they have a lot of valuable knowledge to share, and for the most part are very supporting. I wish i knew the things i know now back when i started college. I guess that is said a lot and part of the reality that is life.

The only working experience I have is as an adminstrative assistant at the college deans office. Did that part time while in school for about 2 years. Then got into undergrad business school and kinda focused on school/grades.

EDIT: IDK i guess i dont know what i'd categorize as a "decent job" but i dont want to do sales. Especially commision only sales. I'd really like to work in an office or business, a corporate finance job which is what I had hoped to find. I dont mind working up the ladder, I just dont want to get stuck there which is something i'm afraid of.
You are going to need to work a little harder than this. Knowing what you don't want to do is rather useless. You have struck down 1 type of job out of the millions that are out there-- what good is that? It's time for you to figure out what you do want, and until you do so, no one can really help you.

A piece of advice, stop saying that the "only" work experience you have is that admin job. When you say "only" you diminish yourself, the job, and the skills you picked up by working there.
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Old 09-15-2010, 01:45 PM
 
68 posts, read 391,796 times
Reputation: 28
Thanks for responding. What i'm currently doing is looking at all other jobs that are outside of sales with room for growth that i'd enjoy doing. I've looked at accounting/auditing type jobs, underwriter jobs, management trainee jobs, etc... I'd love to be a financial analyst, but nothing entry level there without experience or an internship. I agree though I need to figure out what other things I'd want to do. I've been doing a lot of searching on the web for types of jobs that might fit. There is so much out there but really hard to get into things as entry level. It can be overwhelming.
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Old 09-15-2010, 06:22 PM
 
68 posts, read 391,796 times
Reputation: 28
Anyone have any tips on where to start to move up the ladder? What positions I should be looking at specifically. Can i get entry level accounting jobs with a degree in finance. Would going back to get a second undergrad in accounting be a good idea? I feel that accounting has jobs that require less selling.

Thank you.
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Old 09-15-2010, 06:39 PM
 
Location: Denver, CO
1,278 posts, read 2,302,261 times
Reputation: 929
Quote:
Originally Posted by slusher View Post
Anyone have any tips on where to start to move up the ladder? What positions I should be looking at specifically. Can i get entry level accounting jobs with a degree in finance. Would going back to get a second undergrad in accounting be a good idea? I feel that accounting has jobs that require less selling.

Thank you.
A lot of the ads I see for accounting type positions usually state that "a BA/BS in Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Finance or related field is required or preferred". So, for the most part, you should be covered as far as your degree is concerned. As long as you can read and do simple arithmetic, I think you should be good to go for most entry level positions.
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Old 09-15-2010, 08:22 PM
 
Location: Both sides of the Red River
778 posts, read 2,312,223 times
Reputation: 1121
Quote:
Originally Posted by slusher View Post
Anyone have any tips on where to start to move up the ladder? What positions I should be looking at specifically. Can i get entry level accounting jobs with a degree in finance. Would going back to get a second undergrad in accounting be a good idea? I feel that accounting has jobs that require less selling.

Thank you.
Let me just say that I have my BBA with a minor in finance. In my degree program, if you didn't have at least 1 or preferably 2 internships recruiters passed on you. It was the same deal in accounting, so you may have trouble getting something, and that would be true if your degree was in accounting or not. Try still, but I wouldn't hold my breath. One thing to consider: how many hours of accounting did you take? How were your grades in those classes? If that's a field that interests you could always plan to get your CPA designation in the future.

Fortunately a finance degree is pretty flexible. If you live in an area where the real estate market still has a pulse, try going that route. And I'm not talking about working for Conglom-o Commerical RE firm. See if you can help maybe in a small real estate office. A lot of realtors like (and need) people with business savvy. And you may not need to "sell" anything since the realtor will be doing that. Also, consider a job with a car dealer arraigning dealer financing. I actually know a friend who just got a job doing this, and with car sales picking up right now it may be an option. With your previous office admin position you could try being an office manager, although I would imagine the competition for these is probably pretty high right now.

One side note: I read your previous posts and you seem pretty down. If your finance program at your school was anything like mine, I think you may need to adjust your views and expectations on your career path. At my school, the students basically were indoctrinated that if you didn't get some gushy job at Goldman Sachs you were a failure, which is total bunk and why I decided on being just a minor. The truth is a finance major can be used effectively at positions outside corporate finance, of which there are very few right now anyway. There are many things you can do in business, but you are going to have to think a little outside the box and be really proactive. And that would be true no matter what the economic state. You are still young and you're whole life's ahead of you! Don't give up!
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Old 09-15-2010, 09:01 PM
 
Location: NJ
2,210 posts, read 7,006,819 times
Reputation: 2193
Quote:
Originally Posted by slusher View Post

EDIT: IDK i guess i dont know what i'd categorize as a "decent job" but i dont want to do sales. Especially commision only sales. I'd really like to work in an office or business, a corporate finance job which is what I had hoped to find. I dont mind working up the ladder, I just dont want to get stuck there which is something i'm afraid of.
Commission only sales sucks, and I work in sales, but there are plenty of sales jobs with base salaries. HOWEVER, it is tough and if you aren't cut out for it you should avoid it.

Try looking at company websites. Any company website, lots of them have a careers section and I've found that applying directly through the company always got me a better response. My company has 6 finance positions open, as well as plenty of admin (and many of those jobs lead to project style positions). I'll PM you. They list requirements as 4 year degree + 2 years experience, having post-grad "buys" you some experience and as someone mentioned, don't underestimate your 2 years of part time admin. Sell it.
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Old 09-16-2010, 07:12 AM
 
2,017 posts, read 5,623,285 times
Reputation: 1680
Try looking at payroll jobs. Generally they tend to be somewhat secure and you can have a very fulfilling career that branches to all other kinds of roles.
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Old 09-16-2010, 09:02 AM
 
123 posts, read 379,155 times
Reputation: 74
have you checked usajobs, they have a lot of jobs in your field. i did not do an internship either and i am a hard science major. a lot of my classmates are working jobs that aren't in their field or going on to grad school. the job market stinks. good luck to you, just practice interviewing skills, sale yourself. dont be discouraged!
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Old 09-16-2010, 12:29 PM
 
68 posts, read 391,796 times
Reputation: 28
thank you everyone for all your help, understanding and encouraging words. I will do all those things, and continue to keep looking. Good luck to all the others who are also looking.
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Old 09-16-2010, 12:44 PM
 
68 posts, read 391,796 times
Reputation: 28
Quote:
Originally Posted by #1soonerfan View Post
how many hours of accounting did you take? How were your grades in those classes? If that's a field that interests you could always plan to get your CPA designation in the future.
Thanks for all your advice 1soonerfan. I just wanted to answer the following questions. I took 2 accounting classes and 1 business law class. Got a B+ in intro to accounting, A in managerial/cost accounting, and A in business law.
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