Help on Qualifications

Hello, I'm currently coming to the end of my current degree in 'Business Management & Finance'

I want to pursue another degree or similar qualification with distance learning to boost my chances at getting an IB job, and i've looked into the Open Uni - maths and statistics degree they have and I'm quite interested in that. But i've also looked at other degrees from london external 'Banking and Finance' - (But i think this will overlap with my current degree)

But if I take the OU degree Maths and Stats I will also plan on taking a diploma with them also at the same time studying Spanish (I plan on moving to Spain for the majority of the time I'm completing the OU degree) - leaving me open to applying for Spanish internships, and broadening my career prospects regarding emerging Spanish speaking economies in South America

Do you know any qualifications I could look into at this kind of level regarding other entry level qualifications CFA's etc - If so can these be taken distance learning?

Basically I'm just looking for advice on 'Am i going down the right path?' does being Bilingual help in IB?

ecstasy said:

Hello, I'm currently coming to the end of my current degree in 'Business Management & Finance'

I want to pursue another degree or similar qualification with distance learning to boost my chances at getting an IB job, and i've looked into the Open Uni - maths and statistics degree they have and I'm quite interested in that. But i've also looked at other degrees from london external 'Banking and Finance' - (But i think this will overlap with my current degree)

But if I take the OU degree Maths and Stats I will also plan on taking a diploma with them also at the same time studying Spanish (I plan on moving to Spain for the majority of the time I'm completing the OU degree) - leaving me open to applying for Spanish internships, and broadening my career prospects regarding emerging Spanish speaking economies in South America

Do you know any qualifications I could look into at this kind of level regarding other entry level qualifications CFA's etc - If so can these be taken distance learning?

Basically I'm just looking for advice on 'Am i going down the right path?' does being Bilingual help in IB?

Click to expand...

Getting a CFA would surely help you get a job in the Finance industry, but I cannot say that you will be able to get a job in an IB, at least the chances are still small. Proven track record, and technical qualifications are valued almost as heavily as the CFA itself. I would recommend learning some technicalities like programming languages, instead of Spanish, unless you are very keen on living in Spain. I am not sure if I would get a whole extra degree in Math and Stats, as this does take a lot of time (4 whoping years), but it would help in the end, if you are willing to wait that long. I switched my degree halfway from Economics to Applied Math and Finance, and I think it will help.

Thanks for the reply

I forgot to add at the end of all this why I wanted to pursue the Maths and Stats degree, Its because I want to do a postgraduate in Quantitative finance (which they use C++) - so I will certainly look to learn that language over the next 3 years of doing this OU degree

Is c++ the most widely used language in IB?

I plan on staying in Spain for the most of the 3 years so I think Spanish will be beneficial for my time there also, and I enjoy learning it, alot of my friends in Spain speak it also

Regarding the programming languages, I know HTML (not really programming) and I can understand PHP and other online languages similar to this, I know it won't help much in IB but it shows I have the ability to learn technical languages.

What programming languages would I need?

thanks again

There's a programming section which, if I recall correctly, answers this.

Although quickly flipping through www.efinancialcareers.com and www.placingtraders.com shows C++ is the most commonly wanted programmer language!

I'm pretty sure GammaJammer might be able to answer this (he's the one who was writing in the other thread I think!)

Good Luck mate.

Phil

To Continue:

Not sure if one of these is the threads is the one I was talking about.

• C++ or C#
• What's the best Algo language?
• Easylanguage (TS) vs C++

Quick google, hope this helps. Like I said, check the employers. I think in general Java and C++ are the best!

Phil

ecstasy said:

Thanks for the reply

I forgot to add at the end of all this why I wanted to pursue the Maths and Stats degree, Its because I want to do a postgraduate in Quantitative finance (which they use C++) - so I will certainly look to learn that language over the next 3 years of doing this OU degree

Is c++ the most widely used language in IB?

I plan on staying in Spain for the most of the 3 years so I think Spanish will be beneficial for my time there also, and I enjoy learning it, alot of my friends in Spain speak it also

Regarding the programming languages, I know HTML (not really programming) and I can understand PHP and other online languages similar to this, I know it won't help much in IB but it shows I have the ability to learn technical languages.

What programming languages would I need?

thanks again

Click to expand...

You know it's funny, because what you study and what you want to do is exactly what I am studying and want to do. Except I switched degrees half-way and study German instead of Spanish... Basically C++ and VB are predominant in the IB as far as I know. I started studying C# (the newer C), but C++ is still the most powerful, widespread and respected language for now. If you learn any C based language well you will pretty much be able to pick up any other language with ease, I am an intermediate level C# enthusiast and now Java, C++ and C all look very similar. Keep at it buddy because learning one of those is a long and tedious task. I just started the Applied Math program, and it is tough, but doable.

All the best!

I know this has kind of been answered but I thought I would provide my two cents.

May I ask...any reason why you don't want to do a Master's after your Degree?

I am somewhat in a similar situation. I'm finishing my Degree this summer and I begin my Master's in January in Business & Financial Management up in Newcastle. But with the gap from June to January I am continuing to work at the bank (part time) but I am also going to study and take the SII exam(s).

Obviously I understand our situations and preferences are different...but it may be something to consider?

I am still unsure of what area I want go into but I still have until I finish my Master's to figure it out I guess and I've only just turned 22!

Message me if you want any help/information

Holly

Commercially most traders in banks have a Masters in Finance or similar (usually LSE in the UK) and most Quants have a PhD in a hard science, although CASS offers a good Masters in Electronic Trading. Paul Wilmott (one of the most famous quants and founder of Oxford's quant finance program) also has a CQF which I'm looking to enroll in for next year.

Most quants use C++ and Excel/VBA. However a smaller group use Java and an even smaller group C#.

I'm a bit biased, but anyone who can do a degree in maths, should, regardless of anything else.

Many, many languages are used in Inv Banks, according to appropriateness, legacy systems and the experiences/prejudices of groups/managers. C++ is common where speed is essential (eg quant libraries, esp PDEs, monte carlo) but for ease of development other languages are used where processing speed is not critical (eg java or .net and C#/VB for GUIs, database access, web apps). There is also a lot of interface between systems written in different languages. You will often see a mix of Windows and Linux/Unix. Intranet web applications are often useful because there is little need for software deployment (deployment and versioning is a whole can of worms in itself)

C++ is not the easiest of languages (it is quite low level), but imo if you know c++ well you can adapt pretty easily to more or less any other language.

Finally, C++ is a general purpose language, not specifically aimed at quantitative problems (although with careful work it solves quantitative problems well). As far as maths goes, other software is much better geared to understanding problems (ie matlab, R, etc)

hey ecstasy - well from what you've written, it sounds like spanish would be an obvious choice, you're definitely going to need to be fluent if you plan on living in Spain for 3 years. Other than that, I might also suggest accounting. That's helpful in any type of finance or business situation and a lot of employers will look highly at it. Maybe read some of the info on accountingdegree.com to see if it's right for you though. Hope that helps mate!