If you look back on his posts, bleach actually is only a year or so past graduation, if that. So take his “advice” with all the authority and wisdom thereunto appertaining.
Bleach is hilarious. He claims we should all look at the “real data” and says how we are all delusional. And then he turns around and claims there were 300,000 CFA candidates in one test center in canada alone. LOL
newsflash: there’s not even 200,000 in the world
And now he’s doing what all classic trolls do when they realized they only made an ass of himself: denial with one last parting attempt at an insult
And the cherry is that he is a very recent graduate, and trying to school veterans??? LOL
@Iteracom and @Bchad, I’m sorely disappointed in you for not posting a link to this in Back Office, because this is HILARIOUS. How am I only finding out about this gem of a thread like more than a week after it unfolded?
To the OP:
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I’m sincerely sorry that you failed level 1. No one likes to waste hundreds of hours on a qualification and find out they have nothing ‘tangible’ to show for it. So, before you start reading the other stuff that I’ve written (and probably start raging, judging by your other posts), know that I am genuine when I say, “hey, that sucks - too bad about your result.”
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I suggest you either decide you’re going to pursue the charter and redouble your efforts towards passing level one, or leave the program quietly the way hundreds of other candidates who fail do. Sticking around analyst forum to “spread wisdom” like you’re doing is only going to serve to aggravate yourself. Studying is productive. Alternately, skip studying and stop worrying about the CFA and people pursuing it. However, to stop studying and then decide you’re on a quest to enlighten people who remain in the program is idiocy.
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You should brush up on your interpersonal skills. I know nothing about your background, education, investment prowess, height, weight, skin color, age, or whatever, but I can tell you - if I was running background checks on you for a job shoveling giraffe crap, and I came across your posts on analyst forum, I wouldn’t call you in for an interview. You come across like a complete jerk, even in writing, even behind an anonymous username. Most trolls don’t stand up from their computer keyboards and become nice people to work with. They continue on throughout their day, as assholes.
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Your “analysis” of the CFA program is laughably simple. If you end up doing anything in finance, whether or not you have the charter, please do better work than you’ve demonstrated here. To say that the CFA will “never get you a job” is as absurd as saying that the CFA designation will “guarantee you a job”. Your experiences (I HAVE HAD FOUR INTERVIEWS IN TORONTO, I HAVE RUN SOME EXTREMELY SUPERFICIAL SEARCHES ON CAREER SITES IN TORONTO) are not necessarily representative of what the majority of charterholders will experience. Toronto is not the world. Your career path so far is unique, and your experience with how far the CFA does (or doesn’t) get you will also be unique. I don’t care if you have 20 months in the industry or 20 years, you have quoted almost entirely from YOUR experiences in YOUR city, and that’s just dumb (stick around in the CFA program, and you’ll learn how to classify your logical errors!). I could go on, but here’s a link to a taxonomy of logical fallacies. I suggest you check it out and learn how to construct a sound argument. Also, don’t forget point #3 above, because if you sound like a dick, no one wants to discuss anything with you, no matter how good your analysis.
Best of luck. You’ll need it.
^ LOL. Nice response.
+120
We can all agree that this thread has been a complete disaster.
In the end I would still like to remain with my original statement; younger candidates should consider the CA/CGA/CMA and/or MBA route…
…YOU WILL FIND WORK MUCH FASTER. Simple as that.
Why don’t the moderators close this thread?
… maybe bc yelling “thread closed!” does not actually close the thread?
… or maybe they want to get to 100 comments?
… or perhaps just the sheer amusement of it all?
Since you’re still reading this, please take some time to reflect on what supersadface (and many others) said. You are fresh out of school, the job market it tough, and sometimes it takes longer than 10 interviews to land a job (much less a dream job). Your attitude toward a challenge does not a successful person make…and the reaction that there is some conspiracy against you bc things did not go your way is exactly what is wrong with your approach—great things are not just going to be handed to you. There are no participation trophies in the real world.
Best advice I ever got: “if things keep going wrong, then maybe look at the constant in all of those situations.” Think about it, and breathe! And smiling never hurt anyone either 
you’ve got decades more or work life ahead of you so no sense in getting all bitter now!
And here lies the problem. CFA Institute never claimed that getting a CFA charter is going to GET you a Job. In fact its the other way round, you need 4 solid years of experience in the field to get a charter.
If any of us are doing the course and doing it without understanding the philosophy behind the certification, the problem lies with us and not with the course. Fair statement?
i agree its a waste of time for the OP…
I don’t agree with most of his points…its your error to assume getting a CFA will get you an assisant PM or PM role…you don’t deserve to even be a junior analyst with that type of thinking…
Pandora’s Box, baby!
When I’m having a bad day, I just come back to this thread for some hearty chuckles.
Threads can’t be closed, though occasionally they are deleted.
There’s actually a lot of useful info in this thread, although little of it was actually contributed by the OP.
This has got to be one of my fav AF threads ever (long-time reader, haven’t bothered to sign up until now).
I am exactly the type of person that bleach is targeting in his post (enrolled in CFA, completing undergrad, looking for work, etc.) and his argument is just laughable. What did he expect as a response? Did he think that every L1 candidate/job seeker would run to this thread and express gratitude to bleach for his timely widsom and deep insight? “Thank you bleach! I was going to pursue the CFA charter, but you, and you alone, have convinced me to burn my CFA books, give up finance, and become an accountant. But not in Toronto.”
Yea AF loves threads like this. Simply because it drives tons of traffic
You should have been around when the QQQBEE saga unfolded.
Man, that reached like 50+ pages and it was a blast! It ultimately got killed probably because the OP was just trashing CFAI’s reputation and posting sensitive stuff.
I was around for QQQBEE He speaks the truth. The dude was classic. Rants are always popular and even educational at times.
What a smart move by Bleach to close the thread so that he can fully concentrate on passing the exams.
I can kinda understand where this bleach guy is coming from, as I’ve always wanted to pursue a career in equity research. After passing L1 and not getting much in terms of call backs, I figured passing L2 would only increase my chances. After passing L2 and not getting any interviews, I figured passing L3 would only increase my chances, but even that doesn’t really mean much it seems. The opportunity cost increases after each level. The pretty dismal job market doesn’t help either!
Don’t beat yourself up. Equity Research is the hardest to break into for multiple reasons.
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overall contracting business
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very small teams
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competition with industry insiders that bring direct knowledge to the table
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4 FINRA licenses required
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far more responsibility up front compared to AM / IB
As the industry contracts and banks exit parts of equity research, the associates and analysts are all fighting for the existing open positions, which essentially knocks out people trying to break in. Experience is everything in ER, having someone with all 4 licenses saves a ton of time and money, and training someone from the ground up is a huge task.
Firms will much rather hire someone already in ER.
When people are in doubt they look to others to confirm their behavior. Some people would rather adopt another’s opinion than form their own.
I passed level 3 yesterday, have 4 years trading experience, and feel like I’ve accomplished a great deal. If NOTHING were to come out of earning the charter, I’ll take the pride in earning it anyway.
every accountant i’ve ever met wants to switch to the investment side and most are writing their CFA exams as its nearly impossible to make the switch without the charter. even entry-level finance positions are more exciting and fulfilling than most glamourous and/or high-paying accounting jobs.
happiness should be a major factor when comparing jobs, not just ease of getting the job. would you rather be a garbage man or an entry-level accountant? the garbage man makes more money and the job isn’t hard to get but damn you smell like ass and you want to kill yourself 24 hours a day.
Actually, at least in NYC, it’s surprisingly hard to be a garbage man: part of the reason is that it pays decently for the hours, and you can hold a second job at more-or-less normal hours.
but your basic point is good. 
havent seen you in a while MLA, how’s things?