Barely progressed in L3 for june but contract offered

Water Cooler Careers
#1

Guys,

Advise needed plz. Moved back to Toronto 2 mths ago. Im maybe 15% into the material for L3 for june. Recently just started studying. Was going in Full time study mode so wasnt worried too much.

Casually interviewing since I came back. Canadian Securities Exchange offered a $30/hr 6 mth contract today.

I know taking up on a contract means no paid vacation. I wont be able to get the 1 or 2 weeks off before exam day. The contract will most likely not get extended either because Im replacing a person who is undergoing surgery. So he does expect to return.

I feel if i take up on this offer, I will def mess up the exam. Lately, ive been convincing myself to ease up on job apps and focus full time on L3 until June. And THEN resume fulltime job search.

KINDLY advise me plz. They need to hear from me soon. Below is the job description:

The Market Operations team provides CSE Dealers and Vendors with customer service to ensure the smooth functioning of the CSE marketplace. CSE operations run from 7 AM to 7 PM.

Launched in July, 2003, the Canadian Trading and Quotation System Inc. is the first stock exchange to be formally recognized in Ontario in 70 years. CSE operates two Books: a listed book matching enhanced disclosure and streamlined issuer regulation with leading edge technology and comprehensive regulatory oversight to meet the needs and characteristics of emerging companies, their investors and investment dealers; and a high performance, low cost market offering trade execution services for equity securities listed on other Canadian trading venues.

The Market Operations Specialist duties would include the following:

enforce exchange trading rules with the trader community,

monitor trading activity in a real-time environment,

liaison with the Canadian trader community to provide order entry support and information regarding the marketplace operations,

Liaison with Regulation Services regarding any marketplace regulatory issues.

In addition the Market Operations Specialist will be required to assist the Market Operations team with QA testing when required on new Trading System releases, gateways, website and data feed upgrades as required.

Roles and Responsibilities Summary

Trading Operations - Enforce trading rules and codes of conduct

  • Dealer/ traders registration, suspend and reinstatement.

  • Real-time monitoring of market operations using computer based

tools.

Compiling trading statistics

Participating in projects

  • Customer service to CSE market participants.

  • CDS Reporting

  • Dealer reporting and billing

  • Market Data Reporting

  • Correct errors and cancel trades

  • Control Trading activity Halt/suspend and reinstating listings

  • Compile and report Short position

  • Enforce settlement terms

  • Broadcast exchange announcements (bulletins)

  • Provide information to investigations and regulatory groups such as RS/OSC

  • Manage Buy-in auctions on behalf of CSE and CDS.

  • Off hours support

  • Business Continuity

#2

Is this question a joke? You’re supposed to study for CFA and work full time on top of that. The answer to your question is that you should take the job AND pass the exam. Everyone else does this.

#3

LOL yea i hear you. But considering the logistics here, i.e. its ONLY a 6 mth contract. only 15% in to study and long way to go. exam 3.5 mths away.

also, contracts do not give days off. would it not make more sense to hold off until those 3.5 mths are passed and then do whatever?

The way i see it. start the contract work. study and most likely fail. contract ends in august. results out in aug. ill be back at square 1.

if this opportunity came by any sooner say jan. then itd be a no brainer in my opinion. But thabks for sharing your views bro

#4

Dude, i worked full time and did the exam. So did nearly everyone on forum.

Stop being a muppet - take the job and do the exam at the same time. Take 5 days off before the exam as a refresher, but only if you need it. Just tell ur boss after you’ve got the job, built up some goodwill and much closer to the time that you need a few days off… I’m sure he wont care.

You gotta take the job dude, that’s what 90% of people who do the CFA want - a better job, more pay etc. It’s work experience which will count towards ur CFA and ur long term success, not a few letters after your name.

Ppl get too bogged down in this exam. Look at the bigger picture - its a job, paying money, its ok work experience and in a country where competition is crazy fierce.

#5

If you don’t want it, PM me the hiring manager’s email.

#6

i would ask if they can make an exception for the cfa exams, ask for a month off, in which they’ll counter. then just stick with that.

but if they were unreasonable, personally, i would choose to study and pass the cfa exam. but im not a multi tasker and i failed l3 twice. i actually hated the fact that i had to work while i studied, and contemplated quitting cuz i was berated for studying at work. but i didnt have my 4 yrs yet so i was like fack it. i’ll quit after. but i passed luckily prior my 4th year.

many ppl dont work during their mbas, and cfa is pretty much an mba so i dont really see the big hubbub on prioritizing education over work.

#7

dude OP, always always take the job…This experience is worth way more than you passing any levels of the CFA exams…What makes CFA hard is not the material or the junior high level math that is required but perseverance. I’d say if you or anyone start studying at 5am-7am before work and study 2 more hours at night after work and study solid 8 hours on Sat and Sun, there is really no way you or anyone would fail the exam…Just don’t over think it or hype yourself out of it…After all, it is 3 MC exam (yes, i know you’re on L3 but still) and most importantly over half of the people pass L3 exam - you just gotta come in middle of the pack.

#8

so take unpaid days off if you have to…

Also 15% through in early March - you are waaaaaay behind bro. Why so late? I remember being finished my first run through of the L3 material by mid-March.

#9

wow CFAI convinces ppl to take exam over job. well done

#10

yeah lol…been saying that CFAI better give their marketing officer a big fat bonus because he got people to take CFA over jobs and got people to say CFA the hardest exam in the world or CFA > Top20 MBA or that CFA is equivalent to Top10 MBA…Well done CFAI

#11

but its a contract only!! were it fulltime 100% id take the job offer!

#12

unexpected travel and re-settling back in toronto. threw off the entire schedule man. and then i decided to study full time for 3 mths which very doable but now this contract thing dangling. only reason id consider it is because of the employer name

#13

ok work and exam. sure thing. why not? i would had i already had been working for years and started studying in oct/nov. then sure.

i was working in middle east until nov. then abruptly had to come back to toronto. and started applying. were the offer made in nov dec or jan. then still no prob. but in march??? thats why im trippin

#14

ok then don’t take it lol…you asked for advice and most replied that you should take it but it seems like you have already made up your mind. Don’t take it and make sure you pass the exam. done.

#15

LOL

#16

It is better to be employed than unemployed. There is no guarantee you pass and long gaps on your resume stay with you forever unless you creatively say you were an independent consultant at that time…