I Keep Applying for Finance Roles but Nothing Is Working - What Am I Doing Wrong?

Dear Yvonne,

My name is Rose, I am in a very confused situation. I studied Educational Technology, finished in 2021 but I have always wanted a career in the finance industry. Toward the end of my NYSC year, I started applying for graduate trainee roles but till now, nothing has clicked. 2023 was a tough year for me, I applied back to back and I have started again this year. I really want 2024 to be better. I have all the requirements for those roles, I just don’t know what I’m doing wrong. What advice can you give me, please?

Yvonne says,

Hi Rose, I’m sorry you’re facing job search setbacks. Job search is an incredibly tough and sometimes stressful phase. The job search process should also help us improve by offering insights into what we could do differently. Ensuring you have a plan is the first step, and your plan should include a mission statement detailing why you are going after a career in finance, your work values and what kind of roles you’re looking for. Then, you need an application tracker and a SMART goal - remember, a SMART goal needs to be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Ensure that your application materials are excellently written - you wouldn’t believe the horrid CVs I review regularly or poorly worded cover letters and statements sent to me. An additional thing I recommend is making yourself stand out from the competition - how much visibility do you have on LinkedIn, and how much networking are you doing? Write those cold emails and cold messages to recruiters and hiring managers. Connect with other graduate trainees and ask for referrals. Volunteer with passionate causes while you wait.

And finally, remember to write yourself daily affirmations and meditate on them so you don’t get overly discouraged by the rejection. Remember to recognise opportunities and be flexible with your goals; rejections may just mean redirection. Intensity with job search is good, but consistency and resilience are even better. I have a lot of articles on my blog to train your mind on managing challenging periods and emerging stronger with clarity. Good luck!