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• Both are good avenues. A third possibility is to try and use your industry experience alone to break in as an equity research analyst covering the industry you've worked in. That's a common (but often overlooked) route into Wall Street, especially for people in highly technical fields like yours. If you had 15 years, or even 5 years, experience with top mining companies, I would say that is the route you should take. With just 15 months in the industry, however, a bank likely won't view you as enough of an expert to just jump in and analyze other mining companies. (In such cases, the technical expertise is less critical than one's knowledge of the industry's key players, their strengths and weaknesses and business strategies.) So, either a relevant master's degree and/or a CFA charter probably represents your best course of action. The CFA curriculum provides skills needed for analyzing companies' financials, and for managing investment portfolios. While it doesn't focus on any one industry, the upside is the program is geared for people working full-time while pursuing it - so you'd be adding to your mining knowledge and experience while going for your CFA.

  Jon Jacobs 12 Sep 2008

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• I agree with the previous answer, and I worked as a Metals & Mining analyst for a bulge bracket investment bank. During a period in which we were hiring, having a mining background, whether it be through direct work experience or having a mining degree, was something that we looked for in an analyst. So having the background that you have can be very helpful in trying to break into research. So too will having or planning on taking the CFA exams. The only question remains, whether there are openings as a Metals & Mining analyst. Best of luck to you.

  ladida 15 Sep 2008

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• i disagree. slightly..i suggest you work for another 6months or so (ideally until you have worked for 2yrs) and do an MBA in a top university to leverage on your experience and education to jump into an equity/research analysis position (which the MBA will give u a good hedge). all you have to do form now till then, i sdisplay a continuos interest in financials so you can have some accomplishments (related to finance) on your cv when applying after your MBA. Another route, depending on your age is to do a Modular /EMBA whilst applying for entry positions as an equity research analyst.

  PJ 13 Aug 2009

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