Keeping up with mergers and acquisitions jobs news and trends can be a full-time job in itself. Whether you're searching for employment through hundreds of mergers & acquisitions jobs worldwide, or you're already employed and want to keep your options open, affiliate yourself with the right people and organizations to stay up-to-date on the latest happenings within the M&A jobs market.

Mergers & acquisitions jobs information can help you stay on your toes in a volatile financial market, where career portability is of the utmost importance. Focus your information-gathering on three main areas:

1. Changes within M&A employment services circles

2. News about mergers and acquisitions careers

3. The latest M&A jobs training news

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Establish a new career in mergers and acquisitions, enhance your savvy with job search sites

For the college student looking for a first merger and acquisition job, or anyone new to the job market, it's essential to keep up with the state of the financial services industry and any possible job prospects you could pursue. Professional job search sites provide plenty of options to help you find the latest career field information.

I recommend: Use eFinancialNews to find careers in acquisitions, advice and the latest industry employment headlines. Track the recent percentage increase or decrease in M&A job listings and salaries offered through SimplyHired.com, or browse an extensive news section at the financial sector site JobsInTheMoney.

Develop professional news affiliations while working in a merger and acquisition job

Anyone currently working in merger and acquisition careers is under pressure to have the most current industry-wide merger information readily available. That information translates into the best source of news when it comes to starting a job search. Build a list of sources that can give you recent, detailed information about mergers and acquisitions. Then, you'll also have access to M&A employment news, including which M&A brokers are successful and which firms may have job openings.

I recommend: M&A Insight is a newsletter with all the latest detailed M&A information that can help advance careers in mergers and acquisitions. Keep up with "deals and deal-makers" with a subscription The M&A Journal.

Enhance your mergers and acquisitions employment opportunities with news and trends from the pros

Jobs in mergers and acquisitions can be lonely, especially for a CFO within a large corporation. And, while M&A brokerage firms employ many people in the same field, the M&A jobs market is so competitive that alliances within the company can be tricky. Find your 'insider' news and information from others in your field with similar interests, but non-competing job aspirations.

I recommend: You can lurk or post to the Investment Banking forum at Vault, a site that specializes in jobs in M&A and other financial services. Get a daily dose of M&A news -- including which dealmakers are moving, and where -- with Dealmaker's Morning Call.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Once you've secured M&A employment, actively continue to monitor industry news and trends by pursuing continuing education opportunities as part of your job. Your employer will benefit from having an employee who's well-versed in the state of the current market, and you'll benefit by learning from the top M&A professionals and developing your career information network.

Mergers & acquisitions jobs are lucrative, exciting and highly respected. Those who work in M&A have a high potential for earning.

M&A specialists work as part of an investment bank's team, helping clients to identify good investments. Many people train hard for M&A careers, often obtaining graduate degrees. There are many levels of mergers and acquisitions jobs. Analysts work behind the scenes while a director or managing director will work directly with the client.

If you are interested in a career in mergers and acquisitions, you should:

1. Have a background in finance. All M&A jobs require you to work with financial reports.
2. Be able to explain complex financial information in an easy to understand manner. Not all clients will have a good understanding of the financial world, which is why they hired a professional.
3. Be willing to work long hours. Employees at all levels often work overtime.
   

Action Steps
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Participate in an internship to boost your mergers and acquisitions knowledge

An internship can be a great way to get started in a mergers and acquisitions careers. While not everyone can afford to take unpaid work, those who can have the opportunity to increase their understanding of the field and boost their resumes, making it easier to get their next mergers and acquisition job.

I recommend: MySpace lists mergers and acquisitions internships on the job portion of their website. When you join as a member of InternshipPrograms.com, you are able to search and apply for internships as well as upload your resume so that potential employers can contact you.

Use the services of a professional staffing firm to find M&A jobs

A professional staffing firm can offer you a foot in the door when you are looking for M&A careers. They help you to find a company that is a good fit for you.

I recommend: The American Association of Finance and Accounting has offices located all over the US and can help you find mergers & acquisitions jobs. First Call Associates is a staffing firm that specializes in financial positions and conveniently allows you to search their available positions online, based on the criteria you choose.

Apply for mergers and acquisitions jobs online

Use online resources to apply for M&A jobs. This is a convenient way to secure M&A employment.

I recommend: Both eFinancialCareers and TaxTalent offer a wide range of jobs in mergers and acquisitions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Attending M&A seminars throughout the year will keep your knowledge current. It also may make you a more likely candidate for promotion.
• •  A professionally written resume can give you a leg up on the competition. If you have a hard time getting interviews for jobs in M&A, have a professional look at your resume and give you some pointers.

Mergers and acquisitions careers are created through education and real-life experience. Mergers and acquisitions jobs require higher level education, including post graduate work. M&A careers are very competitive, requiring skills in financial analysis, due diligence, deal-making, valuation and more.

Training for mergers and acquisitions jobs can be found in world-renowned business schools, in week-long seminars and online modes, such as distance learning. Mergers & acquisitions jobs have people playing different roles in the merger and acquisition process. Finance experts, lawyers, accountants and business brokers can have jobs in the field of mergers and acquisitions but all would need some training.

1. Mergers & acquisitions jobs require higher level education and specialized training.

2. Salaries are high for M&A jobs because the work is difficult and performed in a competitive atmosphere.

3. M&A careers can be specialized by industry — such as merger and acquisitions performed in the oil and gas industry or transportation industry.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Take a look at big names schools for training for mergers and acquisitions jobs

Well-known schools have a reputation that will always improve the attendees' opportunities for a job or promotion. There's nothing wrong with that and if these schools cost more than others, some people might think the cost is worth it.

I recommend: The Wharton School is one of the most prestigious business schools in the world. Wharton Executive Education offers a one-week training program on mergers and acquisitions, and it is pricey. The New York Institute of Finance has a mergers and acquisitions five-day training suite, which is ranked as an intermediate level course.

Test the waters for mergers and acquisitions careers

Expensive training for mergers and acquisitions jobs may not be for you if you aren't certain about a career in mergers and acquisitions. In that case, less expensive alternatives might be the way to go.

I recommend: Flex Study comes in as the least expensive training course for a career in mergers and acquisitions. Also, because the course is online you can take it from anywhere. The Institute of Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances gives two online courses in M&A, one for people with no experience and the other for experienced people.

Use industry resources for mergers & acquisitions jobs

There are other ways to get training for careers in mergers and acquisitions and help with mergers and acquisitions employment.

I recommend: The Alliance of Merger and Acquisition Advisors focuses on middle management issues for M&A jobs. It has certificate courses for Merger and Acquisition Advisors. You can find networking opportunities here, too. Vault, an investment banking site, provides info on schools, jobs, resumes and salaries. It is a go-to resource for education information or merger and acquisition job information.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Most people with M&A careers have MBAs but they go to seminars and take courses throughout most of their careers.

Mergers and acquisitions is an industry with a terminology all its own. If you want to gain employment within this business sector, it's important to know the basic terms. Even if you aren't looking for a position with a mergers and acquisitions firm, the terms can help your company understand the job description in the event of a merger with another company. Whatever your interest in the field, knowing key terms helps you build a solid industry knowledge base.

Action Steps
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Financial modeling

Financial modeling is the mathematical analysis of how a company will react to given economic or business conditions. In a mergers and acquisitions job, financial modeling plays a key role in day-to-day activities.

I recommend: Review the financial modeling definition at the Business Dictionary. For more information on the subject, take a look at the Financial Modeling Guide.

Mergers and acquisition programs

If you want to specialize in mergers and acquisitions, it's prudent to enroll in a program that trains you in these specific skill sets. Mergers and acquisition programs include training in valuation methods and financial analysis, tax and accounting issues and post acquisition integration.

I recommend: Examine the mergers and acquisition program information available from the Wharton School of Business.

Valuations methods

When merging with or acquiring another company it's imperative that you know the various business valuation methods. Valuation methods establish the value of the business you are looking to merge with or acquire. Some of these valuation methods include asset accumulation, discounted cash flow, market value, and price earnings multiple valuation.

I recommend: Examine the various valuation methods available at Second Venture.

Mergers and acquisitions specialists

Mergers and acquisitions specialists work in one specific business sector rather than for a global M&A company that conducts mergers for any business no matter the sector. This allows you to concentrate on the specifics of the each sector and develop skills that match.

I recommend: Study the M&A specialist for Silicon Valley technology companies description from the Brenner Group. Also, examine the M&A specialist information from Chapman Associates.

Tax director for mergers and acquisitions

The tax director for mergers and acquisitions oversees all the necessary federal, state and local tax implications of a proposed transaction. To attain this position, you'll need to be a Certified Public Accountant or possess a license to practice law.

I recommend: Evaluate the tax director job description from Price Waterhouse Coopers. Review the CPA requirements by state from Becker CPA.

Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor (CM&AA)

The Alliance of Merger and Acquisition Advisors (AM&AA) provides a high quality, advanced educational program for M&A professionals. Taking the extra training to become a Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor (CM&AA) gives you an added boost in the industry with credentials set you apart from your competitors.

I recommend: Get the specifics about becoming a Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor (CM&AA) from AM&AA.