Optional · 1 of 3

Credentials and skills that help

• CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) charter

  Three exams, about 300 hours of study each. Common, but a strong track record matters more.

• Python and data skills

  Needed at quant funds and increasingly everywhere.

• A sector specialty

  Deep knowledge of one industry, such as health care or energy.

• A personal track record

  A written history of your stock ideas and how they did.