What exactly can you do with holding a CFA degree given that you are a research analyst?

Quite a lot really: asset mgmt or equity research aren’t the only things. M&A (which I did), strategy planning, etc is all possible, you just need to apply and interview diligent for such roles, i.e. chasing for them!

CFA can be applied to many parts of finance, it’s all about how you sell yourself in interviews, hence why we place so much importance in that part of a job search process (check out the Job Hunting series).

I wouldn’t focus too much on studying for too many qualifications. Experience helps more. Frankly if I interview someone which has a bucketload (ok, 3 or more sets) of qualifications behind their name I start to be a little wary?!

Yup, that’s a good insight on the local job market in India @imdnextbuffet. I find that happening in the Far East too. Ah well, it’s the herd behaviour I guess, as you’re being compared to the rest, so it’s essential to keep up!

Well about the qualifications part, I can tell you from my personal opinions and generally, specifically the situation in india is such that people (employers) over here place more emphasise on the degrees or qualifications you have. There are People over here who are god damn engineers with MBA’s from B schools and then they do CFA which I find it so odd.

@imdnextbuffet Totally agree. I find it odd as well, especially when someone has an engineering degree from IIT. :-??

Yup, that’s a good insight on the local job market in India @imdnextbuffet. I find that happening in the Far East too. Ah well, it’s the herd behaviour I guess, as you’re being compared to the rest, so it’s essential to keep up!

@Sophie I hate that herd mentality 8-| . One of the reasons I didn’t jump into MBA straight after graduation.

Absolutely @AjFinance. Sometimes I find in life, we all are rushing/chasing something without actually thinking about what it is really. Until 3 years later. So it’s ok to take a step back, while everyone pass you by to think, before you shoot.

a CFA degree

Does such a thing exist?

@Sophie yep, you’re spot on. You can’t just want to pursue something for the heck of it, instead of looking at things holistically. People just want to get done with their qualifications and get “settled”. In fact, I know a few people (and I find this quite hilarious), who might want to complete their education (Post Grad, MBA whatever) just to get “married” and “Settle Down”. I guess it depends, maybe thats how they define “Settling down” 😛

@AjFinance I think it is a South East Asian thing? I get asked all the time when I am getting married.

@Diya yea I guess. But it does bug you at times. I would just keep pursuing something and not getting settled, just for the sake of not getting married 😛

@AjFinance I don’t think getting married equates to settling down, in my opinion having kids forces you to settle down.

It does bug me but I have a long laundry list of silly replies that allows me to gracefully change the subject.

There are too many shitty norms in India honestly. The over emphasis on degrees over experience, bookish knowledge over practicality etc. All the blame is on the education system. Yep, i said it. It sucks.

I suppose people gravitate towards the qualifications as it’s an easier, comparable metric. Comparing experience is a whole other subjective ball game. I guess the system is never perfect. That’s why you all have to fight to strive for your own path!

@AjFinance I don’t think getting married equates to settling down.

@Diya it does not. Like I mentioned before, its just defined that way by people who think it is. 😉

There are too many shitty norms in India honestly. The over emphasis on degrees over experience, bookish knowledge over practicality etc. All the blame is on the education system. Yep, i said it. It sucks.

@SidMenon It does gravitate towards quantity over quality. However, I must admit that Delhi University is miles ahead compared to other State Universities in India.

@Sophie Yeah i’m definitely fighting for my own path. Which is why i don’t plan to be here any longer than August of this year. I’ll be off to Ireland for my masters and then wherever life leads me!

Oh wow, congrats @sidmenon. What will you be studying in Ireland?

@AjFinance Absolutely, DU also has better degrees which are equivalent and also meet the requirements of universities outside India when you apply for a post-graduate course.

MSc in Finance @Sophie. My course starts in September.

For me, fund management is an important goal and strategy. hill climb racing