so whats everyone doing.....

I joined this group because I was considering a move to Canada. I currently work in Corp Strat in the US though

I am a student in Ivey , trying to get an internship in IB now , this site is amazing , lots of information here .

Nice to see you guys responded so quickly!

oh wow Happypanstsmcgee is in my group!

Im an project analyst at a provincial government agency and doing university part time... eventually I want to switch over to strategy and then crack into MBB

just finished AM SA, looking to break into IB somewhere big. still in school full time though, specializing in economics

Hey fellow monkeys. I just transferred from u of t's cheme program to study finance at uwo. Looking to break into corporate finance or asset management.

A Toronto group! :D

I'm at an (non-HYP) Ivy and looking to work in Toronto post-grad.

Good idea to start this group. I am actually working for big Oil & Gas Co as an analyst (in Africa) but I am relocating to TO later November early December. From the advices I have received I should be looking more towards Calagry given my Oil & Gas background.I have been trying to get a head start with networking...

Hi, Really nice to meet you guys :). Great idea to start this group, btw. I've been outta school and worked as an Engineer for 3 yrs and planning to take MBA @ UToronto next year & switch to finance. My idea about finance is still really limited so it'll be great if you guys can share some knowledge.

Happypants im sure you dont divulge a whole lot of personal information on the site. But, out of curiosity, which one of the MBB's do you work at? And what level are you at?

My agency's CEO did 20 years at McKinsey and there are a few ex-MBB guys floating around so when i joined it felt like i was making a good decision.

I'm working full time at as an IBD/Capital Markets associate. I joined this group as the other Toronto group is dead.

Going into my final year at UT. Really worried about FT hiring because my GPA is really really terrible.

Anybody have any advice? I get the feeling that the general rule is that Canadian banks don't consider any major outside of commerce/gpa below 3.5

Actually I was hoping to break into ER. While I've heard it's less competitive, I'm not sure of what the situation is like for ER hopefuls here in Toronto.

To answer your question: I really don't have a valid excuse. I went into university unmotivated and unaware of where I wanted to be in terms of my career. I can tell you that I'm not the same person anymore, and my last year GPA reflects that, however it doesn't balance out my 1st/2nd year.

http://www.razume.com/documents/22031 if you'd like to make any comments or criticisms, would be much appreciated

I can't really comment on the ER interview process as don't have too much experience with people coming straight out of school.

With grades, they generally look at the last year or two so you shoud be fine. Besides, you marks went up, not down, which is a good sign and shows that you worked to improve them.

i was only asked about grades in one interview and they didn't ask for transcripts just "So, what are your grades like." if that happens to you, just give them your grades for this year. Don't go into details about our previous years unless you're specifically asked.

Joined this group as I am planning on relocating to TO in the near future.

So far I am working at the branch level for one of the banks, trying to move into analytical position for commercial banking division. Having gained enough experience in mid-market lending, move in to the capital markets.

Doing my CFA and various professional development courses in my spare time.

Senior Auditor at a Big4 now. Just started the CFA process and looking to make the jump into i-banking or ER post CA-qualification (mid 2012 hopefully).

Rumour is Macquarie is closing down its Canadian operations?

A CFA really isn't needed for IB. Research, yes it's useful but not really for IB. Also Toronto has one of the highest per capita rates of CFA charter holders in the world (along with other designations) so having a CFA, while nice, is not as big of a deal as it is elsewhere.

Don't get a CFA for IB it will only hurt your chances

Great to see a little "cage" for Toronto monkeys

The industry is difficult to break into, I myself switched from Marketing to a BCom in Finance and graduated but so far no front-office...got to keep trying

No, the CSC or whatever is not better for IB. How many people have you met in IB with any certs of any kind, period? None would be the answer. Just network.

In Toronto, you can forget about getting into ER or asset management in you're not enrolled in the CFA program

The CFA will only hurt your chances lol?

ok!

The CFA will only help your chances, breaking into IB is all up to you and thats it

and whoever the F#%k mentioned CSC, get real, its a F$#%#king jk certificate

Most people I know in IB/CM have the CSC or some other CSI cert. I know only two guys with the CFA. I guess people who may not have an extremely strong financial background take the CSC as it's quick and shows an interest in financial markets.

The CFA won't hurt your chances but I've been in interviews where people have been asked why they took the CFA if they're not going for a research position.

So it's up to you. Go ahead and take it but it's really not necessary if you're going for IB.

Lol at comparing the CSC to the CFA. What are you fucking retarded? CSC is a requirement in many investment jobs in Canada for licensing, however the CSC is a fucking joke. I studied two weekends for it and passed.

I mean LOOOOL at having the CSC improving your chances of being IB. Agreed with the CFA not needed for IB but neither does the CSC.

No way you're in iBanking

I never compared it to the CFA and I never said it would improve your chances over the CFA. I just said that the CFA is by no means a requirement and if you want to invest time into a certificate to show you're interested in "financial markets" (as is the OP's stated purpose) then I'd go with the CSC simply becuase it's a lot faster and a lot easier.

Sure you can do the CFA but it's complete overkill and I've seen people asked why they did since they're not going into research. So if you do go for the CFA then have a reason why you chose it becuase saying "it's good for IB" or "becuase it's difficult" won't impress the interviewers.

No IB recruiter is going to choose one candidate over another just because one has the CSC

^^^ I agree completely.

can we move past the CSC CFA discussion?

I'm working in Corporate Restructuring, with hopes of eventually getting into a distressed debt position. They're extremely limited in Toronto, but still holding out hope.

Just wanted to add something about the CSC vs. CFA...

I just had an interview with an investment bank in toronto, in their DCM division. Both of the analysts that interviewed me were working towards a CFA, and one also had the CSC. I've written the CSC and found it to be a joke compared to the CFA. The interviewer also made the comment that the CFA is regarded much differently in Canada than it is in the US. In the US, people don't see it as much of a necessity compared to Canada (perhaps this is why happypants said that).

Nonetheless I'm currently looking for a winter internship somewhere...

Accounting 4th year. Works FT starting next Sept in Big 4 Toronto. Looking to break into banking. Saw the CSC/CFA discussion, honestly guys? I thought we are better than that... For me...probably accounting-> finance or use MBA and break in after at this point...

but i'm almost 22. time goes by too fucking fast...

The only part of IB a CFA will not really help you in is in M&A. In Ontario the 4 top MBA programs are CFA partners, which means that their Finance specializations or MFIN programs teach you the CFA curriculum. So even if you are doing an MBA you are learning CFA material.

Hey guys,

I'm third year at UT. Not in commerce so just hoping to get a boutique-investment banking, or small buyside firm gig in the summer.

Nice to meet you guys, and great to see a Toronto group.

Hi All,

I am a prospective associate monkey. Looking to do an MBA. A few years in engineering and currently working in a company that specializes in JVs and strategic alliances.

Also regarding CFA for IB I got mixed messages from Associate level folks. A few said it's useful to demonstrate interest in finance if you are from an engineering background. A few said it's unnecessary unless you want to go into ER/AM etc.

Hello everyone, I'm a first-year student at UWO to enter Ivey in two years, and although opportunities are limited for freshmen, I am working towards finance in Ivey so I hope to get a finance-related internship in Toronto this summer. Any advice or recommendations?

Wuck Festern.

^Horrible mental attitude. I had absolutely no connections and I landed a prop trading gig @ a boutique during my freshman summer. Grow a pair and hustle.

Honestly, you can make more headway than most people realize if you put something in the subject line of your cold email that makes you instantly connect with your target.

I used something like "Army Guy looking for Banking Experience" and had a ridiculous success rate.

Glad to see another Toronto group up and running. BayStreetOasis has been dead forever...

I'm an Ivey HBA grad currently working as an Analyst in IBD for a global bank in Toronto. This site has done a lot for me over the past 5 or so years since I've been a member (Back when it was ibankingoasis.com) and it's a shame some of the more helpful/knowledgable Canadian based members (i.e Nayls, CDNMonkey etc) aren't as active as they used to be. But that being said, if any of you have questions about the industry, feel free to ask!

Hi, fellows: I'm an SFU alumni with some working experience in Chinese underwriting/pe field. actually thinking about moving back to Canada this yr and GTA definitely if I ever try to keep my feet on finance. wso is just a great place for people like me. And great idea starting this group. thumbs up!

For anyone looking for a SA position - how has the process been so far? Seems like banks are taking on very few SAs this summer. I heard Scotia was only bringing in 2 for IBD. Scary.

i hear td took 1 associate

Scotia didn't take a single person for their S&T rotational program.