Advice on career in corporate finance

Hi Guys, I am looking to break into a career in corporate finance/financial analyst. I have recently moved to US from India by way of a green card. I have worked as an equity analyst for a business daily in India for 5 years and earlier was working as a Software Engineer. I used hold a CFA charter while working in the business daily. I have also finished a MBA in Finance from India. I have been applying to various junior analyst positions but have not been getting any interview calls. Looking at the job requirements, I feel I possess all of them (including knowledge of SQL). But somehow I have not been able to set my foot on the door. Any advice on how do I continue my job search would be great.

Thanks,
Suraj

 

If you've got a CFA, MBA, and 5 years experience in ER, you might be overqualified for entry level Analyst positions, and your resume may not indicate adequate interest in the field. Why is it that you're looking specifically at these jobs?

 

My ER experience is based on companies in India. Moreover, I was an analyst in a business daily where I was not supposed to do financial modeling. Hence, thought I may not able to compete with the analysts at the wall street. I felt I could get into Financial Analyst/FPA jobs because I had had the financial and sql skills. In addition to this, I was interested in subjects of corporate finance during my MBA.

 
Best Response

I'd suggest a multi pronged approach for you:

1) Look into headhunters. They can help you tailor your resume to match the FP&A/ Corp. Fin. jobs you're interested in. A headhunter got me my 2nd corp fin. job w/ a substantial raise to boot. If you blitz online job posting sites, headhunters will reach out to you

2) Widen your scope beyond Corp. Fin. Analyst gigs if possible. Apply for Senior Analyst and Manager roles as well, as your qualifications bump up towards the higher end. For example, a friend of mine got a Manager of Acctg. gig partly because he was a CFA even though his undergrad degree was in the humanities.

3) See about networking through any programs/events for CFA charterholders. You might get some leads for related type work

4) Consider widening your geographic scope as well

 

Doloremque fugit esse est. Unde voluptatem reprehenderit sint eligendi. Aliquam aut numquam assumenda quia aut. Nemo harum quis quae impedit sunt eaque. Et est voluptatum eum ipsum ratione assumenda incidunt.

Dolorem odio nesciunt doloremque. Voluptas nesciunt hic architecto praesentium laborum expedita recusandae. Consequatur qui in omnis tempore.

Consequuntur quisquam placeat esse rerum explicabo nisi molestias est. Suscipit placeat at assumenda et aperiam voluptate commodi. Nesciunt voluptatem magni iste accusantium. Quo veniam sint minus illo.

Est et blanditiis eligendi quia architecto nulla. Porro voluptas veritatis tempore et itaque. Cupiditate quo earum animi quo veniam id. Qui quas maiores officia impedit. Et ea ut odio sunt quaerat ullam eos. Voluptatem culpa rerum autem minima. Aut similique consequuntur dolorum quia repudiandae perspiciatis maiores unde.

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 (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (145) $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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
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...”