Industry to Research

Hi All,

I'm new to the forum but have enjoyed reading through some past posts.

Anyway, I'm looking for some advice on possible career moves. I currently work as a Market Analyst for a company in the mining & metals industry. We're a small group (two analysts report to me and I report to my boss) and I feel like my career options are probably limited unless I move to the commercial side of the business (which is not really what I'd like to do).

There are two options that most interest me. 1) join a bank as a metals & mining research associate, or 2) join a bank as a commodities broker.

This is about as far as I've gotten in my thought process. Anyone have any suggestions or thoughts on feasibility/ways forward?

As a bit of background. I have both my undergrad and MBA (2nd tier) in finance.

Thanks!

8 Comments
 
Mtn GoatThanks for the info. Unfortunately I don't really know any sell side analysts and my company is traded in Australia. I'd feel a little weird about cold emailing people as I'm not a student but I'm sure applying online would be a waste of time.

If anything cold calling would be less weird as an experienced professional in my opinion. In fact, you'd probably have a very good success rate with cold emailing/calling.

How is applying online a waste of time?

You should give both a shot before tossing two great options aside..

 

I advise doing additional due diligence on ER. The cash equities business is shrinking rapidly. The industry is in a secular decline, which is likely to limit a serious career path. Trading volumes are weak and I-banking is having a difficult year in most sectors. Take it from me, I was in ER for over a decade and watched compensation shrink aggressively yet the hours remained the standard 60-80 a week....an interesting job, but maybe not the best ROI.

 

Siggy - thanks for the inputs. Definitely something to think about. I guess I'm less concerned about the career path in terms of ROI. I love the market space that I cover; I just don't like the fact that, as it's a business, the market analysis is always a periphery function. For example, presenting some analysis to the leadership team is less valuable to them than a sales guy giving an update on his region. I guess my hope would be that at a bank the analysis would be more of a primary job function as it's a revenue driver.

 
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