Aadesh P

**Future Business/Finance Education: CFA**

Robert Stammers, “A Look At CFA Job
Opportunities.” *Investopedia*. (Accessed
November 23, 2011). http://www.investopedia.com/articles/financial-careers/08/cfa-job-oppurtunity.asp.

This
article compares the CFA with the MBA designation and the pros and cons of
choosing the path to acquire the Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
Insight is also given to what opportunities are opened after the CFA such as
job prospects and industries where current CFA’s work. The article outlines the
importance of the CFA and how it will help you grow in your career goals. This article gave me future insight into what my possible future career aspirations could be as I am looking to acheive my CPA Designation in the next 5 years.

Linette, Lopez.
“11 Reasons Why It's Better To Get A CFA Than An MBA.” *Business Insider.* May 29th 2013. http://www.businessinsider.com/cfa-better-than-getting-your-mba-2013-5.

This article shows the comparison between the MBA and CFA
designation from the perspective of the CFA being the better option. It gives
11 solid reasons for why you may choose to pursue your CFA designation. This is
very important information for me as I look to pursue further education or
designations to further develop my business and finance background. I am
interested in both receiving an MBA and CFA however this article helps me
clarify what I should focus on first as a more racticle option.

**Investment Banking Career Outlook**

“Career
Overview: Investment Banking.” *Wetfeet*.
December 1, 2012. https://www.wetfeet.com/articles/career-overview-investment-banking.

In this article he authors of Wetfeet give a great overview
of what the investment banking field is all about. They answer all the
questions of what to expect, what you’ll do, who does well, what the
requirements are and to what are the job outlook possibilities. It elaborates
on the working environment along with the fast-paced demand of the corporate
finance profit hungry industry, giving a greater understanding of what is
expected. The article also states how the field is very competitive to get in
and if marks are not in the top along with a top league school networking is
your best bet. I feel investment banking is what I want to pursue in the future
after university and this article gave me a greater understanding of what to
expect and how to there, along with how my future career might hold.

“Get Into
Investment Banking 101.” *Get Into*
Investment Banking. (*Accessed on December 4th 2015.)      http://getintoinvestmentbanking.com/get-into-investment-banking-101/.*

The primary focus of this article is not to describe or give
overview of the field but is clearly to give the reader some essential tips on
how to land a job in the investment banking field. The articles gives 19
helpful insights as to how to get into investment banking. The following are
the 19 points discussed in the article: 1. Become an expert on investment
banking 2. Learn everything there is out there on investment banking recruiting
3. Create a banker friendly resume 4. Write a minimalist cover letter 5. Strategize
your action plan 6. Move networking to the top of your To Do list 7. Learn the
interview answers before your Superdays 8. Understand what bankers really want
to see from you 9. Eliminate any banker pet hates from your repertoire 10. Get
to grips with current recruiting conditions. 11. Formulate a handful of Plan Bs
12. Seek out unpaid internships if you must 13. Hunt down your alumni 14. Cold
calling is a last resort 15. Boost your grades before your ECs 16. Consider
postponing recruiting till next year 17. Stop wasting time on the unimportant
issues 18. Forget about financial modeling…for now 19. Eat your banking frog
first thing every morning. This article was very important for me as it showed
me what I have to do now to get to where I want to be in the near future
possible within the next 5 years.

**Network Effectively**

Henricks,
Drew. “6 Ways To Network More Effectively.” *Forbes.*
*August 21st, 2014.                 http://www.forbes.com/sites/drewhendricks/2014/08/21/6-ways-to-network-more-effectively/.*

Drew Henricks shares with us 6 great ways to network more
effectively in a company or entrepreneurial setting however applies to general
networking in a variety of settings including myself. The 6 ways stated in the
article include:

1.  **Networking is a two-way street** - This means that whenever you meet someone, you need
to ask them as much as possible regarding their business, as well as informing
them about yours.

2.  **Evaluate Your Contacts** - It’s important to filter through your contacts to see who is worth establishing a relationship with.

**3.  Meet-and-Mingle** - Get yourself out
there!

4. **Always Get a Second Date** – Important to secure a second meet up to further network and build the network

5.  **Spend Time Social Networking –** Use social media to your advantage, follow up with professionals through Twitter and Linkedin.

6.  **Nurture and Maintain Strategic Relationships** – Establish meaningful relationships need to choose the right people and meet on a regular basis with a purpose.

Networking is very important in the business field and a
great way to land some great internships which is what I am trying to achieve
therefore I found this article really helpful, showing me how to network
properly. Also networking is a must as I am trying to pursue a very competitive
field of Investment banking.

Grant, Alex. “6 Ways
to Network While You're in College.” USNEWS. September 28th 2011. http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2011/09/28/6-ways-to-network-while-youre-in-college.

Alex Grant
in this article is directing his tips to specifically college or university
students where he explains how starting to network early is the best and how we
can make the most out of college or university edging other students. Also
states if you want to get an internship or job out of university you need to
know people. The 6 ways Alex Grant suggests to network are:

1.   **Play the student card** – Alumni and Professionals more likely to want to help as not looking for job but just good advice.

2.   **Use your friends' parents as resources** - Have years of experience and networks you can use to your advantage.

3.   **Get out of the bubble** – Go to off campus events

4.   **Use LinkedIn** – Track the network you’re building and stay in touch

5.   **Use Twitter strategically** – Connect with business professionals

6.   **Get an internship** – Real life experience putting you ahead of competition

This article
was very useful for me as it is directed to me and need to network in my
university to get ahead of the competition to achieve my future goals. Also I
am trying to get an internship first year summer which is very difficult
without great networking, which I look to achieve through the help of this
article.

**Life Balance**

“5 Tips to Achieve
Your Optimal Work/School/Life Balance.” *Columbia*
University. *December 18th*
2014. http://sps.columbia.edu/news/5-tips-achieve-your-optimal-workschoollife-balance.

This article
from the school of professional studies at Columbia University addresses how to
balance your work life while also studying and having a social life which I feel
is that I must prepare for from today. The article shares 5 tips on how they
think you can achieve the optimal life balance. The following are the tips
explained through personal details of professionals at Columbia University.

1.  **Reinforce your personal support system –** Get support from your family and friends and they are able to help you throughout the journey.

2.  **Lean on your professional contacts –** Talk to professionals with experience for advice
and help

3.  **Take advantage of online options if possible –** With advancing technology everything is becoming online and easily accessible online try to switch some communications online to save time and be more efficient. For example online courses or meetings.

4.  **Shuffle your priorities –** Determine a strategy for time allotting your school and
work before social life.

5.  **Cut yourself some slack** – Must not sacrifice health as it is the most important thing.

Pitt, Mayble. “Balance
your social and academic life at university.” *The* *Telegraph.* September
24, 2014.  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/student-life/11100038/Balance-your-social-and-academic-life-at-university.html.

Mayble Pitt
directs his article to the audience of first years in university and claims the
first advice he gives is that first year does count, which many people have a perception
that doesn’t count for much. He also relates as a student and gives it in a
perspective where students like myself are able to relate and greater
understand his point of view. Mayble also mentions falling into the timetable
trap is terrible, which I feel I have currently fell in, where I wake up when
classes start and waste time in-between.