u/Extension-Boat9088

Hi everyone,

I’m from a Tier 3 college and currently doing my MBA in Finance. I’m trying to break into core finance roles like Equity Research, Financial Analysis, Valuation, IB, FP&A, or related profiles. Right now, I’m also interning at KPMG, and I’m trying to build my profile as strongly as possible before placements.

I wanted some guidance from people already working in finance regarding:

- What kind of projects should I build for my resume?
(Financial Modeling, DCF Valuation, Ratio Analysis, Company Analysis, Industry Research, Excel dashboards, etc.)

- Which projects actually help during placements/interviews?

- What certifications/courses are worth doing apart from MBA?

- I’m preparing for CFA Level 1 as well. Is it worth pursuing for finance roles in India?
What are the real advantages and drawbacks?
Does it genuinely help in placements and shortlisting?

- How difficult is CFA Level 1 alongside MBA, and is it realistically manageable?

- What else can I add to my CV to improve my chances of getting into higher-paying finance roles?

My target is to reach around a 13–14 LPA package after MBA, so I’m trying to understand what skills, projects, certifications, and experiences actually matter.

Would really appreciate honest advice from people already in finance or who have gone through this path. Thanks!

So I’ve been thinking about getting the FMVA certification from CFI, but honestly I’m a bit confused whether it’s actually worth the money or not because it’s some how really expensive is there any other alternative?

I’m from a tier-3 college, currently pursuing my MBA in Finance, and my goal is to land a decent package around ₹10–12 LPA. I’m trying to figure out a realistic roadmap to get there.

I’m not planning to do CFA, so apart from that, what all should I focus on?

Would really appreciate guidance on:

What roles should I target (finance, consulting, analyst, etc.)?

Which companies I should realistically aim for and apply to

Key skills I need to build (technical + soft skills)

Certifications (other than CFA) that actually add value

Projects I can do to strengthen my profile (Excel, valuation, financial modeling, etc.)

Any specific tools or software I should learn (like Excel, Power BI, Python, etc.)

Basically, I’m looking for a clear roadmap from where I am right now to a solid 10–12 LPA rol