Civil service to banking (revisited)

how's the job prospect of a person with the following credentials who wants to work in finance industry?

1. passed CFA 3 levels in 18 mths (the shortest possible time)
2. have a double degree from local univ, one of which is finance, 1st class honour
3. have a masters in IT from a top-notch US university, highest distinction
4. have worked in public sector for 3 years (non-finance related)
5. have done internship in a foreign IB during uni days, doing application development for front office

how difficult is it to get into (1) application development for front office (2) trading / sales (3) risk management (4) operation?

will it be easier to get a investment/finance related job in public sector e.g. MAS, GIC or Temasek first before moving into private sector?

[alwaysnforever]

the jobs which you want to go into have no real need for CFA, let alone CFA level 3. I'm curious, why did u take all 3 levels if you are not intending to go into asset/fund management or research?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

how's the job prospect of a person with the following credentials who wants to work in finance industry?

1. passed CFA 3 levels in 18 mths (the shortest possible time)
2. have a double degree from local univ, one of which is finance, 1st class honour
3. have a masters in IT from a top-notch US university, highest distinction
4. have worked in public sector for 3 years (non-finance related)
5. have done internship in a foreign IB during uni days, doing application development for front office

how difficult is it to get into (1) application development for front office (2) trading / sales (3) risk management (4) operation?

will it be easier to get a investment/finance related job in public sector e.g. MAS, GIC or Temasek first before moving into private sector?

Out of curiosity, your point 4 suggests to me that you are a government scholar. Am I correct?

Not doubting your motivation behind a switch towards investment research / fund management.

Can't you at least pick a better timing to do so? At this stage in the cycle, your chance of getting in is #DIV/0!. Take it from someone who is in the industry.

And as for the civil service guy who posted his stellar "resume". Can't help but get the feeling you are pretty proud about your achievements. Perhaps a PSC scholar here?

Let me just burst your bubble that there all tons of candidates with stellar resumes such as yours and better. From a person within the industry who was an interview candidate once and interviewer many times- It is a number 1 turn-off to interview a candidate who thinks too highly about himself. Avoid trumpet blowing your "achievements" if you wish to even get through the first round.

[alwaysnforever]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Not doubting your motivation behind a switch towards investment research / fund management.

Can't you at least pick a better timing to do so? At this stage in the cycle, your chance of getting in is #DIV/0!. Take it from someone who is in the industry.

And as for the civil service guy who posted his stellar "resume". Can't help but get the feeling you are pretty proud about your achievements. Perhaps a PSC scholar here?

Let me just burst your bubble that there all tons of candidates with stellar resumes such as yours and better. From a person within the industry who was an interview candidate once and interviewer many times- It is a number 1 turn-off to interview a candidate who thinks too highly about himself. Avoid trumpet blowing your "achievements" if you wish to even get through the first round.

unfortunately I do not have the luxury of time so I shall press on...

Originally Posted by Unregistered

how's the job prospect of a person with the following credentials who wants to work in finance industry?

1. passed CFA 3 levels in 18 mths (the shortest possible time)
2. have a double degree from local univ, one of which is finance, 1st class honour
3. have a masters in IT from a top-notch US university, highest distinction
4. have worked in public sector for 3 years (non-finance related)
5. have done internship in a foreign IB during uni days, doing application development for front office

how difficult is it to get into (1) application development for front office (2) trading / sales (3) risk management (4) operation?

will it be easier to get a investment/finance related job in public sector e.g. MAS, GIC or Temasek first before moving into private sector?

have you tried applying for finance jobs?

Typically to break in, you have to be a fresh grad to join the fresh grad program. u sir have passed that mark already so you don't meet this criteria.

so lets look at experienced hire. experienced hire req u to have specialised exp for the last few yrs. again, u dun meet this criteria.

hence nobody cares whether u double honors or masters. u missed the boat.

u can only take a masters again to join in as grad program or u can try to network urself in.

i don't think it's impossible for him to enter banking from the civil/public sector.

i personally know someone who was a scholar on an overseas scholarship and managed to be hired by a bank without relevant qualifications (bachelor's and masters was in sci) and experience and the bank even gave him an increment from his last drawn basic.

can anyone enlighten whether it has to do with personality or aptitude of the person as portrayed to the interviewers? or could it be the possible calibre that interviewers see in a scholar?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

i don't think it's impossible for him to enter banking from the civil/public sector.

i personally know someone who was a scholar on an overseas scholarship and managed to be hired by a bank without relevant qualifications (bachelor's and masters was in sci) and experience and the bank even gave him an increment from his last drawn basic.

can anyone enlighten whether it has to do with personality or aptitude of the person as portrayed to the interviewers? or could it be the possible calibre that interviewers see in a scholar?

how many yrs did he spend in government? 1 yr after grad can still be considered fresh grad.

3 yrs is not.

alot depends on luck. if u applied b4 2007, it would be much easy than now.

anyway, many ppl say rate my chances. some ppl r honest tell him cannot, some will say not impossible. blah blah blah. most impt is that person must go n apply himself then he will know the reality that awaits him.

calibre is calibre.. scholar is scholar.
please don't conflate the two.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

how many yrs did he spend in government? 1 yr after grad can still be considered fresh grad.

3 yrs is not.

alot depends on luck. if u applied b4 2007, it would be much easy than now.

anyway, many ppl say rate my chances. some ppl r honest tell him cannot, some will say not impossible. blah blah blah. most impt is that person must go n apply himself then he will know the reality that awaits him.

6 years in a stat board to serve bond. he joined the bank only recently.