Is it so hard to find someone to do ECM?

You're just going to interview for a web developer post, not CF or ECM. You don't have to think about 100 hours every week.

They are just being selective in hiring.

Market risk? Bright prospect with good pay as you gain experience but lower bonus as compared with IB, CF, ECM (random order).

At the bank I'm working at, the market risk setup is small (market risk monitoring & compliance section and market risk management section). They monitor the FX, IR, Bonds, Swaps, etc.

Are you from a Quant background? For risk modeling, banks would look for those with tertiary education in Math, Statistics, Financial Engineering, Quantitative Finance, etc., packed with programming knowledge like C++, Java, VBA.

That's good. It doesn't always have to be in ECM/CF, there's still DCM, Fixed Income Analysis. Everything is about valuation in CFA, the math level is not very high (no stochastic calculus or Ito's Lemma, PDEs) but the practical side of things is incorporated into the syllabus. If you want to have a chance to apply what you have learn about FE, best place is SG or HK.

Are you in consumer credit risk? Credit scorecard modeling?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.