Updating CV - CFA Level 1 Candidate

C

cleverku

New member
Joined
Jun 18, 2026
Messages
0
Reaction score
0
Hi,
I was just polishing up my CV over the weekend and was a bit unsure about how/if to show that I am a CFA Level 1 Candidate.
My main concerns are i) violating CFA ethics ii) where to place in comparison to my already completed education.
I’m worried about putting off CFA Charterholders reviewying my CV so want to make sure I get this right.
Is there any kind of standard or common practise for this? I haven’t actually completed anything yet (just studying for L1), so can I even put it down on my CV?
My wife argued that I should put it above my Master’s degree since it’s more recent, but I thought that might be a bit rich (make it seem like my 3 months of CFA study are more important than my master’s).
Where/how and should I place the CFA candidacy? Is the below format acceptable and best practice?
Education:
CFA Candidate. Currently studying for Level I, June 2012 exam.
UNIVERSITY OF SUCH AND SUCH. M. Sc. in Underwater Basket Weeving. Graduated in 2001
UNIVERSITY OF SUCH AND SUCH. B. Sc. in Baskte Weeving. Graduated in 1999.
HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. Graduated 1995. GPA 3.7/4.0
SAT Math: 730 / 800
SAT Verbal: 600 / 800
 
Unless you went to Sidewell Friends, why would you put your high school diploma????
 
no one will give a damn about your high school from 16 years ago. So unless you went to some top prep school like Trinity or something, remove it.
If you college GPA was good, then list that. Since you didn’t, I’m assuming your college GPA was bad.
And the way to go is “Level 1 Candidate in the CFA Program”
 
I’ve been working in England and Australia for all my career. People always put down their “A-Level” or “HSC” qualifications for these countries (don’t know why, they just do). So I’ve just put down my High School and SAT results on my CV to show something equivalent.
I’ve listed penis measurements in my personal details section. There’s no way that belongs in my education summary.
 
Leave off the high school and SAT scores. You’re like 35. I would recommend putting the CFA below your formal academic credentials: “Chartered Financial Analyst Institute: Level 1 Candidate”, or something like that.
 
ohai wrote:Leave off the high school and SAT scores. You’re like 35. I would recommend putting the CFA below your formal academic credentials: “Chartered Financial Analyst Institute: Level 1 Candidate”, or something like that.
+1
 
cleverku wrote:
I’ve listed penis measurements in my personal details section. There’s no way that belongs in my education summary.
Don’t forget about that short stint as an adult film star, you may want to list this under Professional Experience.
 
Like mentioned, leave out your HS diploma and GMAT scores.
I’d create a section called EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, and under that, I’d put your scholastic achievements in reverse chronological order (MBA on top, BS below) and below that your ‘prof dev’ such as your L1 candidacy.
All the best
 
I’ve seen plenty of resumes saying things like “CFA Level II Candidate” underneath a person’s name. I would not do it for CFA Level 1 Candidate, though, since all that means is that you’ve signed up and paid fees and have good intentions of doing something difficult.
You can put it in an education/professional development section, as sawastea said, or you could have a “summary” section with bullet points that you want to emphasize to a particular employer (I would not put it toward the top of the bullet points, unless you have zero finance background, in which case, make it point #2).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top