Poll: How Long Did It Take for You to Get Your First Finance Job?
“How long will it take me to find my first job?” This question tends to weigh heavy on the hearts and minds of young finance professionals (and their families and friends) as they search for their first full-time job. Polishing your CV, digging up job ads, identifying recruiters and contacts, and waiting to be called for an interview are all a test of nerves. But how long does a job search really take? When we asked the readers of the CFA Institute Financial NewsBrief, we learned that the job search time frame varies a lot.
How long did your job search take to get your first full-time job in the finance/investment industry?
A relatively lucky 23% of respondents got their first job within a month, but for 15% of respondents, it took them more than a year. Understandably, for those whose job search drags on, hearing that someone they know has landed a job within a month, perhaps because of such factors as on-campus recruiting, can only add to the pressure. The respondents searched for different kinds of jobs at different times and places. Still, it is encouraging to note that a clear majority of the 679 respondents found their first full-time job within six months.
If you are a young professional searching for your first full-time job in the finance industry, we wish you good luck. We also have some helpful resources — our free Career Resources Library and our new e-book, Career Success: Navigating the New Work Environment.
Please note that the content of this site should not be construed as investment advice, nor do the opinions expressed necessarily reflect the views of CFA Institute.
