Greetings all, I'm a current sophomore at a semi-target and was wondering how possible is ER straight out of undergrad? From the few job posts I've seen on LinkedIn for ER associates, usually 1-2 years of experience is required, is this the norm?
From the searches on WSO, there wasn't really a definitive answer, so I figured I'd post this thread.
Also, would sitting for the CFA senior year greatly improve my chances of breaking in?
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I am a college senior (nontarget) and have accepted an offer in ER for post-graduation. So yes, it is definitely possible. A lot of banks have internship programs (or at least have interns) in ER - it would be productive to get into one of those programs. I did ER internships but not at my future employer. Networking is your friend.
Anything is possible! Absolutely no reason why you can't so don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Yes CFA is big in ER so if you can handle it with your course load then do it. Don't end up blowing both though. Good on you for figuring out what it is you want to do already. That alone is going to increase your chances big time in my humble opinion.
I came from a non-target, mediocre GPA and no internships (I do have CFA I). I'm in my first year out of my undergrad and I just got out of a 2nd round ER Associate interview at a regional bank in NY.
Best thing you can do is get a summer internship. Whether it's in ER, IB, S&T or even consulting this will get you interviews when you get out of school. Even if you don't (like me) you can still do it though. The answer to both questions: how do I get an internship? and how do I get a FT position out of school? is the same. You need to network.
My resume is pretty brutal, there is absolutely no way I am interviewing in ER because of my credentials. I simply made a good impression on the right person and he endorsed me. How did I make that impression? First by being passionate. Knowing that ER is for me and why. Second by just being a pleasant and respectful guy.
Figure out why ER is for you and display a burning passion for markets. Advice on this is all over this website and others. They like writing skills as well, work on this while you're in school. Take a writing course as an elective and/or start writing reports for Seeking Alpha. Follow the markets, come up with investment ideas, meet the investment club or find a friend with similar interests. Get out there and meet professionals. Be respectful, be passionate and be personable.
Wish you all the best, BottomUp
I got into ER out of undergrad from a non-target with no OCR.
I'm not sure what a "semi-target" is, but if you have on-campus recruiting, you should take advantage of that. Sitting for CFA Level 1 will boost your chances, but relevant internships will be much more helpful. Given that you're a sophomore, you should most closely focus on typical finance resume enhancement: good grades, relevant extracurriculars (investment club, etc), networking, and summer internships.
The postings you're seeing on LinkedIn (I'm seeing the same ones in my attempt to lateral to a better shop) are generally targeting "experienced hires." If you use the career website of these banks, you can generally find an "experienced professionals" section, distinct from undergrad/OCR recruiting.
When it comes to undergraduate recruiting, most of those places use OCR, and that's your best bet to break in IMO.
Do I have a chance at ER for FT out of Undergrad? (Originally Posted: 08/11/2012)
How much more competitive is FT for ER? I understand the class sizes are generally smaller than IB, S&T, etc..
Here's my resume - do I have a chance?
http://www.razume.com/doc/3/e7b58182-e603-4248-9a45-0bb08d2542f0-1
I like your experience man. If you've been networking in advance you could def get some interviews at least.
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