Do anything you want. This is your last 5 month vacation for the next 40 years.

I agree that you should consider doing something like travelling to India or whatever it is that you've always loved. You will not be taking many vacations in the next four years.

If you were a real glutton for punishment, you could start studying for the CFP. You could get the study component out of the way, even if you didn't have the work experience...

I'd use the time before you go back home to interview for jobs where you are.

Hone your skills in a location where it doesn't matter if you blow an interview.  See if you're as attractive as you hope to be back home.

Say the stupid thing to a manager who doesn't count.

Interview with the insurance industry as well, see what they have to offer and how their interviews go.

I'd avoid the wirehouses at this point because very often a local manager might send your resume to a home office HR group to do a little checking before a second interview and you don't want to end up back home talking to a manager who suddenly asks, "I understand you interviewed with our branch in........."  There's no way to put a happy face on that.

[quote=tripleswany]

i will be completing my mba this summer and will be relocating back to my home state in Jan 07.  (can't relocate until then)  My plans are to obtain a FA position with one of the larger wirehouses after relocating and am wondering what i should do with the 5 months of lag time to jumpstart my career as a FA.  should i apply before i relocate and then transfer or wait?  if i wait, any suggestions as to what relevant experience i should obtain.

I am currently working as a psychology intern at a local hospital.  I hate this field and am glad to have come to this conclusion early on without wasting any more time. 

constructive feedback welcomed.  thanks in advance.

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Psychology intern?  You're finishing an MBA, but what was your Bachelor's degree in?

I would think that most branch managers are going to wonder why you're interning in a hospital and how that translates to their branch's benefit.

Better do some local interviews to see how that surfaces and practice your responses.

I'm not sure that it wouldn't make more sense to figure out if you can forget this phase of your development--but if you applied for credit or a lease somewhere you probably can't.

RC, yes a vacation is in order and definitely deserved. a tirp to either HI or cabo is in the works right now.  i haven't taken a long vacation in years, so looking forward to it.<?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

SFB, i have been called a masochist by some of my professors for the number of projects i take on and long hours i put in, so i've considered getting a start on the CFP (sometimes it's pathetic really, but that seems to be the only way to satisfy my high need for achievement).  that ties in to why i want to make the career change out of the field of psychology.  in that field, i can work endlessly, and the rewards are minimal. 

BEF, ignoring my background in psychology would put me at a disadvantage.  there is a great deal of overlap between my experiences and knowledge base as a psychologist in training and becoming a FA.  funny you should ask what my BS is in....well i started off as a marketing major.  then i was dealt a card in my life in which i responded by transferring my major to psychology and started working on my doctorate in psychology.  my earning for business resurfaced midway through my graduate coursework, and i made the decision that getting my MBA would help put me on course for a career in the business arena.  BEF, you bring up a valid point that I will have to be strategic in my answers for why the career change ,and i feel that i can present my background in psychology as an added value and benefit.  but again, switching careers this early in the stage can be seen as a weakness in terms of not being committed and not following through (of course i'l be trying to sell them on the benefit)

great idea in honing my interview skills in applying for jobs in the local area.  one can't ever have enough experience in interviewing unless your on the other side of the sod.  that would serve as an excellent trial ground for my responses.

thanks for the constructive responses. 

sfb

in starting my coursework component for the CFP, there are plenty of cc's and univserities offering the classes.  there are even some online.  does it really matter where one completes it?  do most wirehouses reimburse you or offer a bonus for completing portions of the CFP coursework? 

please do not type in all lower case, it makes you appear:

1.  too lazy bother doing it right

or

2.  trying to hide the inability to do it right by intentionally doing it wrong.

i'm old, but i'm more like the decision makers than those who will tell you that i'm being hard on you, or that it doesn't matter because you're not writing a term paper

for all you know the guy you're interviewing with might be reading this, are you sure you're not going to enounter me?

Fair enough.  You're right, I'm "too lazy bother doing it right."