Trending Content - Job Search Advice Forum
Career Resources
WSO Free Modeling Series - Now Open Through
June 30, 2026
9 Free Financial Modeling Lessons
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
High Finance Applications
Guaranteed
Get at least one offer GUARANTEED
- 1:1 support
- 92% success rate
- 2,000+ mentor network
- Unlimited Live bootcamps
- AI for resume + LinkedIn
- Networking automation tools
- HireVue simulation tool
- Full course library
- Private Slack community
- 20hrs of mocks
- + much more...
If you're already doing an MBA I don't see much value in investing in the CFA. It won't help you with IB and it'll be hard to manage your time with classes, work, and networking.
Thank you! As I don't have any finance background in the past. Do you have recommendations for what I should prepare in the next several months before the school starts, in order to get an IB or ER job?
Here's my thought -- if you have time to study for the CFA before you start your MBA , and you're possibly interested in ER or AM, yes, take it. It will open up so many more interview possibilities for you down the line. Just look at some of the job posts for these positions -- many of them "strongly prefer" that a candidate has "started the CFA process." And by the way, there's a good chance that for many of these jobs, you might not have to complete the CFA process (Levels 2 and 3) -- but just having the Level 1 under your belt will get you in the door because it will show employers your commitment to the field and also your additional investing knowledge, which coming from an engineering background, employers might assume you don't have. If you have CFA, you can refute this assumption.
Thank you so much! I heard that AM jobs are almost impossible for people like me without any financial background. Is that the case in your experience? I am in Canada, the job market is very small compared to the U.S.
IB doesn't care about the CFA exam.
Qui dolorum eos ea deserunt. Voluptatem et quisquam id illo ipsam fugit laborum. Sed hic id sapiente veritatis laborum velit.
Perferendis et eligendi reiciendis harum dicta modi. Sit optio quia et commodi. Commodi eveniet eaque voluptatum molestiae delectus et. Saepe facilis ea hic asperiores nam delectus autem.
Ut ipsa accusamus et velit dolore ullam quis. Iste quos qui libero ratione consequatur sapiente. Perspiciatis corporis commodi molestias necessitatibus at et sequi.
Doloribus rem eos occaecati natus aut assumenda. Omnis ipsa perspiciatis voluptas velit commodi hic. Excepturi voluptas autem vitae omnis labore voluptates consequatur. Modi quia vitae et exercitationem.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...