Do I have any chance to secure a grad scheme (Asset/Portfolio Management)

Hello everyone,

I am currently in my second year of studies doing my Bachelor's (Honours) in Business Management (Economics) degree, and I will graduate in the summer of 2024; the university is in the Uk, and the business school is triple-accredited; I have done some extracurricular activities by being Student Experience Link at the Students Association, and I was also a member of a political party where I participated in elections and other activities. Currently, I am part of society. I have some relative experience from 2019 to 2020, where I did an internship as Management Assistant for Insurance and Finance while I was at a vocational school for economics and trade for a year (Germany). I also have some unrelated work experience from working at a local factory. Sadly I couldn't secure any insight programme or a summer internship at an Investment bank since I had to work to support my family.

I plan to get the Micro-degree "Portfolio Manager" from Financial Edge since It seems to be well respected by financial institutions and finish it by this summer so I can then immediately start doing the CFA Level 1 and finish it before I graduate; I will also try to get some finance experience this coming summer at some commercial bank. I also have a certificate for Microsoft Office proficiency and I speak four languages English, German, Russian and Bulgarian.

Can I secure a Grad Programme, and if I don't, should I do the CFA Level 2 and get more relative experience by doing free internships and then apply for graduate programmes the following year?

Any advice/opinions, or tips will be helpful.

 
Most Helpful

Not sure of what the micro-degree is, but just be careful, please don't spend ££££ to undergo training from a provider.

The experience at a commercial bank would be amazing, can definitely try to leverage that.

CFA might be cool but wouldn't put too much weight on it - also not sure how it works when you're a student but believe some final years can do it?!)

Might be worth trying to get some more relevant experience, whether in UK or back home, perhaps wealth management could also be an (easier) option to find experience for

Join some finance societies at uni if not already (incl investment club) to show interest, any positions would be a useful bonus

Especially if you can get some experience this summer, there's no reason why a grad programme would be off the table. Of course it'd be easier to intern at one of the places, but you can always re-evaluate at the end of 2023 summer and decide whether to apply for FT or SA for 2024. Good luck!

 

Thank you very much for your reply!

The only reason I decided to go for the so-called mico-degree from Financial Edge is that it was recommended by a person who worked at Goldman Sachs. He mentioned that some big investment banks use their micro-degrees to improve the knowledge of recent graduates. 
https://www.fe.training

And yes, as far as I know a student during his last year of studies can start doing the CFA level 1.

 

Tempore odit officia sunt aut iusto voluptates optio. Velit vero eius reprehenderit assumenda eos rerum. Deserunt optio ullam ullam eum consectetur. Consequatur inventore harum ab velit eos.

Ipsa consectetur tenetur ducimus molestiae id molestiae eveniet quis. Iure architecto et voluptates beatae sapiente.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (87) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”