Depends on where and which department you working at I suppose. I think you can safely assume a MBA will do you more good in climbing the ladder than a CFA.

I take up CFA more due to interest... climbing ladder - it is always about your actual work performance and how you carry yourself through anyway.

I'm in Non-Traded Market Risk (Interest Rate Risk & Liquidity Risk Management, ICAAP, Basel III LCR & NSFR, Stress Testing, Scenario Analysis). If you've been there for a few years, apply for internal transfer to market or operational risk (if this practice is allowed). You're still young (I suppose) so move around and get more exposure. As you get more experience, your salary will move up, don't worry.

SG, HK, London markets are always hiring for Quants (though not on a wide scale) but you must remember, there are many FE grads out there (in SG alone, you have NUS, NTU, SMU), not to mention on the other side of the world, you have CMU, Baruch, Columbia, etc churning out Financial Engineers every year. I don' t know where you studied yours, so no offense intended.

I'm from NUS ... Did not have a first class - it was cut throat in SG market anyway... so I came back msia to look for promised land when the recruiter call me up. hahaha. like you said.. i'm waiting for the opportunity to do internal transfer back to SG/HK while I prove myself in msia. 1.5 years into the job already and still waiting ...

yours sound fun - my bank has a separate balance sheet mgmt team to deal with liquidity risk... but you seem to sapu everything under non-traded except price risk... sounds like lots of good learning opportunities there. Any thoughts on FRM or PRM ?

FRM and PRM are good risk management qualifications IMO. FRM is more on the practical side (always up-to-date) while PRM is more math-based (but not hardcore level). I've done both, so that's telling from my experience. My current employer doesn't really recognize it (but my next one does ). The knowledge helps, though, that's how I'm able to move up so fast.

1.5 years is still okay, banks in SG pay high as well for people with credit risk experience. Don't give up, keep on applying.

My unit doesn't handle price risk (that's for the Traded Market Risk unit) and because of our lean structure, 1 person will be doing 4 people's work (Per hour pay still higher than McD's). Learning curve is steep but I enjoy it.

For equity research ladder, yes. For Private Equity, like I have told you before, a top school MBA gives you a better standing. It's expensive, I know, so for the mean time, you can do the CFA program or fully focus on gaining experience and performing in your job.

Ah Bean,

If you still can't find any suitable candidates, I know a pool of people who are CFA Level 1, 2, and 3 exam candidates and those who have completed all the exams as well. If you are interested, I will put you through to my contact (not headhunter, just an education provider). FYI, I'm not earning any commission from this. Just helping out.

Wow, I see alot of risk people here.
Anyone doing credit risk?
Should share some exp here
I'm a credit risk analyst for large corp in a well known bank in SG.

Corporate credit risk is also an interesting area. You do internal ratings modeling/CreditVAR/KMV? I'm planning to explore into Credit risk in a few years' time.

70 - 100 hours ? might as well sell ur body & soul to the bank for RM70k per year -.-

1) 70 - 100 hours is only for the earlier years, doing all the grunt work. Once you move up, hours lessen.

2) The package wont stay constant at rm70k per year.

thinking of taking up PRM after my CFA is done ... but not entirely sure if Risk is where I wanna do for the rest of my career tho - since I have the chance to rotate to other front offices as part of my MT program if I choose to .. what do you think ? Have you tried functions other than risk ?

But it's really incredible that you did both frm and prm in a short span of time - where to find discipline for that ? haha . I've heard somewhere that there are only a handful of PRM qualified candidates in Msia and most of the employers do not even know this qualification ... is that true?

like your comparison of McD salary. I think I'm underpaid with the hours I'm putting in .. hahaha .

hiring? haha.

how would you rate your experience doing corporate credit risk ? Funny that I have a senior rotating into my consumer risk department and she told me consumer risk is much more interesting with more analysis and thinking behind the decisions - while corporate risk analysis is more governed by established policies and rules ... what would be your thought?

Advisable, cos upon passing level 3, you get exemptions from Paper 1 & 2 of the PRM program (Sadly I found out abt this later). If possible, rotate around, maybe you'll find something that you really like to do. I've been in risk when I joined and have never been in other functions. At this moment, want to expand my knowledge within market, credit and operational risk. It's been my goal to be a Chief Risk Officer. Of course would like to go into Treasury if possible (for a short stint).

There are, but not many employers who are actually aware of the existence of FRM and PRM. Not sure about your bank.

I'm more into credit analysis where i evaluate the bank's clients business model, balance sheet, and cashflow using qualitative and quantitative methods to determine the credit worthiness of a customer and/or structure deals which mitigates the clients inherent credit risk.
It more fun than looking at risk models/KMV or VAR since i get to interact with clients and understand their business models.
I personally feel the structure and lending mechanism is more complex in corporate banking and needs much more analysis than consumer banking becuase you are dealing with conglomerates who have different businesses all ove the world.

y hijack my thread to discuss credit risk?

my thread is about investment banking hiring for fresh grads and interns

If you cannot find good candidates then how come you convince markets to buy your IPO shares?

My thoughts too ... that's what I told the senior on why I am looking forward for a stint in corporate credit risk last time. Probably I should try it myself if I've got the chance.


haha.. sorry bean.

two different things. One is about "selling" shares and another is about "buying" candidates. Guess he must be super choosy since the market is flourished with all those supply of oversea grads looking for jobs.

we found. in fact, 3 entry level graduates 2 interns.

of which, 2 grads and 1 intern is actually from LYN.

and to comment of your question, rubbish questions such as "if you suffer from constipation, why you go hotel eat buffet dinner?" are much more valid than your question from logic perspective.

whether i can source for good candidates got nothing to do with whether my ipo shares are of good quality.

I drilled down to deepest tunnel. Dont know how true is the "singing", so no SOS here. But that lady is superb! and btw, she isnt using any dupe -.-"

This post has been edited by EquinoX: Feb 16 2013, 03:10 AM