With the development of the financial industry, investment manager has become a popular career choice for many young people. However, there are still many confusions about the job duties, career paths, and entry requirements of investment managers. This article will provide a comprehensive overview of investment manager jobs based on insights from industry practitioners, helping readers better understand this profession.
Typical career paths for investment managers
According to finance professionals, the typical career path for investment managers is: Fresh graduates start as Analysts for about 4 years, then get promoted to Associate for around 2 years, followed by VP (Vice President). After VP, they can get promoted to Director and finally Managing Director. The major responsibilities will evolve from conducting research and making recommendations at Analyst level to managing investment portfolios and teams at higher levels. However, the process of getting promoted, especially from VP to Director, also depends a lot on personal capabilities and company needs.
Various roles investment managers can take
Within an investment management firm, besides the mainstream path of Research Analyst -> Portfolio Manager, investment managers can also take on other roles that leverage their expertise: Product Specialists who get very familiar with all the firm’s products and communicate performance to clients; Traders who focus on executing portfolio transactions; Chief Investment Officers who craft investment strategies and manage teams at the executive level. Working as investment advisors and fund managers at external asset management companies is also common exit opportunities.
Key entry requirements and qualifications
For fresh graduates aspiring to break into investment management, the key entry requirements are: 1) Strong technical skills – finance, accounting, valuation modeling; 2) Proficiency with analysis tools – Excel, Bloomberg, FactSet; 3) Solid communication skills for client engagement; 4) Good team spirit and collaboration capabilities. Obtaining relevant internship experience, networking proactively, polishing resumes with proper keywords, and preparing for technical + behavioral interview questions are also critical.
In summary, investment manager is a promising career with clear progression path but also high entry barriers. Candidates need a combination of technical expertise, soft skills and interview preparation to stand out.