What Does the CSC Mean to My Employer?

Be it your current or future employer, the CSC is seen as a prerequisite to the finance industry in Canada. Taking the CSC isn’t necessarily going to increase your long term job potential, but it will open the doors in the short-term for you to make further inroads.  Think of the CSC as the high school diploma for the finance industry.  It’s a requirement and A LOT of people take it every year.  Don’t expect this course to help you stand out as an applicant, but expect it to help you achieve opportunities that will enable you to stand out in the future.  There is no quick fix in the finance realm.  The concept of turning $500 into $5 Million are few and far between.  The opportunity is there, but a single course such as the CSC is only the beginning.  Most individuals who take the CSC follow up with the Client and Practices Handbook to further there registration in their respective province.  From there, if you still wish to continue your education (and thus, your progress within the fields corporate ladder) you can start looking at things that will set you apart from the Masses.  Things like the Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) program will definitely do the trick, but is not for the faint of heart.  Other programs like CSI offered designations (C.hP, FCSI, CIM) are very popular in Canada.

So although the CSC is a necessity, it isn’t going to do wonders for your dreams of $150,000 annual salaries.  It will provide you with the ability to obtain valuable job opportunities to further your skills and educational criteria so that one day you can buy the nice car and the nice home and so on.  So, what does the CSC mean to your current/future employer? It means your willing to take initiative, further your knowledge, take increased responsibility, commit to long-term career options and so on.  The CSC is a valuable asset, just not in the way many people think.  It’s hard to write a post that simultaneously downplays the CSC’s career power while stressing the relevance of the CSC in the Canadian Securities Industry.  None-the-less, the sooner you complete this course, the sooner you can get started on your career aspirations.

- Steve