Advice for a student

Hey guys,

I'm currently studying a BSc in Mathematics and Economics at the LSE, and am looking to get onto a grad programme for trading. I've just completed my first year, so there aren't really any internships around..but I've managed to secure an internship at a private equity firm..not directly relevant I know, but at least it's better than nothing!

I am going to be free for the second half of summer, so I was considering using my earnings from my current internship to sit the required FSA-approved exams. Am I correct in thinking I need to do Regulation, Securities and Derivatives?

Also, how hard are these exams meant to be?

Given that I have roughly a month to work on them full-time, is it feasible to sit all three, or should I just sit the easiest one (which is the "easiest" one?)

Will sitting these exams actually improve my chances of securing an internship next year, or am I better off trying to hunt for some work experience at a trading firm for the second half of summer?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Welcome to the forum.

I'm currently studying for the IMC (Investment Management Certificate). I'm not rushing to complete it as I don't have the time, with doing my Master's, working in the bank and trading - I'm just trying to do an hour or 2 a night.

I personally think you shouldn't worry about the exams in your first year of University. Like you said - why not try and get some experience first? That way if you get the experience, you can firstly see if you enjoy the environment and the job as well as setting yourself in good positions to either remain there (possibly on a part-time basis?) or open up positions for later on? Take the exams next summer if you are certain it is what you want to do.

That's just my 2 pence anyway

Holly

Hollu$ said:

Welcome to the forum.

I'm currently studying for the IMC (Investment Management Certificate). I'm not rushing to complete it as I don't have the time, with doing my Master's, working in the bank and trading - I'm just trying to do an hour or 2 a night.

I personally think you shouldn't worry about the exams in your first year of University. Like you said - why not try and get some experience first? That way if you get the experience, you can firstly see if you enjoy the environment and the job as well as setting yourself in good positions to either remain there (possibly on a part-time basis?) or open up positions for later on? Take the exams next summer if you are certain it is what you want to do.

That's just my 2 pence anyway

Holly

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Hi Holly, thanks for the advice.

I've spent quite a while looking for experience, but it's extremely difficult to find given that I'm only in my first year. I thought that landing an internship next summer would be the best form of experience, but they are just so competitive, I thought taking one of the exams would differentiate me from other candidates a little.

I mean, if I have time over summer, and the exams are not ridiculously impossible, there's no harm in taking them right?

Yeah it isn't very easy to find things like that these days unfortunately.

Have you looked on a website called:-

www.efinancialcareers.com

or

www.cityjobs.com

Have a snoop on these as they have sections for interns. Have you spoken to your tutor or anyone at Uni? They may be the best port of call in having a few connections to help you along the way?

Hollu$ said:

Yeah it isn't very easy to find things like that these days unfortunately.

Have you looked on a website called:-

www.efinancialcareers.com

or

www.cityjobs.com

Have a snoop on these as they have sections for interns. Have you spoken to your tutor or anyone at Uni? They may be the best port of call in having a few connections to help you along the way?

Click to expand...

Haha, yes I have. I've spent literally hundreds of hours scouring the internet, and sent off my CV to hundreds of firms (which is how I managed to scrape my current internship)!

Waterfield said:

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=94

Click to expand...

Have been there too.

Sorry, not trying to come across as a "been-there-done-that" type of person but I really have spent a LOT of time researching!

You're in first year of uni. Get out and chase skirt instead of looking to sit more exams.

If you want to differentiate yourself why not try something outside of trading. Climb a mountain, start a band, climb a different mountain, start a uni based business, climb mount everest.

I'm not saying FSA exams are a bad idea. If you do them or one of them and pass it'll definitely look good on your cv and should help getting further in your trading career.

Depends on where and who you want to work for. Some places will look upon it as a sign you seriously want to trade and have put in your own time. Other places will see it is a bit much and too geeky thing. Saying all this a mate of mine did get a job shortly after doing one of these sort of courses, whether it was because of the course who knows?

state said:

You're in first year of uni. Get out and chase skirt instead of looking to sit more exams.

If you want to differentiate yourself why not try something outside of trading. Climb a mountain, start a band, climb a different mountain, start a uni based business, climb mount everest.

I'm not saying FSA exams are a bad idea. If you do them or one of them and pass it'll definitely look good on your cv and should help getting further in your trading career.

Depends on where and who you want to work for. Some places will look upon it as a sign you seriously want to trade and have put in your own time. Other places will see it is a bit much and too geeky thing. Saying all this a mate of mine did get a job shortly after doing one of these sort of courses, whether it was because of the course who knows?

Click to expand...

Yeah, that's a fair point. I don't wanna come across as too geeky. I'd go travelling but can't really afford it..and I'm gonna have a whole month of summer..don't want to waste it lazing around!

FSA exams are pretty stupid.

FSA exams arnt too hard I struggled with Regs but mainly because i couldnt be arsed. Good luck either way its very tough

Hi,

First of all well done, I'm amazed at your ambition. I definitely wasn't thinking about my future career this hard in my first year!
The exams aren't a bad idea but probably a bit too much effort on your part. Join societies at university and try and secure exec positions, treasurer and president are good ones. Are you doing a three year or four year course? Try looking into doing a spring week internship next year with a relevant company, if you aren't invited onto their summer internship it will definitely help you secure another. Gain as many different work/society/extra curricular experiences as you can so you can talk about these on your application forms and interviews. Repeating the same work experience over and over doesn't look good, using a variety of examples is very helpful.