My name is Vu, 23yrs and i am from Vietnam, i graduated from a people founded university (people founded means not a good university in my country) major in finance & banking in 12/2012, then i spent my time (it has been 8 months) to find a job and to study CFA level 1 and 2. I passed cfa exams but i can NOT find a job, this the PROBLEM, i got some interviews for sale&credit position in some banks but i was not employed, and i am affaid of applying for analyst or advisory position in a stock company or big 4, DBO because my English is bad (i can read, listen but speak and write baddd).
My parents seem to be disappointed on me, they want me to go to FRANCE to continue study because study is not expensive in France, and they think i can find a good job after study abroad, it will take me 3-4 years of my life :-ss
My friends have another thinking, they tell me to take one more year to study English and CFA level 3. When my English is better i can apply to big 4 or somewhere good.
I have been thinking about this for 1 week, i dont know what is better for me. What do you think? please help me!
I’ll give my thought first: If you really spend the last 8 months consistently and actively looking for a job and not find one, and finance and/or banking is what you really want to do, then I’d say go overseas. Here are my points:
1/ Not mean to discriminate, but I do think the private uni degree is hurting your chance. That, and also the fact that the market is not so good right now. A degree from France could make things better. Besides, master (?) shouldn’t take 3-4 years, yes?
2/ It’s called ‘job hunting’ for a reason, you need to apply everywhere you can and want. You get called, good for you, you don’t, nothing to lose. Even if you are not accepted, it could be a good interview experience. Waiting to make your CV *look* better only create more gaps, and doesn’t really make things better, IMHO.
3/ Even big 4 have vacancy, they just don’t know it yet, or have not advertised it yet ;). Although, from what I see, big 4 here is more about ACCA than CFA (focusing on audit and tax advisory, not investment). With 2 levels, I think you stand better chance with the funds, Vinacapital, Eastspring,
4/ Your writing is not that bad. It depends on company, but it’s unlikely that you will have to speak English 8 hours/day. An average English could still get you by, as long as the other person understand what you say and vice versa.
Here’s the thing, do you LOVE finance or are you REALLY good at it, meaning you live and breathe the industry, read newspaper articles everyday and follow what’s going on in the market?
If you are not doing it, you need to.
Second, you should definitely improve your English, because it is the language in Finance - you just cannot climb the ladder if you are not completely comfortable with it. You don’t need to be a native speaker, but you need to know how to read, write and SPEAK (you never know what kind of role you will get into, you may need to make phone calls or place trades or whatever).
Lastly, start working, ANYWHERE is better than nothing. Do not stop working because it’s unrelated to finance, do not stop working because it pays nothing. VOLUNTEER if you need to! You need to get out there and get experience whichever way you can.
Don’t give up on hope, you will get there, just think smarter, bigger, and deeper!
It’s 3-4 years because i need time to study French :’( i think i cannot live and study in country if i dont know their language.
Thank you very much for your advices .QuangHoang and NANA Hachiko, best wishes for you.
I’ll continue seaking for job or internship chances, start to update information about the market everyday and study French. no job in next 6 months i’ll go :’(