CFA® to Make Move

I recently passed Level 1 of the CFA® in December and am hoping to use it as a springboard into an analyst, ER, or sales role. Obviously, it is only 1/3 of the way towards the goal of completing all three levels but now that I can say I passed one is there a way to get in touch with people who might be interested? How have others used the CFA® to make a jump into the finance industry? Any help/advice is much appreciated.

 

Not a huge help if making a career switch. Really going to depend where you are coming from/other credentials.

"For I am a sinner in the hands of an angry God. Bloody Mary full of vodka, blessed are you among cocktails. Pray for me now and at the hour of my death, which I hope is soon. Amen."
 

analystforum.com This has been discussed plenty before. The CFA charter (or any part of it) will NOT guarantee you a job. It may help with networking via societies but you still need a foot in the door somehow.

Plenty of people running around with LI and LII and LIII without jobs in relevant industries.

 
dabanobo:
Minor nitpick: don't phrase it like you're 1/3 of the way through. Levels 2 and 3 are much harder and time-consuming than level 1.

This and also what Connor said.

CFA Level 1 counts for nothing in terms of getting in if you don't have something else to offer. It's a decent resume filler at best and might help you during interviews in a couple of ways...

In terms of attractiveness to employers...don't get your hopes up.

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 
Flake:
dabanobo:
Minor nitpick: don't phrase it like you're 1/3 of the way through. Levels 2 and 3 are much harder and time-consuming than level 1.

This and also what Connor said.

CFA Level 1 counts for nothing in terms of getting in if you don't have something else to offer. It's a decent resume filler at best and might help you during interviews in a couple of ways...

In terms of attractiveness to employers...don't get your hopes up.

Flake, just curious- are you taking CFA/is it recommended by your employer?

"For I am a sinner in the hands of an angry God. Bloody Mary full of vodka, blessed are you among cocktails. Pray for me now and at the hour of my death, which I hope is soon. Amen."
 
Best Response
duffmt6:
Flake:
dabanobo:
Minor nitpick: don't phrase it like you're 1/3 of the way through. Levels 2 and 3 are much harder and time-consuming than level 1.

This and also what Connor said.

CFA Level 1 counts for nothing in terms of getting in if you don't have something else to offer. It's a decent resume filler at best and might help you during interviews in a couple of ways...

In terms of attractiveness to employers...don't get your hopes up.

Flake, just curious- are you taking CFA/is it recommended by your employer?

Taking Level 1 in June because a lot of the guys have it and it helps you look better to the clients and may help with that potential buy-side move. I think the guys that are chartered also get paid more, so the CFA definitely has its benefits when you're already doing this shit for your career.

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 

Definitely a helpful credential if you have underlying experience to tie with that credential. I would disregard the comments above stating that it is a small achievement to pass L1. A lot of jobs want to see progress towards the CFA so it will def help you in that regard, however it will never trump tangible experience.

'We're bigger than U.S. Steel"
 
Wasserstag526:
Definitely a helpful credential if you have underlying experience to tie with that credential. I would disregard the comments above stating that it is a small achievement to pass L1. A lot of jobs want to see progress towards the CFA so it will def help you in that regard, however it will never trump tangible experience.

Never said it was a small achievement. I said what you said, just in my usual retarded way. CFA L1 should be used to supplement good experience and other credentials for the purposes of "breaking in". Without the things you mentioned, passing the CFA Level 1 exam alone will not open any magical doors.

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 
Flake:
Without the things you mentioned, passing the CFA Level 1 exam alone will not open any magical doors.

I can confirm this. Only regular doors, most of which are locked.

"For I am a sinner in the hands of an angry God. Bloody Mary full of vodka, blessed are you among cocktails. Pray for me now and at the hour of my death, which I hope is soon. Amen."
 
cheese86:
I recently passed Level 1 of the CFA in December and am hoping to use it as a springboard into an analyst, ER, or sales role. Obviously, it is only 1/3 of the way towards the goal of completing all three levels but now that I can say I passed one is there a way to get in touch with people who might be interested? How have others used the CFA to make a jump into the finance industry? Any help/advice is much appreciated.

As others have said, it's not that useful. Face it, a LOT of people take the CFA exams hoping that it'll help to differentiate them. It doesn't.

Having a CFA is different though and does help. Problem is, to get a CFA, you need to be in the industry. I dont regret doing my CFA, but for people just starting out, I'd argue that there's better uses of your time.

 

I also question AIMR's "studies" that show people with the cfa make more money. It's not like two PMs at the same fund running the same amount of capital are going to be paid different because one is a cfa. Honestly, if your at an investment firm that pays people more for having a cfa instead of their investment performance that should speak volumes about what's important to that company and you should look to move to a real shop.

 
<span class=keyword_link><a href=//www.wallstreetoasis.com/company/credit-suisse>CS</a></span> Arb:
I also question AIMR's "studies" that show people with the cfa make more money. It's not like two PMs at the same fund running the same amount of capital are going to be paid different because one is a cfa. Honestly, if your at an investment firm that pays people more for having a cfa instead of their investment performance that should speak volumes about what's important to that company and you should look to move to a real shop.

At lower levels for sell-side ER I think the associates with CFAs get a little bigger base. That's all I claimed but now I'm also curious about this study bs.

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 

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