What would you do… head to school for a masters program, and compete for FO roles with other highly qualified candidates upon graduation; or take a BO/MO role, work on the CFA, get to know the FO staff, show your enthusiam, and pray you can transition to the FO?
How good of school could you get into? Generally you should have a few years of work experience before getting your MBA. Also, what type of work are you trying to break into? What type of connections do you already have established?
I can think of about a dozen other questions that would need to be answered before I could even come close to forming an opinion.
I have seven years of prop and hedge energy trading experience for major energy producers, and two bachelor degrees. Prior to trading, I consulted for a few years. I have excellent programming, data analysis, and model building skills. I would be looking to break into institutional AM. Connections are nil in that industry.
Well, if you’re willing to move where ever the work is, I’d say you have a decent shot of catching on as an energy sector analyst. Without connections it’ll be hard to find the right fit unless you get lucky and stumble into it.
So…I’d say no, don’t get your masters. Take about 10% of the time you’d dedicate to going back to school towards networking (and about 2% of the cost to buy people drinks). That’s all you’re really missing. Putting MBA behind your name won’t help.
GL
Thank you for the advice. I greatly appreciate it. In energy trading, the typical movement is MO or BO to FO as long as you show potential, have the right fit, and willingness to learn. Sounds like this is not the route with AM FO roles. Possible, but rare from what I am gathering, and the risks are too high that you get stuck in the trenches.