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!

 
Mtn Goat:
Thanks 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..

 

Fair points. I guess my concern is that ER follows a standardized career path (e.g. school, associate, analyst). I'm not really sure how someone makes the move from industry. My only thought right now is to talk to ER people at some of the conferences I attend.

 

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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