Career Advice

Good morning everyone!

I need some career advice in AM.

I am currently in the military with roughly a year or so left with an MBA from a non-target. I like the portfolio management piece of AM but I am open for whatever. I am looking into getting CFA certified (hopefully L1 or L2 prior to exiting the military).

After doing some research, I realized there are tons of job titles in the AM field. Realistically, what jobs/ job titles should I be looking for with an MBA and no finance experience? I would like to eliminate jobs in which I'm over/underqualified but any job is better than no job.

Thanks!

4 Comments
 
Most Helpful

I saw this post when you initially posted. 

The reason you may not be seeing any replies from others maybe due to your unique/odd background. 

Your MBA could be putting you into a tough position and maybe hurting your chances. Why? because you have no relevant AM work experience prior to your MBA - given you are in the military. A common route for someone in the military would be to take his GMAT and go into a T15 MBA. Schools will consider your military experience is the required work experience and you will come out with a job at a higher level. It also depends on how a company views your military experience. For example: Most companies even with your military experience will bring you in as an entry level person vs. someone with an MBA after your military experience. 

Also - misconception with CFA's that I see - you will learn in L1 that once you have passed all 3 exams - you are not CFA "certified". You have only passed the required exams. To become CFA Charter holder you need CFA - All 3 levels + 4 years of experience in an investment role. Most companies don't care about the charterholder though and only care if you have passed all 3 levels. 

Which jobs should you be looking at? tbh I don't know. I don't want you to sell yourself short just because you served the country, but you also don't have any relevant work experience prior to your MBA

 

Et nihil modi quo rerum soluta. Velit deleniti iure blanditiis eligendi occaecati repellendus. Architecto doloribus ullam nostrum eum. Atque nihil voluptatem occaecati eos. Tempora et harum voluptas ipsam.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (78) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (72) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
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...”