How do I get a job?

CFA General
#1

Hi Guys, (I know this isn’t a great place to ask but there are so many people here pursing what I want too)

Well were expecting results soon, I think I have passed, but whether I have or not…what do I do to find a job within Finance?

In my last post I talked about leaving stuff the last minute regarding CFA L1 studying and being lazy because I just wanted an opinion on what to do in a situation for an average person, most of it wasnt true.

Basically at university I got a 3rd class degree (I was planning for a fresh start). I got mugged by a group of people after work (nightshift so it was like really early morning in the winter) and my brain kind of prepared for death. So even though I did go through the ordeal I had mentally shut down. I developed a panic disorder, derealization, agoraphobia and the list just continues. At times it was too heavy a burden to carry but I did get help after asking, which was easier than I imagined. However the help came around 2ish years later.

I did realise my capacity to endure such mental dis-ease was immensely strong. I was on the brink of a complete breakdown all the time, sleep was my only escape. Couple this with questions on why you exist and you can get yourself in a deep dark hole. But I managed, and realised its not bad asking for help…people will judge you but its better to be happy and do whats right.

During this ordeal I was barely passing my exams, everyone around me thought I was just being lazy. I was happy with that, being lazy and normal instead of troubled and weird. I didn’t want people to know I was so unhappy. Anyway whatever, shit happens and you have to take out of it what you can.

So I have my third and noone is hiring candidates with such bad academia.

I decided to take a few months off practising Buddhism and meditation. I travelled around England visiting monasteries, seeing their way of life, being in the present moment and being desireless…feeling truly refreshed and ready for life.

It’s around mid April now and I decide to dedicate my time to passing CFA L1. I wanted a job in Finance and maybe passing Level 1 will show that I am determined to succeed… that my past grades do not reflect who I really want to be. Anyway we get our results soon so we will see what happens!

My question from this all is, what do I do from here?

I have no experience in the work life and poor academia. All I have is the determination to do everything and anything I can to succeed from here on in, to stay in the present moment and take my pursuit into the City day by day.

I would love to work in an Asset Management firm or Investment Banking. I do not care how many years it takes to break in.

Please advise,

Regards

#2

In the current jobs market you’re probably not going to get a job in Finance in the UK with a Third-class degree on your CV (especially when you are talking about asset management and IB here), unless you have or can make very good connections who you can convince that you do have the intelletual capabilities to do these jobs.

You’d probably be better spending your time trying to get into another industry, because quite frankly there’s plenty of other people out there with very good universities, First-class degrees and relevant work experience on their CVs struggling to break into the financial industry at the moment.

I’m sorry if this is not what you want to hear but the CFA programme doesn’t have that much value in this current jobs market. If people see it on your CV it’s a bonus and shows you are interested but it’s not like that alone will get you the interview.

#3

camdo i found your post very interesting.

I am inclined to think that what you have gone through will have made you a different and in many ways a better person.

That being said, it will be very hard for employers to look past a pooer acadmic and work record.

Do you feel finance is the only avenue for you? While for some individuals spiritualism and finance work well togethe it is not the norm, in my experience, for deeply spiriual people to work in finance.

#4

Thank you for your posts, but there must be a way.

Capaldij, you said I must have connections. I guess I can try attend seminars but alot of them are expensive. I guess other ways of networking would be joining finance clubs and going to cfa events.

I guess I could get into these companies through other fields such as accounting and then possibly switch if they see potential in me? I’m not sure how it works.

#5

@camdo

One of the best ways to gloss over the third class degree is to acquire a well-recognised professional designation. Unfortunately most of them require a certain period of relevant work-experience which again may not be easy (though not impossible) to get with the low credential. But with a university third class degree it is easier to get admission into a relevant PG course in UK provided you are not fussy about top 10 or even top 15. In fact in UK you can opt for one of those polytechnics upgraded to University in 80-90’s e.g. Universities of Middlesex, Manchester Metropolitan Univ., Portmouth, Leeds Metropolitan etc. Many of them are really gaining good recognition and status with multiple UK and overseas campuses like Middlesex (ranked 79).The second one is the 5th largest university in UK in terms of enrolment. You can check their offer and standing from here All most all of them has a school of Business and/or finance from which you can chose the most relevant course to your goal. Only ensure that the course you are enrolling is CNAA validated currently.

Once that PG degree is first class then that will be your starting credentials as from my experience of being on recruiting teams most so called experts/recruiters have a tendency to overlook your UG performance if your PG result is outstanding (and you can give a valid and acceptable reason for your poor performance in the graduate level degree).

During the two years of PG course you can also go as much ahead you can in the professional course like CFA (which requires an experience for granting charter but not for enrolling). Once you have got a job on the basis of good results of PG (may be MBA or Masters in Finance /Stat / Eco etc) getting the Charter and a well recognised professional standing will be just a matter of time. Only thing you need at the moment is to think and decide whether this route suits you or not. Hope this helps you.

#6

So you have a combination of: really bad academic record + gaps on your resume from your Buddhist/religious meditation traveling experience + tramatic experience that led to panic and mental disorders.

And you want to get picked into one of the most competitive fields today, which also happens to be shrinking and getting more competitive

your chances are not good.

#7

If you have bad academics but feel that doesn’t actually reflect your true intellectual capabilities, then your best hope is as a salesman for something financial, people always want people who can sell their products. Personally, I suck at selling, but maybe you don’t.

Your story about fighting off mental illnesses and buddhist transformations is interesting and probably could be something spun into an admirable redemption story (which is a good thing), but you probalby don’t want to advertise too much that you were (which makes them think that potentially you still are) mentally unstable. Mental illness sucks, and there are plenty of mentally ill people in finance (many who don’t even know it), but a lot of finance types still use caveman stereotypes when evaluating people. Something about having a lot of money makes that part of their brain (the caveman stereotyping) grow like an overdeveloped bicep.

#8

networking

#9

Mentaly ill people in finance cheeky

#10

Hi camdo,

I am sorry to hear about your experience, and though i don’t know how old you are, but time is the best medicine.

As you get older you will also realize sometimes opportunities come to you, sometimes you have to hunt for them. In any case, you need to be prepared!

I would suggest you to keep your eyes on those job openings, read magazines and articles related to anything and everything in AM and IB, so you know what’s actually going on and at least sound knowledgable when opportunities come.

Go out and network! There must be tonnes of networking opportunities in the UK, from CFA chapter, from your university, from other local finance groups (you may find some more on Linked in?)

Keep working! whatever it is, even if it’s unrelated to finance, just keep working. THe more you work, the more confidence you’ll have, teh more people you meet, the more doors will open for you.

Grades are NOT as important as you think! None of my employers ever reviewed my transcript.

best of luck!

NANA

#11

Also, you may want to take a look at the advice on this site: http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/find-your-dream-job/

I’m learning this stuff at the moment too…