Career conversations: How to turn a crisis into an opportunity

If you look at resumes in finance, you'll see nearly everyone has a solid educational and professional background. Even here in Korea, it's common to see individuals who have graduated from prestigious university and are proficient in multiple languages.  

Having the CFA® designation gives me real confidence that I'm not only comparable with these professionals, but maybe even better prepared. Hi, my name is TJ. I work as a Director at Credian Partners, a private equity firm that specialize in global investments.

During my college years, I set my career goal to get into the buy-side investment sector, such as venture capital and private equity.  

I first learned about the CFA® Program from my college professor who described it as the most prestigious exams in the field of finance. Being someone who thrives on challenges, I chose to embark on this journey to demonstrate my abilities.  

I knew it wasn't gonna be easy, but I had no doubt that I'll eventually make it through. The CFA Program is a challenging and educational program designed for those looking to build careers in finance, especially in the investment field.

It equips candidates with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed investment decisions. CFA (Program) has three levels. Level I, covers the basic concept [on] how finance is structured. Level II, teaches you how to analyze each field of finance Level III focuses on portfolio management.

When I returned to Korea after living in the States for a decade, I didn't really have a social circle yet, so that's when I decided to take CFA® [exam] Level I.  

Later during my military service, I spotted the chance to tackle the CFA® [exam] Level II. I talked to my captain I'm preparing for this CFA® exam, and I needed more time to study.  

My captain allowed me to study between 10:00 PM and 12:00 AM. So, while everyone's going to sleep, I just went to a study room. Of course, I slept less, but then due to that commitment I was able to pass CFA® [exam] Level II.  

And when the COVID lockdown hit, I went for Level III. I believe effective time management is the key to turning a crisis into an opportunity.

Once you clear all three levels, you get an invite to join the CFA® Society. So being part of the CFA® Society exposes you to a wide range of talented professionals in finance not just within your country, but all over the world.

And these are the people you might work with down the road, or who can help you achieve your career goal. For those of you who are considering preparing for the CFA® exam, just do it. Don't hesitate and just go for it. It is totally worth it.