Mentioning CFA Level 1 candidacy in investment banking resume

I know mentioning CFA Level 1 candidacy on the resume is usually frowned upon in the online finance community (wso) as it is just a resume padder which doesn't signify any real achievement until the Level 1 exam is passed.

However I want to ask for opinions on my own situation. I am a medical doctor (career-changer) who has just finished an IB internship at a very small Nigerian firm an I am trying my luck applying to BBs whose online internship applications are yet to close (I know, it's late to apply for 2023 internships, but I'll try my luck anyway). Given my unusual educational background (although I am enrolled in an accounting & finance master's program set to finish in 2024, so I check the penultimate year box), I felt like adding a line about Level 1 candidacy (February 2023) in the "Additional information" section of my resume (after languages & skills but just before interests) to signify my commitment to finance. Would this be a good idea?

My aim is not to pad the resume, just to communicate commitment to finance despite my  unusual (medical) background. Would reference to CFA level 1 candidacy useful on my resume in this unique situation? Would I get dinged pre-interview for adding that?

 

Hi tsemayekekema, no, I never sleep and so I can respond to any lonely threads (like this one) at all hours of the night. Impressive, I know ;-)

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I hope those threads give you a bit more insight.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

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