Under what heading do you list your CFA Candidacy?

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lillilland

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I’m updating my resume and adding that I’m a Level 1 candidate. I’m not sure what heading to put this under. What do you put it under? (e.g. Education, Affiliations,..)?
Thanks,
Lily
 
Don’t list that you’re a level 1 candidate. Quite simply, ANYBODY can be a candidate and you’ll just look silly.
 
agree with ^
most important thing is achievements & results on a resume.
academic qualifications are a very poor second.
if you have no experience or quals, then L1 CFA does show initiative.
then if you’re asked about it, talk about the fact that you know that it is a long term commitment, needs discipline, persistence, talk about longer term goals, but you need to be specific, not vague.
Eg “I want to work in the front office” , or “be an analyst” is too vague and will probably get you nowhere - you won’t stand out. You need to be able to say that you want to focus on small cap industrials, or medical stocks, or currency options, or whatever. Then talk about the key drivers in those markets and why you like it.
Don’t forget - the resume is only a conversation starter - just a chance for you to give them your pitch. So make sure your pitch is good…
good luck….
 
Thanks for your comments. I’m trying to get my first finance related position, I’ve had previous work experience doing statistics, other research or software, but nothing that’s finance related. I was trying to show that I’m enrolled in the CFA program since I came a cross a bunch of job postings that required you to be enrolled in Level 1 or 2.
Would you still suggest that I put that I’m looking for something specific (e.g. medical stocks) or would it be better to be more general if I’m looking for my first finance job? I’m also not sure if at this time I have something specific in my mind that I’m looking for either… Do most people have something very specific when they start out, or just list something specific depending on the job applied for?
 
the problem with being general is that everybody does it - you don’t stand out.
stats is brilliant experience - think about how you can apply that to stock prices, or volumes, or foreign exchange rates, etc.
In your Level 1 studies you will come across areas that interest you and you can apply some stats to.
the main thing is to stand out from the crowd - think of something different or extra to get their attention.
If the job requirements says Level 1 or 2, then by all means put it in.
Some people know what they’re going to specialise in from a young age, others change as the world changes and as their interest change. The main thing is - don’t drift. Pick something that fascinates you and dig into it a little.
cheers…
 
MCalamari Wrote:
——————————————————-
> Don’t list that you’re a level 1 candidate. Quite
> simply, ANYBODY can be a candidate and you’ll just
> look silly.
I completely disagree.
 
Disagree with most of the posters.
I graduated last June and putting “Level I Candidate” on my resume was brought up in several different interviews as a big positive for a potential analyst since it showed my interest in finance. The hedge fund I’m currently at especially liked it.
 
Mine looks like this:
CFA Candidacy Status
————————————-
CFA Candidate
I’m never impressed when I see this:
CFA Candidacy Status:
—————————
Not a CFA Candidate
 
Here’s a clarification on my perspective:
I’ve seen a lot of people take the CFA, some take it seriously, others don’t. I’ve admittedly failed the Level 1 exam before (even though I have a background in finance) because I didn’t take it too seriously that time and I was humbled by the experience.
In my eyes, a Level 1 candidate on paper has yet to show that he has taken the exam seriously. I see it as similar to a freshman in college saying that he’s a so-and-so major when he hasn’t completed any real core cirriculum yet. An extremity to that point, I remember during my freshman year when people claimed to be double or triple majors during their first semester, it was ridiculous (regardless of how capable they actually were). I think that by applying to the job itself, the candidate has already expressed interest in the finance field. Others may disagree, but this is my perspective.
 
I don’t think it’s so bad to let potential employers know that you’re preparing for L1 of the CFA. It shows interest and a level of commitment that the reviewer can decide how to weight. Just don’t expect it to add all that much, since, after all, it only requires about $500 to be a level 1 candidate.
 
I think the fact your writing L1 is better left to interview discussion unless the job states that being a candidate is an advantage
 
mlpguy22 Wrote:
——————————————————-
> Disagree with most of the posters.
>
> I graduated last June and putting “Level I
> Candidate” on my resume was brought up in several
> different interviews as a big positive for a
> potential analyst since it showed my interest in
> finance. The hedge fund I’m currently at
> especially liked it.
Agreed- it says what track you want to go in finance and that you’re serious about it…at least serious enough to shell out 1k. I have mine listed under Education, right under college name/BS Finance.
 
MCalamari Wrote:
——————————————————-
> Here’s a clarification on my perspective:
>
> I’ve seen a lot of people take the CFA, some take
> it seriously, others don’t. I’ve admittedly failed
> the Level 1 exam before (even though I have a
> background in finance) because I didn’t take it
> too seriously that time and I was humbled by the
> experience.
>
> In my eyes, a Level 1 candidate on paper has yet
> to show that he has taken the exam seriously. I
> see it as similar to a freshman in college saying
> that he’s a so-and-so major when he hasn’t
> completed any real core cirriculum yet. An
> extremity to that point, I remember during my
> freshman year when people claimed to be double or
> triple majors during their first semester, it was
> ridiculous (regardless of how capable they
> actually were). I think that by applying to the
> job itself, the candidate has already expressed
> interest in the finance field. Others may
> disagree, but this is my perspective.
Well i guess you are entitled to your own perspective…but in the real world you would be wrong :-/
 
Mine is: Level III candidate in the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program
 
Here is mine:
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVOLPMENT
CHARTERED FINANCIAL ANALYST INSTITUTE
Level III Candidate (June 2008)
• Completed Level I (December 2006) and Level II (June 2007)
Probably shouldn’t show the exams I passed, but my undergrad degree is below in same category for Oct 06, so I think it shows flow to my educational life.
 
Fremantle Wrote:
——————————————————-
> Well i guess you are entitled to your own
> perspective…but in the real world you would be
> wrong :-/
Your strong arguments have convinced me that I am not a part of the real world and for some reason, you are.
 
Another factor that hasn’t been brought up is that big companies use keyword scanners. “CFA” might be one of those words they are looking for.
I know we all think putting L1 candidate on a resume is a joke, but I’ve never come across a hiring manager who thought so. I use to list it and it was always looked on favorably.
 
I listed level I candidate and the date I was scheduled to take the exam on my resume. It provides something for the interviewer to ask you about when they run down your resume. We all know what being a level I candidate means, but if it’s there and you have a conversation about it you can then show them how seriously you are taking the exam.
My vote, put it under education or give it it’s own spot under designations.
 
After seeing this thread I changed mine to:
Things I obsess about way too much
———————————————–
How to put CFA Candidate status on resume (oh and I’m also a candidate).
 
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