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How do I proceed in looking for a finance job after relocated from another country and have careers gap of 4.5 years

#jobs #Financial Sector
#entry level

Thank you comment icon Hi Raga, Can you elaborate on your Financial Background, is it: Investing, Banking, Accounting? Doc Frick
Thank you comment icon Hi John, I worked as an Accountant for 2 years after my bachelors degree and Equity Research Associate for 2.5 years after getting my M.B.A. I kept myself busy all these years engaging in social activities, volunteering, meeting people and online learning. I am open to other financial opportunities too. Thank you for responding. Raga

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Kimberly’s Answer

If you have experience working in finance and recently moved to the US, you can try a job search training program for immigrants called Upwardly Global. The service is free and they can help you prepare for American style interviewing and your resume.

For a gap in work experience, you can add a sabbatical or reason for leave like childcare on your resume. Add anything you've been doing recently to update your skills like volunteering or courses you've taken recently.

Kimberly recommends the following next steps:

try a job search training program for immigrants called Upwardly Global.
Thank you comment icon Hi Kimberly, Thank you for responding. I really appreciate your suggestion. Raga
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Doc’s Answer

Raga if you’re looking for a job in finance, there’s certainly room for optimism these days. Hiring levels have picked up significantly over the past few years and some experts suggest they’ll get stronger still as baby boomers leave the workforce.

EQUITY RESEARCH ANALYST

CAREER OUTLOOK AND SALARY – Equity research analysts are part of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) occupational listing for financial analysts. The BLS projects job growth rates over the ten-year period from 2018 to 2028. During this time it expects the average job growth rate for all occupations will be 5%, while the BLS forecasts job growth of 6% for financial analysts during this timeframe. The average Equity Research Analyst salary in the United States is $83,500 as of July 27, 2020, but the salary range typically falls between $71,000 and $100,000. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession.

REQUIRED EDUCATION & SKILLS – Equity research analysts are constantly processing new information about markets and specific business sectors so they need to have strong research skills in order to ensure they stay up to date with all the latest developments. They must have exceptional analytical skills in order to be able to determine how different factors will affect investments. Communication skills are important because their work involves meeting with managers, and they need to be able to break down their recommendations clearly and efficiently. They also need to have decision-making skills because their ultimate objective is to make the right determination about whether or not to start or continue with a specific investment option. The minimum educational requirement for equity research analysts is a bachelor's degree in engineering, business or another field that develops strong analytical skills. Experience in an entry-level role as an analyst is important so those planning on entering this field may want to take college programs that include internships if possible. Many employers prefer applicants who have a master's degree in finance. Those who are preparing for a career as an equity research analyst may also pursue Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification.

CHARTERED FINANCIAL ANALYST

CERTIFICATION – Financial analysts become certified through the Association of Investment Management and Research (www.cfainstitute.org). The CFA program is a preparatory program that prepares a student to take a 3-part examination and is based on the Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK). Analysts receive preparation materials from the CFA Institute and study independently. Successfully completing the examination earns the graduate the CFA designation. The association also offers a certificate in investment performance measurement (CIPM) that is recognized globally. The program focuses on investment performance evaluation and is the only designation of its kind in the industry. Applicants study and pass two examinations to earn the designation of CIPM. Students must meet the ethical and professional requirements of the program.

JOB DESCRIPTION – The main goal of a certified financial analyst is to make decisions about companies, stocks and industries for the purpose of making money for a corporation or individual. CFAs track the performance of stocks and collect the data in a spreadsheet that can be interpreted by a stockbroker or client. CFAs also help individuals to make sound investment decisions for both short-term and long-term goals. For example, they work with individuals to determine the best time to sell a home. Some CFAs work for banks or insurance companies. They help companies promote financial products or services. Services or products might be individual retirement accounts (IRAs), insurance policies or tax shelters.

CAREER OUTLOOK AND SALARY – Between 2018 and 2028, financial analysts in general could expect to see 6% job growth, based on projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is as fast as average job growth for all occupations in the U.S. The average Financial Analyst IV salary in the United States is $98,000 as of July 27, 2020, but the range typically falls between $86,000 and $115,000. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession.

Raga many employers are now looking for individuals with more schooling, typically a master's degree, and/or experience in the field. For those wishing to increase their credentials, certification is available for investment performance measurement as well as chartered financial analyst, looks like you have everything covered.

Hoped this was Helpful Raga

Doc recommends the following next steps:

eFinancialCareers – There’s something to be said for job searching on sites that focus solely on your industry. In the finance industry, one of the best is eFinancialCareers, which posts finance jobs in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region. Job seekers will find openings for everything from investment bankers and asset managers to business analysts and actuaries.
LinkedIn – One of the main challenges in any job search is to become more than just another résumé. The professional networking site, LinkedIn, manages to give your search a personal dimension that most other sites simply can’t offer. Sure, you can look up job titles that interest you. (And you may want to read Investopedia's tutorial, A Guide to Financial Careers.) But you can also tap your network to see if you know someone who works at the company. Or, for example, you can look up the recruiter or hiring manager to see if you went to the same university. By exploiting these features of the site, you may find a connection to the company that you wouldn’t otherwise have.
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much for the detailed information.. John..i would like to know what would be other options in finance, statistics Raga
Thank you comment icon Thank You Dexter for your continued support. We may never know what results come of our actions, but if we do nothing there will be no results. Doc Frick
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Doc’s Answer

PROBABILITY & STATISTICAL CAREER INFORMATION

Raga if you enjoy working with probability and statistics your in luck. Careers involving statistical analysis, data manipulation, and complex interpretation of number reports are all possible with operations and market research analysts. The probability is high you'll love presenting the findings and the research in these careers.

OPERATIONS RESEARCH ANALYST

CAREER DESCRIPTION – The U. S. Department of Defense and other government agencies employ operations research analysts. In the private sector, operations research analysts also work at technical and scientific consulting firms. Applicants that are just starting out in the field may initially work with analysts that are experienced and have acquired extensive knowledge and expertise. Operations research analysts organize information from just about every facet of a business: computer databases, customer feedback, and sales histories. Analysts will then use statistical analysis to process this information and relay solutions to key decision makers in the company. In the form of memos, reports, and other documentation, operations research analysts are important tools of a management team in keeping a business functional and profitable. A bachelor's degree is possible for entry level positions, but most of these positions require a master's.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS – While some employers are willing to accept bachelor's degrees, some employers may require a master's degree. In addition to coursework focusing on operations research analysis, additional fields of study that can enhance the research analyst's desirability include computer science, applied mathematics, and engineering. Because this is a multi-disciplinary career, it is also helpful to have completed courses relating to economics, political science, or advanced research techniques, including quantitative and statistical analysis.

JOB OUTLOOK & SALARY – These professionals are able to work in a wide variety of industries. They often work in teams and usually in a comfortable office environment, though sometimes they must go out into the field to gather data or observe processes directly. Since the analysis these professionals provide is often required to solve important problems, they often have to deal with the stress of deadlines. However, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that operations research analysts could expect to see a significant increase in job opportunities by up to 26% between 2018 and 2028. The average Operations Research Analyst salary in the United States is $92,500 as of July 27, 2020, but the range typically falls between $84,500 and $105,000. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession.

MARKET RESEARCH ANALYST

CAREER DESCRIPTION – Determining which goods and services are in demand and the best rate or price to charge for these products is a core function of a market research analyst's job, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS indicates that surveys are a big part of determining what customers want and that market research analysts work to develop and oversee the distribution and completion of these surveys. Market research analysts are also typically responsible for presenting survey findings to their clients. Market research analysts make use of specialized software to measure statistics and gather data on market conditions, as well as consumers and competitors. They are able to take complex chunks of data, and transform them into easily readable reports, graphs, and tables that can be interpreted by people outside of the research world. Statistics can come from a number of different areas, including surveys, literature reviews, and interviews. Most analysts will need a bachelor's degree to start their career, and many positions require a master's.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS – According to the BLS, bachelor's degrees are the standard educational credential for market research analysts. Master's degrees may be necessary for some jobs in the field. The BLS recommends that aspiring market research analysts take classes in business, marketing, social sciences, math, economics, computer science and statistics. An internship with a market research firm can be a good way for students to gain some professional experience in the field. Working as a survey taker may be another good way for students to gain experience. Being detail-oriented and having good quantitative abilities are important skills for market research analysts to have.

JOB OUTLOOK & SALARY – Between 2018 and 2028, the BLS projects a much faster than average forecast for job opportunities in the market research analyst field, with 20 percent employment growth expected. The increase in jobs will be driven by organizations' growing desire for data and market research to better evaluate the effectiveness of business and marketing plans. The average Market Research Analyst salary in the United States is $89,900 as of July 27, 2020, but the range typically falls between $81,500 and $103,000. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession.

Hope this was Helpful Raga
Thank you comment icon Thank You James. “At the end of the day it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished… it’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.” – Denzel Washington. Doc Frick
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Luiz’s Answer

Hi Raga K.

I lived similar thing a lot of years ago.
I am not an american citizen and at that time I had been working in USA as an engineer at a american enterprise.
When I left this job I need to change of profession.
So, after 14 years like an engineer I was becoming a teacher of statistics, systems and mathematics.
I can say that it was very, very hard for me, mainly because I started working at 7 pm, instead of 7 am.
Afterwards, studying some different subjects in order to do classes at a college I become a better professional.
It is amazing like one profession connect and helps the other.
So, I think, finally, that it was positive in my life and my career.
Good luck!

Luiz recommends the following next steps:

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John’s Answer

Be proactive and show you commitment to the industry. Many Securities exams allow you to "self-sponsor" without being currently employed by a FINRA member firm. Recently, the SIE exam became a prerequisite for the Series 7 exam. While you do need to be sponsored for the Series 7, obtaining the SIE before applying or interviewing for roles as a financial services professional may help you differentiate yourself from other candidates.
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Fan’s Answer

Checking the job posting requirement would be a great/easy way to learn what's requested qualification. It's also a way to narrow down the things you could prepare.

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Jane’s Answer

Hi Raga,

I would also recommend that you consider agencies that place perm and temporary staffing in your area. Some companies may want to see some recent relavent experience, which gaining that experience might be easier if you take on a contract or temp work. As stated above, many companies use LinkedIn or specific sites that are focused on a specific discipline, so keep looking for jobs that you believe are suitable for you. Once you apply, go to the website and look for key members of that organization, and see if you can get contact information to send your resume too. Persistance can pay off, but be careful that you don't over do it. Good Luck!
Thank you comment icon Thank you Jane, I am going directionless. Trying to reach out recruiters and agencies. Raga
Thank you comment icon Try Radstad or Robert Half agencies - in the Fort Lauderdale area. They are known for placing financial/accounting resources in perm and temp positions. I also recommend that you look at jobs on Indeed.com and see what is out there in your area. Jane P
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