The CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Program is a globally recognized professional credential for investment management professionals. Obtaining a CFA designation requires a great deal of dedication and hard work, making it a valuable asset to showcase on your resume. However, simply adding the three letters “CFA” to your resume may not be enough to catch the attention of potential employers. In this blog post, we’ll provide some tips and best practices for CFA professionals to effectively highlight their CFA designation on their resume and enhance their career advancement prospects.
If you want to learn more about this course, read our blog The CFA Charter in Business and Banking
What Are CFA Digital Badges?
CFA Digital Badges are like virtual medals that show off your accomplishments as a CFA Program Candidate or Charter holder on LinkedIn. They’re like shiny badges you earn, and you can thank CFAI and Basno for handing them out!
When you qualify, you’ll get an email from CFAI telling you it’s time to “claim your badge.” All you have to do is follow the instructions in the email to set up an account with Basno and claim your badge. Then, you can proudly show it off on all your favorite social media platforms!
Digital Badges for CFA Program Candidates
For CFA Program Candidates, adding a candidate digital badge to their LinkedIn profile involves incorporating the digital badge URL. Additionally, they are prompted to provide a description reflecting their current candidate status, such as “passed Level I” or “passed Level II.”
In the case of candidates who have passed all three exams but have yet to fulfill the required work experience (4,000 hours), they may include a description like “Passed all three levels of the CFA Program and may be awarded the charter upon completion of the required work experience.”
Upon eligibility, candidates receive an email from CFAI prompting them to “claim their badge.” To do so, they must use this email to establish an account with Basno and claim the badge, which can then be shared across various social media platforms.
Digital Badges for CFA Charter holders
In the case of candidates who have passed all three exams but have yet to fulfill the required work experience (4,000 hours), they may include a description like “Passed all three levels of the CFA Program and may be awarded the charter upon completion of the required work experience.
Now, let’s make sure you stand out with your digital badge!
When your new badge is ready, keep an eye out for an email from [email protected] via our digital badge provider, Basno.
Here’s what you need to do to claim your badge:
- Click on “claim your badge” in the email, and you’ll be directed to Basno.
- Sign up with Basno using either your Facebook account or email address.
- Once registered, you’ll be taken to your digital badge page where you can claim your badge and easily share it on your favorite social media platforms.
How to add CFA Level One to your Resume
If you’ve completed CFA Level 1, it’s important to showcase this achievement on your resume to demonstrate your progress toward becoming a CFA charter holder. When adding CFA Level One, make sure to list it under the Education or Certifications section. You should mention “CFA® Level I Candidate” or “Passed CFA® Level I” along with the date of completion or the expected date of your next exam. For example:
- CFA® Level I Passed (Month, Year) or
- CFA® Level I Candidate (Expected Exam Date)
This helps employers understand your commitment to the CFA program and your progress in building expertise in finance and investment management.
Put your CFA designation on your resume in a prominent place
Make sure to include your CFA Certification on your resume in a prominent place, such as your header or summary statement. Use the correct formatting (e.g. “John Doe, CFA”) to clearly and accurately display your certification. This will help your CFA designation catch the attention of recruiters and hiring managers.
Emphasize your CFA skills in your resume
When highlighting your CFA designation on your resume, make sure to emphasize the skills and knowledge you have gained through the program. For example, if you have expertise in financial modeling or portfolio management, make sure to include relevant keywords and examples in your resume. This will demonstrate to employers that you have valuable skills and experience in the field.
Customize your resume for each job application
While it may be tempting to use a generic resume template for all your job applications, it’s important to customize your resume for each position you apply for. Make sure to highlight the specific skills and experience that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for. For example, if you’re applying for a job in investment banking, emphasize your experience with financial analysis and modeling.
Use concrete examples to illustrate your achievements
When highlighting your CFA designation on your resume, use concrete examples to illustrate your achievements and accomplishments. For example, if you led a successful investment strategy that generated significant returns, provide specific numbers and metrics to demonstrate the impact of your work.
Should I include the date I passed or the expected date of obtaining my CFA charter?
When adding your CFA designation or progress on your resume, it’s essential to be clear about your status. If you have completed a level (e.g., CFA Level I, II, or III), include the date you passed that level. However, if you are currently a candidate and have yet to complete the CFA charter, it’s more appropriate to include the expected date of when you plan to finish the program. For example:
- CFA® Level I Passed – July 2023
- CFA® Level II Candidate (Expected Exam Date: June 2024)
This provides employers with clarity about your current progress and when they can expect you to obtain your full CFA charter, which will be beneficial for your career development.
Resume Rules for CFA Marks
One of the most prestigious Finance courses that’s on every student’s mind right now is CFA. With almost half of CFA paper aspirants aiming for career development, it’s essential to keep the resume rules for CFA marks in mind and update your personal promotional materials like your CV, LinkedIn profile, business cards, and even email signature. These would be beneficial in showcasing your latest achievements in the CFA Program.
But did you know that the CFA Institute has strict rules on how to use the CFA designation in written communication? Many candidates and charter holders might unknowingly break these rules and face penalties from CFA Institute. It turns out, highlighting your CFA designation on your resume isn’t as simple as it may seem.
If you want to enhance your resume, especially after getting your exam results, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered with a detailed guide on correctly adding CFA to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or business cards, following the guidelines from CFA Institute.
Resume Rules for Active CFA Charter holders
There are rules for two types of charter holders – active charter holders and lapsed charter holders. If you belong to the category of active charter holders here are the rules you need to follow –
- Active charter holders can add the CFA designation after their name on their resume. However the ® symbol needs to be excluded.
- As you add the CFA designation in your certification or learning sections of your resume, make sure to include the ® symbol.
- You can include your CFA designation in the certification or education sections of your resume and must include the ® symbol. For example: “CFA® charter holder, CFA Institute.
- You also need to include the date in which you earned your CFA designation in the certification or education sections of your resume.
Resume Rules for Lapsed CFA Charter holders
If you no longer hold the CFA charter holder position and would like to showcase the designation on your resume, the CFA institute would still allow you to use your CFA charter holder designation. The only condition is that you need to mention the years when you were an active CFA charter holder along with the ® symbol. EG: CFA® Charter 2010 -2020.
Resume Rules for CFA Program Candidates
As a CFA pursuant if you wish to show your commitment to achieving the degree, the CFA institute allows you to showcase the same on your resume as you abide by certain rules on your resume.
- You can add your information about your participation in the CFA Program in the education section of your resume only and you must include the ® symbol. For example: “CFA® Program participant, CFA Institute.
- In the education section of your resume, you can also include which level you can complete and the date of completion. For example: “Completed CFA Level II in 20XX.”
- You may only use the term “candidate” if you are actively registered for an upcoming CFA exam.
Can you Share CFA Designation on Social Media?
elaborate your achievements as a CFA charter holder, CIPM® designation holder, Certification in ESG Investing certificate holder, Investment Foundations® Program certificate holder, or a current candidate pursuing any of these credentials. We want to make sure you proudly display your status on social media while adhering to the Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct set by CFA Institute, which safeguards the integrity of your hard-earned designations and certifications.
Focus on career advancement
Finally, when highlighting your CFA designation on your resume, focus on how it has helped you advance in your career. For example, if you have been promoted or received awards or recognition for your work, make sure to include this information on your resume. This will demonstrate to employers that your CFA designation has helped you achieve success in your career.
In summary, highlighting your CFA designation on your resume is an important step in enhancing your career advancement prospects. By putting your CFA designation in a prominent place, emphasizing your skills and achievements, customizing your resume for each job application, using concrete examples, and focusing on career advancement, you can effectively showcase your expertise and stand out to potential employers. Good luck!
Now, let’s talk about how to share your designations on Twitter and LinkedIn:
On Twitter:
- Only include “CFA” and/or “CIPM” after your name if you still meet the membership requirements outlined in the CFA Institute Articles and Bylaws.
- Don’t include “CFA” or “CIPM” in your Twitter handle.
- Make sure to place your designations only in the section of your profile with your surname and given name, and avoid using pseudonyms or fake names.
On LinkedIn:
- After earning your CFA designation, CIPM designation, or Investment Foundations certificate, update both the Licenses & Certifications and About sections of your LinkedIn profile accordingly.
If you’re a candidate in the CFA or CIPM Program:
- You can indicate your exam progress under “Test Score” or state your candidacy in the “Course” section.
- For candidates pursuing the Investment Foundations Certificate, mention your candidacy, registration for the exam, or completion status in an appropriate section.
Remember, your achievements deserve recognition, so let’s make sure they shine bright for the world to see!
Is Taking the CFA Worth It?
There’s no simple way to answer this question. The answer to this question lies in your passion for learning the concepts and achieving the CFA designation. Based on the CFA passing percentage, it is sure that clearing any level of CFA is not an easy feat. You need to dedicate 300 hours to prepare for each level. However, on clearing the CFA levels and becoming a charter holder, your skills are going to be in demand and you’d be welcomed into the industry with exciting offers. At Zell, we’ve placed CFA students with a salary package as high as 18 LPA.
Conclusion
We hope that with this article you’ve gained all the information you need for highlighting your CFA designation on your resume. In case of any questions, you can always connect with a Zell expert, trained to guide you through all your CFA queries.
FAQs on Highlighting Your CFA Designation on Your Resume
How do you put CFA designation on your resume?
You can add your CFA designation to your resume under the Education section, mentioning it along with the year you received it. Additionally, you can highlight it in your Professional Summary or incorporate it into relevant descriptions in your Experience section to showcase your expertise in finance.
How do I use my CFA designation?
You can use your CFA designation to boost your credibility and expertise in the finance industry. Whether it’s adding it to your resume, LinkedIn profile, or business cards, showcasing your CFA designation highlights your dedication to mastering financial analysis and portfolio management. It can open doors to new career opportunities and command respect among peers and employers in the field.
Does CFA look good on the resume?
Absolutely! Adding the CFA designation to your resume can significantly enhance its appeal. It demonstrates your commitment to excellence in the finance field and showcases your expertise in areas like investment management, financial analysis, and ethics. Employers often view the CFA designation as a mark of dedication, skill, and professionalism, making it a valuable asset on any resume.
What is the designation of a CFA?
The designation of a CFA stands for Chartered Financial Analyst. It’s a prestigious certification awarded by the CFA Institute to individuals who have successfully completed the rigorous CFA Program, demonstrating their expertise in investment management, financial analysis, and ethical practices in the finance industry.
