Hi everyone. Was wondering if anyone could spare a little bit of advice.I graduated last year from Bristol with a first in Economics and Finance and started working for a bank in September.Problem is I'm doing equity research, disaster really!, which I find pretty boring and am generally not very interested in.I didn't really want to find myself in this position and want instead to have a much more quant focus (be it in research or as an analyst or developer).I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the following possibilities:1. Do the CQF and try to get a junior position after completing it (problem here is that my bank won't finance it since we have more of a broking focus than anything quant related).2. Apply for a MSc or Phd and start again from scratch.3. Continue plugging away at my job.If anyone has any advice I'd be grateful.Cheers,Mike

Hmm, saved any money? How does the thought of going back to university feel?I find the thought of equity research hell, so I'd go back to school get an MSc in Fin Maths, enjoy being a student again and get back in an as associate.What do you think?

Got a little bit... trying to save up more at the mo to finance that sort of option. Do you have any idea how the CQF weighs up compared to the MSc option? Thanks for your comments though.

Work for 2 years - save some £££ - go do an MBA somewhere sunny (UCB or Stanford - sleep with lots of suntanned valley girls) - come back as an Analyst.

> Work for 2 years - save some £££ - go do an MBA somewhere sunny (UCB or Stanford - sleep with lots of suntanned valley girls) - come back as an Analyst. What, after all that and you still come back as an analyst?!Surely, if you do the MBA, you can apply for Associate positions.Michaelstout,Are you on a grad scheme? It might be possible to rotate at the end of your first year or something.My best advice would be to stick in there (unless it was really really bad), build up some contacts with the research groups, volunteer to do more coding (if you enjoy that) and quant work, or some combinations of these.Don't know much about the CQF, except I guess its more practical.If your manager is supportive, it would not be bad to speak to him/her first.

>> Surely, if you do the MBA, you can apply for Associate positions.What - with all that sex you're expecting him to pass the exams too???? - seriously you're right of course mistake on my part.

Thanks for the help guys. linuxuser 99 do you really think MBA over a straight MSc?Can I ask why?

MSc = you are certain what you want to do and wish to have a career which is primarily functional in nature.MBA = you are less sure and may want to branch out into a more generalist / managerial role later on in your career.Whichever you do 1. Get some decent w/e under your belt first, 2 - 3 years is the optimum. So stick with what you are doing and make a success of it. There is is loads to learn where you are, so do it - it's only for a while. 2. Go to the best school you can (I joke about somewhere warm - but really just go for the best academic rep).The place I'm at right now - we treat incoming MBA and MSc grads basically the same at the selection / interview process, but we do care that you have some good w/e before doing either.Personally I think it sounds like you're still thinking about exactly what you want for a next "real" job so would suggest an MBA - however you may refine this oiver the next couple of years.Right now my advice would be to avoid IT at all costs - it's pretty much on the decline in the City. What was a good job 20 years back no longer looks nearly so attractive in the face of Indian outsourcing and Near-Source software development in the provinces.

Thanks for the help guys.Does anyone know how the CQF compares to a MSc??