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Navigating the job hunt with a CFA charter

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    • Avatar of BulgarianGuyBulgarianGuy
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        • CFA Charterholder
        06 Oct 2019 at 5:10 am
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        Hey guys and girls from around the world,

        I decided to open a new question thread as I am feeling confused on a daily basis and I thought others have experienced the same thing and might help them as well.
        To the point – I am a charterholder since 2016, living and working in Bulgaria. I hold a Bachelor’s degree from a Bulgarian university and instead of MSc / graduate degree, I decided to pursue the CFA designation. Now I am actively looking for an interesting position in a larger foreign institution where I can truly evolve.
        The thing is that I have about 7 years of experience working in investment intermediaries and financial companies in Bulgaria and I am not sure on which position should I focus on.
        What is your opinion on that matter? Do you think the big guys will care for my solid experience in a small market or should I focus on graduate programs? If the latter, am I suitable for Associate positions that are focused on MBA students or what?

        I would truly value your 2 cents on the topic.
        Nick

      • Avatar of genetempgenetemp
        Participant
          • CFA Level 1
          06 Oct 2019 at 3:08 pm
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          It’ll be hard to comment unless we know in more detail what your experience is. Although in a small market some experience could be highly transferable.

          Are you looking for a larger foreign institution in Bulgaria or another country?

        • Avatar of BulgarianGuyBulgarianGuy
          Participant
            • CFA Charterholder
            06 Oct 2019 at 7:40 pm
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            I am looking for positions abroad. I have contacts in Bulgaria and have done a good deal of networking. In terms of actual workload, I have done only related stuff – worked on pitchbooks, participated in deals, build models and also done active trading as a portfolio manager. My concern is if the companies care for work done outside big companies? Because I do not really fit in the Graduate programs being out of school for 5 years now 😉

          • Avatar of justingjusting
            Participant
              • CFA Charterholder
              07 Oct 2019 at 3:15 am
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              Do companies care for work done outside big companies? Yes, especially if they’re also small companies, or if they’re serving that market. I don’t think you should expect to rejoin a grad program, but you’re unlikely to be promoted either during the move.

              Try:

              • smaller firms, or 
              • firms that focus on regions that include Bulgaria, or 
              • need Bulgarian speakers
              • applying for international banks in Bulgaria then angle for an internal switch
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