Thanks!
define break in. shouldnt you have just studied finance in undergrad? thats usually the best way to “break-into” to finance.
I would hope so (you are getting a masters in finance).
Let me clarify… I mean break in as in you’re currently in another industry (business/ops consulting for me), did a MSF program (Executive, Part-time, Full-Time) and it helped transition into a MO or FO role on the sell-side, or any non IT role on the buy-side. Thanks!
Job offers coming out of undergrad were crap. Top 10% of my class was fighting for a job as a “systems analyst” @ Deloitte…essentially, complete and utter crap…and this was in 2007! Took me one extra year to get an MSF, had a much easier time getting my foot in the door for real jobs.
Finished an MSF (mid tier private university) and moved from buy side back office to sell side ER associate at a large bank. MSF was definitely a huge help in terms of knowledge and network.
My MS (not MSF but similar) helped me land a job. Obviously, which specific program you attend matters also.
HatTrick Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Finished an MSF (mid tier private university) and > moved from buy side back office to sell side ER > associate at a large bank. MSF was definitely a > huge help in terms of knowledge and network. Congrats HatTrick!! I hope to do the same, except trying to making the job to ER from Business/Ops consulting
My undergrad was in English Lit: not an easy sell right out of the gate. I started an MSF three years out of school, and, through networking, landed a role as Managing Equity Research Editor for a mid-tier IB a month after I started the program. Within a year I moved to an Associate Analyst role. After following my MD to another bank, and six years later, I headed the group. I’m now attempting to switch industries to the institutional investment consulting side, all thanks to my MSF and getting that first foot in the door. So, yes, an MSF can be a great way to get your resume recognized - just another box checked off, and, much like the CFA, a great tool to have in your toolbox. I have to point out that, at the outset for me, it was more who I knew than what I knew: network your *ss off.
Sounds like an MSF is better than an MBA
I got a MSF in a top-tier university (but would say tier 3 business school) and I can tell you I would rather do MFE(Financial Engineering). MSF is almost an MBA degree with concentration on corporate finance. MSF is not really teaching you how to be a quant. If you do CFA program, MSF is about the same or lower difficulty level - my personal opinion. I would recommend Princeton Master in Finance as well as that program is very good regarding job prospect.
2007/2008/2009/2010/2011 Ugrad jobs were and will be complete shite. It takes so much more these days to even get a look…
I graduated undergrad in 2000, and didn’t look to finance until the post-apocalyptic job market following 9/11. Timing your career is tough no matter when you start out. I’d have to agree, though, that the front office roles sought after by this group are few and far-between for recent and soon-to-be grads.
FRMer Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I got a MSF in a top-tier university (but would > say tier 3 business school) and I can tell you I > would rather do MFE(Financial Engineering). MSF is > almost an MBA degree with concentration on > corporate finance. MSF is not really teaching you > how to be a quant. If you do CFA program, MSF is > about the same or lower difficulty level - my > personal opinion. > > I would recommend Princeton Master in Finance as > well as that program is very good regarding job > prospect. I would agree (as someone with an MS Finance) that an MSE or MS Financial Mathematics would be more valuable from my perspective (especially if paired with a CFA).
FRMer Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I got a MSF in a top-tier university (but would > say tier 3 business school) and I can tell you I > would rather do MFE(Financial Engineering). MSF is > almost an MBA degree with concentration on > corporate finance. MSF is not really teaching you > how to be a quant. If you do CFA program, MSF is > about the same or lower difficulty level - my > personal opinion. > > I would recommend Princeton Master in Finance as > well as that program is very good regarding job > prospect. Which school? I was thinking of doing the MFin from Rotman but the courses have so much overlap with an MBA. I was debating whether to do MFE or get FRM/PRM. At the end, I went with PRM (studying for volume 3 exam right now). If you want to do MFE, Schulich offers a stand-alone one year program. It may be worth checking out!