How FRM Helped Me Land a Job in Investment Banking at 41 — From a Small Town to Mumbai

If you’re searching for the best coaching for FRM, want to understand job roles you can get after clearing FRM Part 1, or looking for real stories of career transformation through the Best FRM course, you’re in the right place. I’m Sanjay Mahur, and I grew up in a small town in Uttar Pradesh. Until recently, I worked at a BPO in Noida, juggling night shifts, limited career growth, and constant burnout.

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Fast forward to today — I live in Mumbai, working in the investment banking division at HSBC, drawing a CTC of ₹18+ LPA, and doing work I genuinely love. And the single most important decision that led to this transformation was pursuing the FRM course through RBei Classes under the expert guidance of Deepak Goyal Sir.

Must Read: Best FRM Coaching & Course in Mumbai

This blog is a deep dive into my journey — why I chose FRM Course, how I prepared, the challenges I faced, and how RBei’s placement support, recorded lectures, and free technical upskilling helped me land the job at 41.

Why I Chose FRM at 40 — Breaking the Mold

Coming from a non-finance background, working at a BPO for over 12 years, the thought of entering investment banking seemed like a long shot. Yet, I always had the hunger to grow beyond process handling and routine calls.

One evening, while reading about global finance certifications, I came across the FRM course (Financial Risk Manager). Unlike MBA programs that were expensive and time-consuming, FRM was affordable, globally recognized, and laser-focused on risk management, quant, and investment strategy — all areas I found fascinating.

What made it even better was the kind of FRM jobs available across firms like HSBC, JP Morgan, and Goldman Sachs, and the realistic chance to move into these roles even after clearing FRM Part 1. However, I knew I needed the best FRM coaching to make this dream come true.

Why Join RBei Classes for FRM Course?

After weeks of research and talking to former students, one name kept coming up — RBei Classes. And after enrolling, I knew why it’s widely called the best FRM course in Delhi, and arguably the top FRM online coaching with placement support.

Here’s what stood out for me:

1. Expert Guidance from Deepak Goyal Sir

Deepak Sir’s teaching style was clear, conceptual, and exam-oriented. Even someone like me, with no formal finance background, could understand complex topics like VaR, Credit Risk, and Basel norms with ease.

2. Mind Maps and Short Notes

With limited time between night shifts and family, I didn’t have hours to reread chapters. Deepak Sir’s mind maps and short notes helped me revise entire topics in 20–30 minutes. This was a lifesaver during my final preparation.

3. Free Technical Skills That Changed My CV

Perhaps the most underrated advantage of RBei is the free technical skills training. I learned Python, basic machine learning, Excel modeling, and risk dashboards. These skills not only enhanced my CV but helped me stand out during job interviews.

My FRM Preparation Strategy While Working Full-Time

Clearing FRM Part 1 and Part 2 while working was not easy. But with the structured roadmap provided by RBei, I created a consistent, focused routine.

Months 1–2: Focus on FRM Important Chapters List

I started with the most scoring and heavily weighted chapters first — Quantitative Analysis, Market Risk, and Foundations of Risk. I watched recorded lectures in the morning and took notes on the go.

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Months 3–4: Practice and Application

RBei’s platform provided practice questions and mock tests that were very close to the actual exam. I scheduled one mock every weekend and reviewed my weak areas during weekdays.

Months 5–6: Final Revision with Mind Maps + Mock Series

This is when short notes and mind maps became invaluable. I revised the syllabus 3 times in the last 6 weeks. The RBei mock series helped me stay exam-ready under pressure.

And yes — I cleared both Part 1 and Part 2 in my first attempt.

The Emotional Battle — Doubts, Fears & What Kept Me Going

There were many days I thought:

“At 40, am I too late?”
“Will anyone hire someone without an IIM tag or finance degree?”

The doubt was constant, especially when I was juggling family, a demanding job, and intense study hours. But every time I reached out to Deepak Sir, his voice notes, advice, and mentorship pulled me back on track.

One thing he told me that stuck was:

“You’re not competing with age—you’re competing with clarity. Know your why, and you’ll never lose momentum.”

That’s when I knew — I wasn’t just learning finance. I was rebuilding my mindset.

Interview at HSBC – From Small Town to Big City Finance

After completing both parts of FRM, I updated my resume with all the technical skills I had picked up from RBei. I added projects in Python for risk analysis, created dummy credit models, and even showcased Excel dashboards.

RBei’s placement support team connected me with a hiring manager at HSBC’s Mumbai office for an entry-level investment banking risk role.

The interview questions were practical:

How would I assess a counterparty’s risk?
What’s my approach to calculating VaR?
How do I clean, structure, and model data for credit assessment?

I answered each confidently — not because I had memorized theory, but because RBei’s teaching helped me think like a risk analyst.

One week later, I received my offer — ₹18.2 LPA CTC — and a relocation package to Mumbai.

FRM Course Jobs and Roles After Clearing Part 1

Even before completing FRM Part 2, I saw roles posted for:

Credit Risk Analyst
Market Risk Associate
Compliance & Risk Reporting Analyst
Operational Risk Consultant

The FRM Part 1 curriculum is robust enough to get you noticed if you have the right guidance and practical understanding — which is exactly what RBei focuses on.

Final Thoughts — It’s Never Too Late to Dream Bigger

If you’re from a small town, or feel stuck in a job with limited growth, let my story be proof that it’s never too late to pivot.

The FRM course is more than a certification. It’s a career-enabler. But only if you choose the right mentor. For me, RBei Classes with Deepak Goyal Sir was that perfect choice.