Road after CFA level 1 -Jobs tips interested, investment, info, experience

metoyoushe

Hi

After completing my CFA Level 1, I plan on approaching a few companies to begin getting my feet wet in the industry. I'm really interested in M&A plus I have a friend in that area who has given me some info about it.

I'm based in Alberta,Canada and really just want to get into the investment banking industry and get some experience.

My question is are there any strategies or tips or methods to go about doing this? an does anybody have any recommendations on where to start?...finally if anyone has any contacts to network of course i would be more than grateful.

Any information/suggestions are welcome.

Thank you

ajpheif16

unless you're campus recruiting, L1 won't get you into m&a. while it's a good background, you won't have nearly the tools/skills to tackle a m&a job. the reason i mention campus recruiting is b/c if you're coming in as a recent grad, at least you could participate in their analyst training/bootcamp - which is what you'll need to do the job. but doing lifo/fifo adjustments, understanding monopolistic demand curves, or doing a simple FRA calc is useless. the one area that was most pertinent to m&a (financial modeling) had the least amount of coverage in L1. the accounting section was probably the most helpful, but again, it's not enough.

re: middle east, maybe it's a totally different game there, i only know of domestic bulge brackets based on my own experience as an analyst/associate and one who does interviewing for incoming analysts.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at 11:37AM by yabbadabbadoo.

Bluetick1010

hey guys i have done my level 1 in dec 09 then a unsuccessful attempt for level 2 in past June....

i am planning to move to middle east, whats the best way to approach market there??

guys in middle east please drop me a email at ahmed.yasir83@gmail.com
i will be extremely thankful for your help in this regard

dontknow1987

If you want to make it to the top of Inv. Banking, then NY, London, Hong Kong, & Singapore are the places to be. Although a tonne of professionals in these markets are charterholders and the job landscape is competetive, the amount you will learn within a short time period is amazing. The size and volume of deals closed in these areas is beyond anything you will see in any other region.

From personal experience, the UAE in general should be a pit stop or end point in your career, not a place to start up.

MonkeyBusiness

Hi Omar,

I'm from Lebanon and I am a level 2 candidate. I'm currently working at a reputable research company however I would like to work in an investment bank in Dubai. But I cannot seem to find openings, and the ones that I find, require years of experience!!
Any suggestion.

Thanks!

FVPV

bay.street Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> iteracom Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Omar Adnan Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > >
> > > Well I'm in Dubai and it actually does -
> > > .. Other companies increase your salary upon
> > > completing CFA level 1; the increase is
> between
> > > 10-15% from your original salary based on
> what
> > I
> > > have seen .. so Level 1 on its own isn't bad.
>
> > >
> > >
> > > Omar
> >
> >
> > That's nuts.
> >
> > I agree with other posters about L1 doing squat
> > for the job search. 10-15% salary boost
> definitely
> > does not apply to new york. You'll be lucky
> enough
> > to have the company pay for the exam and books.
> A
> > salary boost in NY? in your dreams maybe.
> >
> > Most of the candidates want to get a job in the
> > financial power center's, so there's such a
> > surplus of CFA candidates, especially around
> New
> > York.
>
> Same goes for Toronto



Unfortunately the same goes here in Sydney, most employers wouldn't give an automatic 10-15% pay rise on passing level 1 unless it was written into their contract.

I guess if you are going for a new job, it will show the employer that you are dedicated to learning, but that's about it. The truth is passing level 1 hardly makes an expert in any field in finance.

shootingstar

iteracom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Omar Adnan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >
> > Well I'm in Dubai and it actually does -
> > .. Other companies increase your salary upon
> > completing CFA level 1; the increase is between
> > 10-15% from your original salary based on what
> I
> > have seen .. so Level 1 on its own isn't bad.
> >
> >
> > Omar
>
>
> That's nuts.
>
> I agree with other posters about L1 doing squat
> for the job search. 10-15% salary boost definitely
> does not apply to new york. You'll be lucky enough
> to have the company pay for the exam and books. A
> salary boost in NY? in your dreams maybe.
>
> Most of the candidates want to get a job in the
> financial power center's, so there's such a
> surplus of CFA candidates, especially around New
> York.

Same goes for Toronto

dcfox83

Happened to speak about CFA (L1 in particular) with the COO of a leading invt bank...quote" It just indicates u have a reasonable head on ur shoulders and are willing to work hard, nothing much beyond that" unquote



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 02:09PM by yalo.

ishfaque

iteracom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Omar Adnan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >
> > Well I'm in Dubai and it actually does -
> > .. Other companies increase your salary upon
> > completing CFA level 1; the increase is between
> > 10-15% from your original salary based on what
> I
> > have seen .. so Level 1 on its own isn't bad.
> >
> >
> > Omar
>
>
> That's nuts.
>
> I agree with other posters about L1 doing squat
> for the job search. 10-15% salary boost definitely
> does not apply to new york. You'll be lucky enough
> to have the company pay for the exam and books. A
> salary boost in NY? in your dreams maybe.
>
> Most of the candidates want to get a job in the
> financial power center's, so there's such a
> surplus of CFA candidates, especially around New
> York.


There is difference in the level of salaries paid to begin with .. 10-15% of $5k might not be a big deal for many after all

draz

yodacaia Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Omar Adnan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > Not only this, but you also make your resume
> looks
> > better if instead of saying "I passed level 1"
> you
> > put "Level II candidate"
> >
> > Omar
>
> Better make sure you are registered for L2 (as in,
> paid and registered, not that you plan to
> register) or you will in violation of the COE.


I guess everyone here knows what a candidate means