Hey everyone,
I’m finishing undergrad and debating whether to register for CFA Level 1 before IB recruiting. Some say it helps, others say it’s irrelevant. With one CF internship on my CV, would CFA give me a real advantage, or should I focus on networking and modeling skills? Thanks for your advice!
Hi There!
CFA Level 1 can demonstrate commitment and a strong grasp of financial fundamentals, but in the context of investment banking recruiting, it rarely carries as much weight as strong networking and demonstrated technical skills through modeling practice and deal knowledge.
With one corporate finance internship already on your CV, your time is likely better spent building relationships with bankers, refining your story for interviews, and practicing case-style technicals since that’s what will actually get you through the door and across the finish line. If you genuinely enjoy the CFA material and want to explore asset management or buy-side roles later, it’s worth doing, but for pure IB recruiting, networking and modeling prep will give you a much higher return.
Hi there,
That’s a really good question. From what I’ve seen, the CFA can be a nice signal of dedication, but in terms of breaking into IB recruiting, it often isn’t as powerful as solid modeling skills or networking. Given you already have one corporate finance internship, those technical chops + relationship-building tend to get you further in the short term.
If you like, I can also see value in doing CFA Level 1 later on, but maybe after you’ve focused on modeling, interview prep, and getting more exposure.
Also, there’s a useful article here:
PrepLounge – Chartered Financial Analyst
Rita
With one corporate finance internship, your best move is to double down on networking and technical prep—those will open more doors than the CFA at this stage. CFA Level 1 can show interest in finance, but it's rarely a game-changer for IB recruiting, especially at the undergrad level. Banks care more about how well you understand the job, your fit, and your ability to perform in interviews. Unless you're truly passionate about the CFA or aiming for asset management later, it's not the best ROI right now.
