Dear Mr. Voss,
I will echo the sentiments of the previous comments—outstanding post! I am very glad to have stumbled onto your blog after countless Google searches of “How to Become a Research Analyst”. I am also very impressed with the dialog you maintain with your readers; over one year since your blog was first published and you still actively reply to the comments you receive. On behalf of everybody, thank you.
If I may, I’d like to give you a little background and then ask for your advice on my personal situation. I am a 25-year-old MBA graduate trying to break into the realm of equity research. My professional experience is comprised of 2 years of retail banking and 5 years of restaurant management. While I have no background in finance (at least on my resume), I have been a “student of the market” for over five years. I consistently follow the market news, maintain my own individual trading account, and I spend much of my spare time learning about and researching various companies for pure enjoyment.
After careful thought and consideration, I have decided to pursue a career that is aligned with my passion for equity research. I recently became a CFA Level I Candidate and will sit for the exam in June of 2015. I live an hour outside of New York City and that is where I intend to begin my new career. However, I am having a very difficult time getting the attention of Wall Street firms (both big and small). Unfortunately, I attained my degree from a small state school in New York and do not have a powerful alumni network I can leverage to help me break into the industry.
I fully intend to follow the advice you outlined in your post and comments. I am in the process of creating my own website to display my research work (“making the intangible tangible”). I also plan to join a local CFA society to continue building my professional network.
Here is my question. What would be the best use of my time while I am studying for the CFA exam(s) and building a name for myself on my own? Many of the entry-level Research Associate openings I find require “1-2 years of related experience”. How can I improve my resume and become more attractive to potential employers down the road? Is there another an area of work I should look into while I am going through the CFA curriculum that can provide me with valuable, relatable experience? How can I get my foot in the door?
If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading. I am seeking all of the guidance and direction I can get. I just want to be sure I am on the right track and doing all I can to one day become a research analyst.
Thank you again for all you do.
Kind regards,
Joe