Considering a career change to buy-side from business consulting

Iginla2010 Wrote:
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Thanks for the example. I can’t help but think that this guy’s success was contingent on his getting into the MBA program.
 
maybe our IT guys are a very bad example.
Most IT guys i know are pretty much ignorant on finance other than the glamorous aspects. if you don’t even have your CFA L1, i say you focus on that as oppose to thinking you can make a transition.
Most ppl are in IT for a reason.
 
I work for a mutli-national fortune 500 company in corporate finance. Our Treasurer started his career in engineering and decided to go back for MBA after a few years. He went to a top school and some how along the way made it President and Treasurer of this company; probably making like 500k not including stock options, etc. No offense, but he is a punjab…
 
This is getting hot, I have heard many negative opinions but not much positive ones except for -
Iginla2010 Wrote:
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> EverythingButThe Wrote:
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> OK enough of negativity and time for some
> positivity.
Any more positive thoughts?
EverythingButThe, if I hijack your threads, I do apologize
 
Do not let the overwhelming negativity get you down, but do realize some of what they are saying is accurate.
Your odds making it into a LARGE firm are probably low with a massive wall established by HR blocking your resume(You are just very far removed from the mold). Your best best at a large firm would be via a top 5-10 MBA probably coupled with passing a CFA exam or 2 during your time. I still have no idea if that would work, but at least you could get in front of them at career fairs and such.
That said, I think you may have a better shot with some smaller shops. They will have more latitude on hiring, and will likely just be looking for results. I would consider picking up a book on modeling if you plan to go without an MBA (benniga is a textbook like with a CD). The CFA gives you a base understanding, but will not show you how to make appropriate models.
Good Luck though.
 
All,
Thanks for your comments. I am feeling encouraged based on what I have read so far.
I think I will stick with my strategy as it stands now - 2 years to nail CFA levels 1 and 2, wrap up Level 3 while finishing my MBA (hopefully at Stanford) while aggressively networking at buy-side firms.
It’s a 5-year plan. We’ll see how it goes.
Thanks again all. This thread was my first post on analystforum. You will see me again in the future.
 
Off topic - for those finance mavens who wonder why IT people seem to be so interested in moving to finance, all I have to say is that everyone has his reasons. It is tough to generalize. Most of the IT guys I know are very happy in IT. Same thing with the business consultants I work with.
In my case, I have a personal interest in finance going back to middle/high school. My Dad introduced me to investing. I spend a lot of time screening stocks, reading reports, etc. And I’ve been up at 2 AM listening to an earnings call for a Singapore-based company whose stock I used to own. I figure that it won’t hurt if I make my (rather passionate) hobby my profession.
In the worst case, I will end up with more knowledge if I do the CFA and don’t manage a transition into the buy-side. I’ve got nothing to lose. I make decent money, and will figure out a way to make more money in IT if I don’t become a big-shot portfolio manager. But in the meantime, I might as well take a stab at it. Fortune favors the brave.
 
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