CAREER STRATEGIES
Writing your Resume
You only have a couple of seconds to catch the eye of your prospective employer before your resume lands in the reject pile. Writing a professional resume tailored to your audience is essential.
> Read More about Writing Resumes
> View Sample Branch Administrator Resume
> View Sample Branch Manager Resume
> View Sample Entry Level Resume
Interview Preparation
A good first impression makes all the difference. Read about the dos and don'ts of interviewing.
How to Resign
Resigning from a position is a stressful situation for all parties involved. Learn how to exit your current position professionally and courteously.
MY INVESTMENT BANKING CAREER PATH
Administration
A University Degree in Commerce, Finance or Business Management will open doors for you in this industry. An Engineering degree can also be highly beneficial.
Starting out in administration or as an Assistant will give you an opportunity to network and display your abilities. Building experience and a background within the industry can lead to in-house promotions or new career opportunities.
In addition to your University degree, obtaining the CFA designation, an Engineering degree or further courses in Finance from the CSI can help to fast track your career.
> www.csi.ca - Canadian Securities Institute Global Education Inc.
> www.ifse.ca - Investment Funds Institute of Canada
> www.iiroc.ca - Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada
> www.mfda.ca - Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada
> www.cfainstitute.org – Chartered Financial Analyst Institute
University education, as well as penchant for numbers will help you in this industry.
Starting salaries for new entrants range from $36,000 to $45,000
Corporate
In the world of Corporate Finance, assisting corporate clients in raising equity capital to finance operations can be a daunting challenge. Interested candidates should possess a can-do attitude with a flexibility to work both sides of a transaction.
There are many areas in Corporate Finance to move around in depending on your abilities and preferences. Research, Due Diligence and the Sales and Trading departments all are areas where you can develop professionally.
In addition to an accounting designation of CA obtaining the CFA designation or an Engineering degree would be beneficial to your career path.
> www.csi.ca - Canadian Securities Institute Global Education Inc.
> www.ifse.ca - Investment Funds Institute of Canada
> www.iiroc.ca - Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada
> www.mfda.ca - Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada
> www.cfainstitute.org – Chartered Financial Analyst Institute
A University Degree, Commerce, Finance or Business Management or an MBA will open doors for you in this industry.
Starting salaries are around $50,000 to $75,000 – Senior Managers salaries can run $150,000+ in addition to bonuses.
Research
As a Research Analyst you would be responsible for studying aspects of an industry within a specific sector depending on the requirements of a client.
Most candidates start as a Research Associate and then move up to Research Analyst. Attaining the CFA designation can provide you with further avenues for growth. Creating your own portfolio – whether real or hypothetical will give you a tangible "track record".
Gaining the CFA designation, or an MBA with further courses from the CSI (Investment Management Techniques and the Technical Analysis Course) can move your career forward.
> www.csi.ca - Canadian Securities Institute Global Education Inc.
> www.ifse.ca - Investment Funds Institute of Canada
> www.iiroc.ca - Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada
> www.mfda.ca - Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada
> www.cfainstitute.org – Chartered Financial Analyst Institute
To work in research individuals should possess strong quantitative skills and an enrollment in the CFA.
Salaries are usually around $100,000 and performance bonuses can easily match that figure depending on market activity.
Fund Manager
Portfolio Managers are employed through out the Investment industry by various investment houses such as investment dealers, banks, mutual funds, insurance companies and investment management firms. You are responsible for managing the portfolio with a specialization in equities or bonds or a combination thereof.
Starting out as an Investment Analyst, Research Analyst or as a Investment Advisor, you will work along side an existing Portfolio Manager as an Associate Portfolio Manager for a period of 2 years, working with assets greater than $5 million on a discretionary basis. Once you have achieved this you will be granted Portfolio Manager designation
The Portfolio Manager designation can be obtained through the Association of Investment Management Research CFA program, (formally known as AIMR) as well as through CSI. Many courses can be taken to enhance your knowledge in the Securities Industry. The courses are rigorous and intense and deliver global results. With the PM designation you can work anywhere in the world
> www.csi.ca - Canadian Securities Institute Global Education Inc.
> www.ifse.ca - Investment Funds Institute of Canada
> www.iiroc.ca - Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada
> www.mfda.ca - Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada
> www.cfainstitute.org – Chartered Financial Analyst Institute
You need a Bachelor's degree to enroll in the CFA program, or be in your final year for that degree. Or have four years of qualified, professional work experience or a combination of work and college experience that totals at least four years as well as meet the professional conduct admission requirements. A deep love and respect for numbers and analysis.
Compensation for CFA Charter Holders with 10 or more years of experience has risen by 20 percent (from $200,000 in 2003 to $240,000 in 2005), with the top 10 percent of earners in this group earning more than $750,000 annually with performance bonuses.
Executives
Your exceptional abilities and hard work have led you to become a Partner or a Director of a Corporate Finance/Investment Banking Firm or you're a designated Portfolio Manager or a Senior Research Analyst.
The arena is changing for Portfolio Managers – more and more firms are allowing Brokers to attain the Portfolio Managers designation with the CIM courses instead of the CFA courses – giving them discretionary trading status and allowing them to manage a "Portfolio" of their own. Strict guidelines are set as to how these "Portfolios" can be set up and what types of investments can be held in them. An Executive in Corporate Finance has other options – your own firm, global deals – working with large Multi-national firms.
Courses in Business Management, Negotiating Skills or MBA designation will help you optimize your business acumen.
> www.csi.ca - Canadian Securities Institute Global Education Inc.
> www.ifse.ca - Investment Funds Institute of Canada
> www.iiroc.ca - Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada
> www.mfda.ca - Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada
> www.cfainstitute.org – Chartered Financial Analyst Institute
Remain a team player. Keep your business relationships tight. Strategic thinking, leadership, innovative perspectives and the ability to formulate global strategies will keep you on top.
At this point the sky is the limit!