I have heard that investment banking is a route you pretty much need to get into from the start (entry level) otherwise its just not going to happen. I currently work at an investor relations firm (have been here about 2 years and am 25 yrs old) where I am very market and client facing with exposure to financial models etc. but am looking to shift to a financial driven job. I have been working on CFA (just took L2) to bolster my financial experience/background. I also got to the final round of a sell-side position but ultimately they took another candidate with their series exams already passed. Thoughts on either of these?
IB doesn’t care about CFA, only people in IB taking the CFA are people already in IB who want to move to the buyside. It’s much more relevant to sellside ER people.
You seem like a more natural SS ER. Not sure how much your role transfers to deal making. And it’s never too late, but certainly the probabilities decrease. I referred a friend recently to an IB opening and they may hire him because of his connections and ability to do deals. If you can make it rain, they’ll hire you. But I suspect this works better in the middle market world
makes sense, thanks. did not think of it that way.
a) Top 10 MBA b) IB Associate (could be regional, but hey)
they don’t care about the CFA in IB. Most don’t. I had an IB interview where he said “I saw you have done some work with the CFA, that doesn’t matter here, forget it” lol he was very successful so I guess he just didn’t need it for IB- they had guys with them at the firm but they were in a different division than IB
whoops wrong place
To be fair, i have never met an IB person with CFA or pursuing CFA. It is also very rare to see analysts ( i am at a hedge fund) with CFA. These folks just have great undergrad then went to IB route then to a fund or MBA (just as good if not better than their undergrad).
For someon already in IB or an analyst at a fund, why the hell would they need to learn about deferred asset liability, Dupont, Yardeni and Std deviation lol…
But to your OP, IMO, i think you should study for GMAT and get into top20 MBA…now this will certainly change your career, and your network.
People study CFA are mostly people who didn’t get the IB offer, it’s an alternative route to the buyside. Regardless it’s still a great credential to have for a PM and I believe it’s more popular for mutual funds than Hedge Funds.
What, you’re already 25 years old?!? 25?!? Yeah man, it’s all over. Pack it up, skippy, you’re finished in IB. You’re a damn dinosaur! In fact, once anyone in any industry catches wind of the fact you aren’t in IB yet, you’re pretty much going to be blackballed in that industry too. So just, you know, learn to reset expectations and minimize consumption until it’s time to take that final dirt nap that none of us can ultimately avoid.
CFA is aimed more at asset management, which in my opinion is a better career path than IB which has horrible work/life balance.