Dear A to Z,

Unsure and Unemployed

Dear Unsure and Unemployed,

Given that I’ve already guaranteed myself baller status for next year, I’m pretty sure I can answer this question well. First of all, to be a baller, you need enough money to guarantee bottles and models at least a few nights a weeks. Given that stipulation, unless you’ve got a handy little trust fund waiting for you (and given your question, I’d bet that that isn’t the case), in order to make enough money to really go crazy in New York City, you will be working such long hours that balling out will not be a possibility. By the time you get a few free hours on a Sunday night (and even that might be rare), you’ll be so tired from your time at the office that the only thing less appealing than going back to work will be hitting up a club in the Meatpacking District. Of course, this means you need to get a job. I suggest asking anyone and everyone you know if they know anyone in the industry you’d like to work in — you never know, maybe a second cousin runs a hedge fund or is a managing director at a bulge bracket bank. Check out job search sites, and don’t hesitate to send unsolicited emails to recruiters at boutique banks or companies that might interest you. Just because Goldman didn’t come knocking at your door, doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of jobs to be had. With persistence and a little luck, you’ll be rocking that corner table at Tenjune in no time.

Always,

L