Positions held by CFA® Level I holders:

In 2016, eFinancialCareers, analyzed the resumes in their database to identify the positions of candidates who passed the levels of the CFA® exam. They were able to identify ten major business areas, here are the top five:

• Asset management : 15%
• Accounting and finance : 13%
• Equities : 8%
• Risk management : 6%.
• Interns at finance firms : 6%

Based on these figures, if you have passed your Level I, the positions most likely offered are:

• Assistant accounting manager
• Investment product analyst
• Intern
• Investment administrator
• Junior equity research analyst
• Accountant

Can we be sure to get a job after passing the Level I CFA® ?

One thing to be aware of is statistics do not tell us if the Level I CFA® exam had any impact upon hiring. If you search forums such as analystforum.com, Quora, and Reddit to see if taking the Level I helped someone get a job, you'll get an array of different answers.
Some will tell you that Level I will not be valued more than your education or experience. Others, on the other hand, will tell you that it will significantly increase your chances of finding a good job in finance with a competitive salary. For those who say it has played a key role in their career, they explain it in two ways:

• Having passed Level I was a deciding factor when it came to choosing between them and other equally qualified candidates.
• They already had some experience in finance before getting the Level I, but it gave them a bigger picture and more relevancy in their decision making, which was supported by a raise of salary or a promotion in their company.

Why are there so many different opinions? The answer to this question depends on how the forum posters approached their job hunting, difference of expectations and the ability to build on this achievement.

How will the CFA® Level I help you in your job search?

People who found a job in finance after successfully completing Level I applied the same determination to their job search as they did to their CFA® preparation and success. They emphasized the techniques they used: good organization, efficiency and gathering the right tools.

Using your network is also essential, use your personal contacts, join your local CFA society, attend job fairs and spend hours on social networks.
As of this year, you can request your digital badge from the CFA Institute to post proof of your Level I exam success on social networks.
It is also important to work on your image and your presentation, the CFA level I gives you all the knowledge in finance, but it is only worth it if you know how to sell yourself!

One last piece of advice: don't stop there.

Blogs and forums agree on one thing, you won't be able to achieve the same skill level and positions if you stop at level I. The eFinancialCareers study, shows us that the chances of advancement in asset management firms and banks increase with each level completed, resulting in good prospects for CFA® charter holders.
Having the CFA® does not guarantee you will get a job, but it does dramatically increase your chances for career advancement. Finding the job made for you will also be much easier!

Source: Kaplan Schweser