I have been perusing this site for years and finally decided to create an account and ask for any insight. I could write a novel but I want to give you the short of it and see your ideas. I took the CFA 5 years ago and bombed so bad it was out of this world. That being said, I had never taken finance, economic, accounting or high level math course in my life. I studied the books by reading all of them once in their entirety, doing all the practice problems and then hoping for the best. After that horrible experience I got serious and took a number of courses at a local community college. I took accounting, macro/micro econ and calculus. I have worked in the big 4 now for 4 years but I am in a compliance group that focuses on various SEC regulations. I am currently getting my MBA from a top 50 school but it’s the part time program and I will be done in one year. So, my question is, how am I ever going to break into finance? I know the Wall Street ship has sailed but I would like to transition into corp fin at a fortune 500 and do valuation. What would be the best route? After taking the MBA courses I have a tremendous knowledge of finance and even went over the old CFA material, acing it at every point. However, would a CFA help me? Or should I use my company’s tuition reimbursement to get other masters, maybe this time in accounting? I just have no idea what the best route is for me to take as I have been stuck in compliance purgatory for years now.
I would seek advice from managers at fortune 500 target companies. Build your network that way too. CFA may not be needed for corporate finance, but it couldn’t hurt.
Thank you for the advice. I was thinking the same thing, that the CFA might not be necessary. Also, I am looking to build a network but just don’t know where to begin!
Unfortunately there are zero connections at my MBA program. I guess because it’s the part-time program they have put no effort into helping get the students jobs.
what itera said, and PTs get shafted - you’re expected to want to move up in your current company in the short term with that degree, not make a big jump. I know some programs dont’ open career services to PT students, but you should have looked into that going in.
Sorry man, no real advice except this: Better start playing like a Lannister instead of a Stark. I don’t mean this jokingly either.
Thank you mk17 and itera. I felt like I needed to explain myself and even defend myself after former trader and Ramos4rm are trying to state matter of factly that they don’t believe me. It’s like, OK DUDE, why don’t you realize i’m NOT making this up. I am in a top 50 program with bountiful resources at the main campus but NOTHING at my disposal at the PT program. That is why I cam on here to ask for help and advice networking to break into finance. Geez, now I know why I never posted for all these years. Peope are ALWAYS quick to shed doubt or make claims like, “i doubt that” but will never offer guidance or solid advice.
So, anyways, I hope those two don’t ever respond to me again as that was pointless and not constructive in one single way. I like your advice MK17, there really is no help in my PT program so i need to be a cunning lannister and figure something out, tyrion style, cause my program offers nothing and i know no one in the industry.
Get what you can from the program, go meet the FT’s if there are mingles. It will be hard but you just need ONE opportunity right?
Talk to upper year students and recent alumn. Dont’ complain to them. Nobody wants to talk to a whiner. Tell them there are challenges and you’d appreciate guidance. Let them offer to help you. To do this you will need to build a good case for yourself and come across as a good guy and someone who will return the favour no questions asked. First step for you is to get control of your frustration - you can’t do anything about it now but its a huge negative ‘aura’ and people dont like being around that. Just be positive and come across as a team player, and opprotunities will come. You get down on yourself and the game is over.
My advice was ask for your money back. I don’t doubt a third-tier PT MBA program has zero access to the network…that is something we accept as a fact on this forum. What I said wasn’t really advice but more like a segue into…consider CFA again because I don’t think that PT MBA program will help you. I dont see where you got the idea I doubted you. As Itera said, if you dont have the networking/relationship or strong on-campus recruitment, the MBA program is essentially useless…hence the expression (because its obviously not possible) “You should ask for your money back”.
I think again what mk17 said is my best bet. I have been overwhelmed and consumed by negativity lately, I just can’t stand the limited resources I have at my disposal through this program. Obviously getting my money back is not an option so maybe the CFA is a good route to take. I just hope I can stay positive and form some relationships with the right people.
I have recently joined this forum and I am looking for some advice regarding career shift. I have done my MBA in Finance (Part Time) from a decent college in India. After the MBA, I joined a financial information provider where I honed my secondary research skills. The work primarily relates to collecting and synthesizing M&A and Bankruptcy related data. I have spent close to 7 years with this company and am working in the middle management. In between, I took a shot at starting my own venture but it did not do well. While moving back to the corporate sector, I cleared CFA Level 1 as well.
I am looking to move into the Investment Research field. However, I have been facing great difficulty in making this shift. I do not get relevant calls from recruiters and whenever I do, things don’t materialize. Can you please provide me an insight as to how I can break into this field? Are there any courses available which I can do along with my present job? Should I be looking at doing a full time MBA (GMAT)?