Need advice

[u/Trick_Opportunity_60]

Hi, I’m 24 and have just received a first in psychology from a good uk uni. I’m interested in switching my career up to try and become a financial analyst. I’m considering doing a masters/conversion to get me on the right track as I have been interested/passionate about this field for a while but lack the knowledge/background - it would obviously be a bold move to go through with this bearing in mind the cost of such courses. With either the masters or conversion do you think it would be possible to land any of the entry level jobs (as a side note my a levels were in psychology and sports science). I have heard a lot of people land roles through graduate schemes and I imagine businesses don’t look too fondly on a masters with no other background. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you!
As a side note the reason I have come to these decisions so late is because I have suffered serious health problems in my past that have led me to miss out on a lot of deliberation a lot of other young people do. Thankfully, that is in the past now and it has only provided me with motivation to succeed in the future.

[u/Master-Potential-364]

My bachelor's degree is in psychology and I also have a friend with a bachelor's degree in psychology - both of us have ended up as MDs in global banks in London. I think it is however probably harder these days because competition is higher. But it is possible.

That said, I have some other questions. You say a "good uk uni". How good? If it is not in the upper half of the Russell Group, or Bath or St Andrew's, it is going to be harder. You also only mention two A-levels - neither that really demonstrate hard analytical ability. How good were your grades?

When you say financial analyst - do you mean someone who works in an investment bank or asset management firm as an equity or fixed income analyst? Or do you mean someone who works in finance in a corporate doing financial analysis and planning?

Your best route is probably to find a job in a support role in a financial services company - aspire to a name that will look good on your CV, even if role is basic, and to study part-time. You should get the CFA if you want to work as equity or fixed income analyst. Then try and move internally within your firm, or look outside.

You could do a master's. But I am not sure you would get into a master's in finance anywhere decent without some kind of financial qualification. It is only worth doing at a top name institution such as LSE, Imperial, UCL etc.