Break from work for Studies

L

Level 2 Candidate

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Hi Guys,
I just gave my CFA Level 2 exam this year. I wanted to know if it would affect ones employability as a CFA Charterholder if you have quit your job to prepare for CFA. I am thinking of taking a break from work as lately I haven’t been able to balance my studies and my work. I already have 4 years of work experience in Financial Services. Just asking for a second opinion. Would be glad if I can get some insights.
 
If I was interviewing someone who told me that they quit their job to study for the CFA, I would immediately throw them out of the office. Seriously, that is pretty pathetic.
 
Agreed, 1 year between exams is plenty of time to prepare while working full time. Quitting just shows you lack multi tasking skills or a good work ethic.
 
Hey, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I didnt actually go into the details when I described my situation. I have been looking for a new job for quite some time now. But I want to get into a proper finance profile that would help me in attaining the CFA Charter. My current work profile is that of a Financial Back Office and to overlook movement of funds. Thats a broad description, but it does involve diff roles and functions within. I also have to work in various shifts (including odd hours at night). I did clear my Level 1 on the first attempt putting up with weird shifts and work. However, recently I have been alotted work that in fact needs to be handled by 3 ppl. Plus I have been working 10 hours a day for 5 days a week. On top of this, no one really gives a damn how well I work. And I think that the 4 years of experience that I have will count for nothing in the CFA. I was pretty depressed, not to mention frustrated when I started this thread. I was wondering whether I could just quit my job and then start looking elsewhere. The description I gave at the beginning of the thread was to find out what would happen in the worst case scenario that I dont land a job for several months. However, I think I will pull up my socks and just get on with it hoping to find something better soon. Afterall, theres no gain without pain. Appreciate your advice.
 
You should try and bargain for a sabbatical, which may not be too difficult if your other considered option is to quit.

Benefits:
  • You still have all your employee benefits
  • Any share options you receive continue to vest
  • You can take your CFA and come back to your old job if you wish
  • Your sabbatical time-period still counts as work experience in your CV, rather than just ‘unemployed and studying for the CFA’
And so on.
 
yeah…its one thing to study and not have a job because you can’t get accepted somewhere and another thing to leave a job for studying something like CFA…since you are working in a large bank already…perhaps you could do internal transitions to other divisions…or do a masters degree and transition later??…I actually think a masters degree is not a bad idea…you could do it in the UK where postgrad degrees only last for a year or less (versus 2 or more in US i think)…with years of experience in the industry you could apply to LSE/Oxbridge/Imperial easily which are pretty good…
…don’t be too depressed, there are ppl who can’t even get employment (me)
 
Kudos on the sabbatical, I’m taking all my 3 wks paid vacation before the dec exam, and then a month of paid vacay for June ’13s exam as well. That alone is a huge lump of study time.
 
I’m not a great multitasker but I too think it’s pretty pathetic quitting work to study for the CFA.. unless you’re making peanuts at a job that won’t count towards your work experience.
If you’re currently working at McDonalds or Walmart (while looking for a Finance Job) and need to study for the CFA, definitely quit to study in the last 2 months (but make sure you have enough money saved up to pay the bills.
 
frankz888 wrote:
the CFA will bot get you out of the back office btw
Click to expand...
I just wish to get into a better profile. Would definitely not want to be working in a back office job if I manage to clear all three levels.
 
I don’t know why everyone botches on back office so much, but I CAN’T even get an interview for a back office position after clearing all 3 levels. This is coming from someone who doesn’t work in the investments industry.
 
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