A friend of mine looking for work said to me today, "If you're 25, you can make Excel sing, and you can work 80 hours/week, you are set. If you are 40, have a big rolodex, or 10 years experience in one area, you are set. I feel like I am in the middle or neither."
Do you agree?
I suggested that's a narrow view, perhaps inspired by the current job market or maybe by his current search. I do know people between 25 and 40 who are finding jobs, and not just because of an Excel skill set or a rolodex. Deep experience does help, but even that can be overcome with some good networking and self-promotion.
If finance is your bag and you are trying to get into it and your base of experience is lacking, you could take a model-building class, which is what my friend did, or maybe take a crack at your own small advisory shop or independent research firm or provide stock analysis via your own blog. Perhaps even do some pro bono work for someone - I have a friend who did that for a small family office.
But don't limit yourself. Try some of the things Seth Godin suggests (whose blog you ought to read, by the way), like setting up and running an online store, writing a book or a blog or producing small films online. Start an online community for people facing the same plight as you.
Most important, don't give up.
