Sorry, but a CFA alone will not get you a job

And thanks

Hey guys I have an MSc in business management from Aberdeen business school Robert Gordon Uni, my undergraduate study was something not related at all actually it is media I'm currently working as an academic advisor for international students, earning a decent salary for graduate level.

However, I really want get into finance after really years of not knowing what to do, and when I think about it I can't find anything better than cfa to achieve this goal

Also, I recently got a scholarship from the institute to do the exam on a reduced fee but when I read your reviews guys it really scares me that I may spend three years doing the course and then nothing.

Please advise me and please note that I am prepared to move to a different country ( I speak Arabic ) as long as it helps me start my career

The most distressing comment I have heard is if you are not from the right background, graduate of a top Uni or have the right contacts forget about it.

But common thousands of students of different fields graduate every year with no previous relevant experience and they make it at the end to work in the field they like.

So don't you think the Cfa is at least like this you may find it hard to find the job but at the end you'll make it?

You have no idea how helpful and valuable your advice will be to me.

It's sad a person gets quantified as # of years of experience and the value of one's degrees.

Recruiters quantify a person's value in terms of experience and degrees, with experience more heavily weighted. The question is whether this gives an accurate measure of someone's capabilities. Looking at the number of old people that ended up in their management position by having done the same boring, repetitive job for years, it seems not.

Just as being young is no guarantee for being innovative, having worked for many years is no guarantee for being experienced.

It's also sad that recruiters, essentially middle men with limited added value, seem to control so much of the job market.

Everyone here is focusing on the CFA aspect.
I'll focus on what you asked, finding a job in Equity Research / Financial Services.

I agree Equity Research is immensely competetive. All over Europe the industry is massively overstaffed. And we both know why.

Research per se costs a lot of money and time, and for most companies makes none. It is equity sales that does. Stock volumes are down, brokers make less than in 2007.

And hardly anyone outside the finance community knows how fundamental and high quality some of the equity research is. When you meet someone at the bar and say you do equity research, they have NO IDEA what you mean. If you say Private Equity/Hedge Funds maybe, if you say IB they do, if you say Investments they do.

Go somewhere where you create real added value with your skills! Forget research. Think outside of the box..

Go into the asset management side for an insurance company, they will greatly value your contributions. Or go with an asset manager, get great at investments, make investments yourself, build a track record, and eventually build a boutique. Or, if you became truly good at understanding businesses, start some participations etc. yourself.

Everyone here is focusing on the CFA aspect.
I'll focus on what you asked, finding a job in Equity Research / Financial Services.

I agree Equity Research is immensely competetive. All over Europe the industry is massively overstaffed. And we both know why.

Research per se costs a lot of money and time, and for most companies makes none. It is equity sales that does. Stock volumes are down, brokers make less than in 2007.

And hardly anyone outside the finance community knows how fundamental and high quality some of the equity research is. When you meet someone at the bar and say you do equity research, they have NO IDEA what you mean. If you say Private Equity/Hedge Funds maybe, if you say IB they do, if you say Investments they do.

Go somewhere where you create real added value with your skills! Forget research. Think outside of the box..

Go into the asset management side for an insurance company, they will greatly value your contributions. Or go with an asset manager, get great at investments, make investments yourself, build a track record, and eventually build a boutique. Or, if you became truly good at understanding businesses, start some participations etc. yourself.