Hi Jason,

First, let me reiterate the comments made above on what a great article you have written. I have found it a very rewarding piece to read, so thank you!

I just wanted to get your advice on my current situation and what you would recommend as the best way forward for me to go from here.

I am a hydrogeologist and have been working in the mining industry for over 6 years now, mostly in Australia (I am a UK national living in Australia). I have been involved in numerous mining projects for many different mining companies and many different mine types (gold, iron ore etc). My main role is to dewater ore deposits in order to allow open cast mining, source groundwater for mining use, model groundwater use by mines etc.... anything relating to water really.

So, that is my professional experience, but also in my spare time, I have been researching and trading stocks to invest my own money for several years now. I absolutely enjoy the whole process of developing my own ideas about a particular investment story, researching it, and making investment decisions. It also really helps that my husband is equally interested, and together we read a plethora of investment related books / research articles / biographies and bounce across ideas with each other about our next potential investment narrative and possible ways of capitalising on this.

Being involved in the mining industry, I have had chance to see from the inside how investors money is spent, how businesses are run, and just how feasible some projects really are. I have been shocked and surprised to see that on the whole, the investors who undertake the due diligence research interviews at mine sites, really don't understand the nature of the business, they don't ask the important questions, questions which I would expect them to ask.

I really would like to change tactic somewhat with my career now, and attempt to combine my professional experience in the mining industry, with my passion for researching and investing in companies.

So, my questions are:

1) Are there entry level positions available for people like me who are engineers first and want to move across to the finance/investment side? Surely people with my experience would be valuable to an equity research / investment fund?

2) If these positions are available, what would you recommend I do to prepare? I have been researching the CFA charter exams, but am a bit confused as to whether my qualifications would be 'financial' enough (I hold a BSc in Geography & Biology & MSc in Hydrogeology). Would you recommend I take an MSc in applied finance or something similar prior to the CFA exams? I already feel I have a good knowledge of financial accounts & reporting / economics / finance industry from my own research, but perhaps this will not be enough?

I am absolutely prepared to work hard to make this career move, so any advice you could offer me would be greatly appreciated!

Kind regards,

Tina