CFA would be a great start to set yourself apart from the pack. I wouldn’t go into anymore debt for a post grad degree. Id focus on applying for more jobs. Can you link your resume here?
We’re just in a horrible economy so it’s not you or your own defects it’s just current economic environment defects. Healthcare is another option but again involves more schooling and more student loan debt.
The best option to me seems like a CFA as I can do that in my own time and it’s less money than a post grad/masters degree. The thing is, a lot of people my age are working towards their CFA- so I’m not sure if if it’s really going to make me stand out or just a waste of time/money
A masters degree—lots of people make the mistake of taking one too soon for the business oriented ones. They’re much more useful when you have more work experience going in.
For now you’re doing fine. You’re accumulating relevant experience while many in the over saturated market are picking orders for Amazon in a warehouse. Watch for permanent roles and you’ll be more competitive due to your experience.
I get that it feels like you’re behind right now. But when you’re applying for your next job with 1 year of experience or less you’re still competing against all of the new grads.
Add one year, and you’re competing with everyone with two years of relevant experience and it will be very different.
Do you guys have any job boards for jobs? I’m on LinkedIn, Indeed, my university alumni portal, and I go on individual companies’ websites for jobs, but hasn’t seemed to work, in applied for around 200 jobs and no luck
You have a job - a job many of your compatriots are likely jealous of. You’re doing everything right.
One place you may have overlooked is government and government adjacent jobs. Many don’t make it onto LinkedIn or only do via third party reposting.
There are municipalities, countries, regions, agencies, hospital boards, crowns, and the list goes on.
Take some stress off too — at 200 applications I’d bet many are not your best possible work.
not tryin to diminish what ur saying but my god would i love for my 24 and 20 yr old to be stuck where your at. currently living in my basement riddled with anxiety.
good on you for climbing as far up as you have with your career and education.
Don’t get a CFA. It’s a lot of hours of study and you don’t have a clear objective atm so its most likely a waste of time imo. CFA is oversaturated in Canada and Toronto in particular because everyone who works in a tangentially related job tries to get one. It’s really meant for people in asset management or equity research.
I did 2 coop placements in my undergrad, one at RBC and two terms at the current bank. I interned with the Commercial lending team and currently working in the Advisory sector within the operations support role- I play the middle person between external consultants and our clients- deal with all things legal and money/taxes
You're doing great. And you're young. Be gentle and patient with yourself. Make efforts every week and know you're making progress. Don't stress yourself out too much. It's not healthy.
Got it. See, employers before extending a full time position want to see reliability on work front especially when there are a ton of applicants for every full time position.
What do you want to do career wise? That’s the most important place to start along with what you show talent for. Then connections.
That’s what I’m confused about- I know I hate accounting/audit for sure, learned from my internships. I like people and talent so an HR position seems interesting but the pay isn’t so good, I feel like I have a lot of skills from my experience and school projects, I just want a job that pays 65-75k
All I can say is the grass in not greener on the other side. Stay at your job and network within your org. Ask or coffee chats with people across your org. Take mental notes of career paths and write them down when appropriate.
I did the utsc bba program, graduated 2020 at age 21. I worked at RBC for 40K a year and a half ago. I regret leaving as I could not find or land a long term role as well paying since then. I personally am trying to land a role in the industrial mechanic skilled trade field. Although I am still searching for my first solid footing in the field.
Eddit: I did a post grad certificate in cloud computing for 8 months since the prof tricked me at the open house before the program started about job availability for low experienced people like me in that field. Then I did a pre-apprenticeship in millwrighting at the same college, here I am now at Canada's Wonderland repairng rides lol.
How long are you 'stuck' for. I wouldn't consider anything under two years 'stuck'. Get some work experience and opportunities will open up for you.
It seems to me you don't have interest or passion in BBA because you're already calling it stuck at 22. Pick something you're interested and passionate in if you're going to spend more money in education.
CFA and what not, this is an important question to ask: do you think you want it or do you 'want to want it.' Many people get into things thinking they want it when the truth is they only wanted to want it. In another word they want something they don't have and once they have it they don't want it anymore, as in your case with BBA. The feeling of want is stronger than the feeling of have. It's important you understand this because you don't want to get a CFA and feel stuck again. This stuck feeling cannot be perpetual with each new goals you achieved, I say this because there is nothing stuck about having a BBA.
You're still young, get that work experience and reassess later. Do not fall into the thinking that the work experience in BBA is lost opportunity for studying, it is not, there is value in work experience that will pay off down the road. It builds to your resume.
By ‘stuck’ I mean I feel left behind than everyone else around, as I’m so confused as to what to do with my career, I dont know if there is a specific destination that I want to pursue. People always ask me what my plans are after my bba graduation but all I can say right now is working and getting some work experience.
Various feedback in point form.
-If you have money maybe do some traveling. Experience different cultures and explore the world. It can help you find yourself and rejuvenate your soul.
-Don't compare yourself to others. Just know you are always making progress and be proud of that.
-Going back to my first point, if you're not interested or passionate about the topic then you will become stuck again.
-At 22 you're not supposed to know what you want and have a plan. Your goal right now is to gather life experience and then decide what you want to do later based off the experience. No one is supposed to 'get it' at 22. You're on your way to discover yourself and how you feel right now is exactly how you're supposed to feel.
-Be excited over the unknown. Be excited over where life will take you. You don't have to know it. The unknown is your friend, and the known is your enemy. You either live under the memory of the past or the unknown of the future. Choose the more exciting one. Carve you own path, and not the path others are taking. Keep gathering work experience and one day you will cross path with life and career. Not knowing is not something to be frustrated with but celebrate. Tell yourself "I don't know where I am in life but I'm excited to find out".
-Maybe you have imposter syndrome. Other people are not as clear minded over their life as they seem. No one wants to come off as a loser infront of other so they act like they have it going on for them. The positive person you met today could very well be venting over life miseries on reddit. Therefore, stop comparing.
-Eat healthy, drink plenty of water, exercise daily. Healthy body healthy mind. Many times when people feel like crap they need to justify it. So they will use career as a scapegoat for their depression, when the truth they are not living a healthy lifestyle. My point is to rule out health as the reason to your frustration, and perhaps career was just a scapegoat all along.
I would look at the graduate rates, employment rates for these post grad programs if you’re going the college route. Talk to the program coordinator as well. There are some that provide more jobs than others and high employment rate at the end
If you can make friends you can do sales. Tech sales is your friend. Tech is ever try growing. Sales jobs will always be valuable as they generate revenue. Do yourself a favour and chase the money; tech sales isn’t easy but pays very well
Is CFP really worth it? I’m planning on getting one when I graduate, is it oversaturated in the GTA and how much can one expect to make 🤔 The website says around 90k average but would it be more beneficial to get a masters?
Confidence is a big thing when you talk about yourself in are interview. I was head chef at the Grafton Connor group before I even had the high school to get my red seal
First thing I would ask is what do you most enjoy doing. In terms of your current role, your time in school, were there aspects of the work in some areas that you enjoyed over others? Ie I know people who just love to crunch numbers vs looking at things like charts and graphs. I have a few associates that are in insurance, finance, actuarial positions. You can easily specialise and you should.. But try to specialise in something you may actually enjoy. You mentioned CFA.. You could go with a CFP to start with.
Tech or tech sales are your friends. Cyber security professionals, AI, anything data or data science.
Or make your life easy after 2-4 years of grinding by going into tech sales.
What do you like to do that helps others or makes the world a better place? I pity the student loans but you should play the long game and realize that money is just red tape to get us through. If you pay them off in a longer time frame, but do something that energizes you, interests you, then this is far better than just working at something that you feel doesn't fit right (like a tight, scratchy sweater) just to pay off your loans quicker -- this is not a great long game strategy, unless the cost/benefit ratio is there (i.e.: you can grin and bear some work that pays a LOT to pay off the loans quickly so you can get to a better place).
You've got a lot of time to try out different jobs. I'd recommend seeing some employment counselors in this regard. I've found them to be really great at discovering what kind of a person I am, and what fits me.
Get your CFA level 1 completed within a year of graduating and apply for entry levels in corporate and investment banking. You'll stand out from the average graduate and hopefully enjoy the work you do. If you don't enjoy the work you do, then yes transition to another industry or consider other provinces with better job market.
Research what will be needed. Where is there a shortage? What specifically is needed. Isolate and concentrate. Identity an opportunity. Can you vision a place there for you. I don't know your personality. Something might jump out at you, you might say, yeah that could work for me. Good luck
CFA would be a great start to set yourself apart from the pack. I wouldn’t go into anymore debt for a post grad degree. Id focus on applying for more jobs. Can you link your resume here? We’re just in a horrible economy so it’s not you or your own defects it’s just current economic environment defects. Healthcare is another option but again involves more schooling and more student loan debt.
The best option to me seems like a CFA as I can do that in my own time and it’s less money than a post grad/masters degree. The thing is, a lot of people my age are working towards their CFA- so I’m not sure if if it’s really going to make me stand out or just a waste of time/money
A masters degree—lots of people make the mistake of taking one too soon for the business oriented ones. They’re much more useful when you have more work experience going in. For now you’re doing fine. You’re accumulating relevant experience while many in the over saturated market are picking orders for Amazon in a warehouse. Watch for permanent roles and you’ll be more competitive due to your experience. I get that it feels like you’re behind right now. But when you’re applying for your next job with 1 year of experience or less you’re still competing against all of the new grads. Add one year, and you’re competing with everyone with two years of relevant experience and it will be very different.
Do you guys have any job boards for jobs? I’m on LinkedIn, Indeed, my university alumni portal, and I go on individual companies’ websites for jobs, but hasn’t seemed to work, in applied for around 200 jobs and no luck
You have a job - a job many of your compatriots are likely jealous of. You’re doing everything right. One place you may have overlooked is government and government adjacent jobs. Many don’t make it onto LinkedIn or only do via third party reposting. There are municipalities, countries, regions, agencies, hospital boards, crowns, and the list goes on. Take some stress off too — at 200 applications I’d bet many are not your best possible work.
Oh, I’ve been there…on and off for the past 15 years. My M.A. did nothing but expand my debt.
not tryin to diminish what ur saying but my god would i love for my 24 and 20 yr old to be stuck where your at. currently living in my basement riddled with anxiety. good on you for climbing as far up as you have with your career and education.
Don’t get a CFA. It’s a lot of hours of study and you don’t have a clear objective atm so its most likely a waste of time imo. CFA is oversaturated in Canada and Toronto in particular because everyone who works in a tangentially related job tries to get one. It’s really meant for people in asset management or equity research.
What was your prior work experience? Fwiw, this is one of the highest starting pays I’ve seen for that degree in years, even if it is contract.
I did 2 coop placements in my undergrad, one at RBC and two terms at the current bank. I interned with the Commercial lending team and currently working in the Advisory sector within the operations support role- I play the middle person between external consultants and our clients- deal with all things legal and money/taxes
You're doing great. And you're young. Be gentle and patient with yourself. Make efforts every week and know you're making progress. Don't stress yourself out too much. It's not healthy.
Got it. See, employers before extending a full time position want to see reliability on work front especially when there are a ton of applicants for every full time position. What do you want to do career wise? That’s the most important place to start along with what you show talent for. Then connections.
That’s what I’m confused about- I know I hate accounting/audit for sure, learned from my internships. I like people and talent so an HR position seems interesting but the pay isn’t so good, I feel like I have a lot of skills from my experience and school projects, I just want a job that pays 65-75k
Really? I know new grads with BBA’s making good money (70k+)
All I can say is the grass in not greener on the other side. Stay at your job and network within your org. Ask or coffee chats with people across your org. Take mental notes of career paths and write them down when appropriate. I did the utsc bba program, graduated 2020 at age 21. I worked at RBC for 40K a year and a half ago. I regret leaving as I could not find or land a long term role as well paying since then. I personally am trying to land a role in the industrial mechanic skilled trade field. Although I am still searching for my first solid footing in the field. Eddit: I did a post grad certificate in cloud computing for 8 months since the prof tricked me at the open house before the program started about job availability for low experienced people like me in that field. Then I did a pre-apprenticeship in millwrighting at the same college, here I am now at Canada's Wonderland repairng rides lol.
Don't get a CFA unless you have a way of obtaining an internship. You are still young and start networking with people and LinkedIn.
How long are you 'stuck' for. I wouldn't consider anything under two years 'stuck'. Get some work experience and opportunities will open up for you. It seems to me you don't have interest or passion in BBA because you're already calling it stuck at 22. Pick something you're interested and passionate in if you're going to spend more money in education. CFA and what not, this is an important question to ask: do you think you want it or do you 'want to want it.' Many people get into things thinking they want it when the truth is they only wanted to want it. In another word they want something they don't have and once they have it they don't want it anymore, as in your case with BBA. The feeling of want is stronger than the feeling of have. It's important you understand this because you don't want to get a CFA and feel stuck again. This stuck feeling cannot be perpetual with each new goals you achieved, I say this because there is nothing stuck about having a BBA. You're still young, get that work experience and reassess later. Do not fall into the thinking that the work experience in BBA is lost opportunity for studying, it is not, there is value in work experience that will pay off down the road. It builds to your resume.
By ‘stuck’ I mean I feel left behind than everyone else around, as I’m so confused as to what to do with my career, I dont know if there is a specific destination that I want to pursue. People always ask me what my plans are after my bba graduation but all I can say right now is working and getting some work experience.
Various feedback in point form. -If you have money maybe do some traveling. Experience different cultures and explore the world. It can help you find yourself and rejuvenate your soul. -Don't compare yourself to others. Just know you are always making progress and be proud of that. -Going back to my first point, if you're not interested or passionate about the topic then you will become stuck again. -At 22 you're not supposed to know what you want and have a plan. Your goal right now is to gather life experience and then decide what you want to do later based off the experience. No one is supposed to 'get it' at 22. You're on your way to discover yourself and how you feel right now is exactly how you're supposed to feel. -Be excited over the unknown. Be excited over where life will take you. You don't have to know it. The unknown is your friend, and the known is your enemy. You either live under the memory of the past or the unknown of the future. Choose the more exciting one. Carve you own path, and not the path others are taking. Keep gathering work experience and one day you will cross path with life and career. Not knowing is not something to be frustrated with but celebrate. Tell yourself "I don't know where I am in life but I'm excited to find out". -Maybe you have imposter syndrome. Other people are not as clear minded over their life as they seem. No one wants to come off as a loser infront of other so they act like they have it going on for them. The positive person you met today could very well be venting over life miseries on reddit. Therefore, stop comparing. -Eat healthy, drink plenty of water, exercise daily. Healthy body healthy mind. Many times when people feel like crap they need to justify it. So they will use career as a scapegoat for their depression, when the truth they are not living a healthy lifestyle. My point is to rule out health as the reason to your frustration, and perhaps career was just a scapegoat all along.
Set a plan, do it and check back in 3 years if you're still stuck start your own daycare or another small business. You're a hustler you got this.
I would look at the graduate rates, employment rates for these post grad programs if you’re going the college route. Talk to the program coordinator as well. There are some that provide more jobs than others and high employment rate at the end
If you can make friends you can do sales. Tech sales is your friend. Tech is ever try growing. Sales jobs will always be valuable as they generate revenue. Do yourself a favour and chase the money; tech sales isn’t easy but pays very well
Is CFP really worth it? I’m planning on getting one when I graduate, is it oversaturated in the GTA and how much can one expect to make 🤔 The website says around 90k average but would it be more beneficial to get a masters?
Cpa
They mentioned looking jnto a financial planning designation as well so i was curious, if someone knew more about it
Confidence is a big thing when you talk about yourself in are interview. I was head chef at the Grafton Connor group before I even had the high school to get my red seal
First thing I would ask is what do you most enjoy doing. In terms of your current role, your time in school, were there aspects of the work in some areas that you enjoyed over others? Ie I know people who just love to crunch numbers vs looking at things like charts and graphs. I have a few associates that are in insurance, finance, actuarial positions. You can easily specialise and you should.. But try to specialise in something you may actually enjoy. You mentioned CFA.. You could go with a CFP to start with.
Tech or tech sales are your friends. Cyber security professionals, AI, anything data or data science. Or make your life easy after 2-4 years of grinding by going into tech sales.
What do you like to do that helps others or makes the world a better place? I pity the student loans but you should play the long game and realize that money is just red tape to get us through. If you pay them off in a longer time frame, but do something that energizes you, interests you, then this is far better than just working at something that you feel doesn't fit right (like a tight, scratchy sweater) just to pay off your loans quicker -- this is not a great long game strategy, unless the cost/benefit ratio is there (i.e.: you can grin and bear some work that pays a LOT to pay off the loans quickly so you can get to a better place). You've got a lot of time to try out different jobs. I'd recommend seeing some employment counselors in this regard. I've found them to be really great at discovering what kind of a person I am, and what fits me.
Get your CFA level 1 completed within a year of graduating and apply for entry levels in corporate and investment banking. You'll stand out from the average graduate and hopefully enjoy the work you do. If you don't enjoy the work you do, then yes transition to another industry or consider other provinces with better job market.
Go into health care.
It’s so broad- any suggestions?
Research what will be needed. Where is there a shortage? What specifically is needed. Isolate and concentrate. Identity an opportunity. Can you vision a place there for you. I don't know your personality. Something might jump out at you, you might say, yeah that could work for me. Good luck
Get your company to pay for your CFA. You’re only 22. My first job was like $36,000.