Korean Job Discussion Forums

[itiswhatitis]

I'm seriously considering the CFA (certified financial analyst) program.

I worked for RBC in Canada and I have my Canadian Securities Course.

Of course the CFA will be much more challenging, but I want
to challenege myself and keep up my skills.

Has anyone taken the CFA program while in Korea?

Thanks in advance for any insight/feedback/advice.

[misher]

If you're doing it without any leads or plans for getting a job once you get back, I'd say it's a waste of time. All 3 levels require 3-4 years of SERIOUS commitment. And it isn't so much a course, rather memorize 5 textbooks and regurgitate it on a MC exam.

What exactly do you want to do when you get back? Unless it's in portfolio management or something similar a CFA won't help you one iota. Relevant work experience will and teaching Esl in Korea for a year won't help unless you can impress with some wizzbang Korean skills that may set you apart from the hundreds of other applicants for entry level jobs into the financial services industry ( I don't mean cold call selling mutual funds for dominion securities either)

If you're serious about getting into the industry I'd leave Korea now and hit the pavement in Toronto (or Nyk if you're from the states).

I work with a few chartholders and all did it when they were already full-time employees. The bank made exceptions for them to study and promotions were on the table if they finished.

The CSC course expires too if you're not cold call selling mutual funds or whatever for a certain period of time.

If you just want to do it for educations sakes then fly at it. I'd rather go out and enjoy Korea (meet people, get a gf, travel around or work a ton to save money) while I'm there than study that stuff for 20 hours a week with no guarantee of a job.

[caribmon]

Nobody wants CFAs. Better to get a degree in theoretical painting.