Passed CFA, Can't find anyone that wants to hire me

CFA General
#1

I wanted to just post a bit about my experience, as it relates to earning the CFA Charter.

I’ve been a CFA charterholder since Last August (2014), I live in Phoenix, AZ. I just turned 30 and have been employed since July of 2008 in various roles including lots of business analysis (publishing, transportation, financial markets, and telecom) and some financial reporting (healthcare). I’m talking heavy Excel, SQL, financial modeling, VBA, all kinds of random analysis, stats, R, sometimes financial sometimes not…process improvement, strategy, and lots of presenting results to executive on data analysis findings, which they seem to really love. Problem is, I’m in transportation. I HATE MY INDUSTRY. It’s not fun or exciting,…so I’m looking for something I’m passionate about.

I’ve been applying for jobs since then, sometimes I’ll find 2-3 a day, but at least a few a week. So maybe 100+ jobs that I’m more than qualified for, not just in the Phoenix area but also around the US. Austin, Denver, Chicago, LA, Silicon VAlley, New York, Boston, Memphis, Atlanta…pretty much any major city.

I’ve gotten basically little to no response. My typical salary requirements (for most cities) = minimum $100K, which seems fair for someone with 7 years of experience and a CFA.

Has anyone had a typical experience out there? Is there something I’m doing wrong? Is the CFA not worth that much (Outside of NY…) I realize this is Phoenix, so maybe the whole CFA thing just isn’t big here, but remember I’ve applied around the nation. I’m definitely NOT trying to go directly into client facing roles or applying for them, typically always PM / operations / equity analyst.

Please PM me, I’ll send you my linkedin profile… I’d really like some LinkedIn profile critiques or Red Flags I might be throwing off??

Let me know what you guys think…Thanks AF!!

#2

Why is your minimum $100k?

#3

Check with FinanceConsultant; I understand that he’s hiring.

#4

That’s where I am at now, but I’ve also applied at startups with no salary requirements because I know startups typically don’t pay much and make up for it with equity, which is fine.

#5

what it is you want to do? you never said it

and secondly, you have to realize that there are already such an abundance of candidates in local areas that most people will throw away your resume instantly when they see you are a couple states away. So the fact that you applied “nationwide” is meaningless.

If you are determined to break in, you got to move locally.

#6

yeah - there are a lot of jobs in NYC, but if they don’t see a NYC address it is a bit of a turn off. Even NJ or North of NYC is somewhat questionable for certain firms. The only exception in that area I have seen is if applying to a CT firm from NYC. They are somewhat ok with that.

#7

I agree. From the perspective of the hiring manager/HR, unless you have some unqiue/specific skill that they can’t find elsewhere, they would consider an out-of-state applicant as an added cost/expense (relocation, etc…)

Maybe just use an address from a friend in NY to see if the situation improves??

#8

Thanks to all for input.