Advice: Best course of action-risk SIE failure or withdrawal job acceptance?

Career Advice
1

Hello,

I’m seeking advice on my situation and the best course of action.

I accepted a job offer from a known investment management company/brokerage firm. The role requires the SIE license, and if you don’t obtain it or fail the exam, the offer is rescinded.

However, the job description stated you didn’t need a finance background, and the company would provide study materials and a voucher for the exam.

I completed all background check requirements and was waiting for study materials, but I didn’t receive them until about a month after my offer date.

The onboarding document detailed the requirements and time frames, stating I should have had 90 days of access to the course materials or received access 90 days before my start date.

It seems a mistake was made, and the holiday caused a delay in access to materials and a shortened time frame to prepare for the exam. I was given a little over a month of access, but the document stated it should have been 90 days.

I reached out to my recruiter, but they advised me that there was nothing they could do and wished me luck on the exam.

I’ve been trying to prepare for the exam, but I have no background in finance, and the odds are not in my favor.

Given the situation, should I continue taking the exam and risk failing and losing the job offer in hopes of passing to keep the opportunity ,or wait 30 days to prepare and reapply after passing the exam independently? Alternatively, should I withdraw and prepare independently when I feel more confident, then reapply after obtaining the license?

I’m concerned that failing the exam and losing the offer could negatively impact me if I reapply once I have obtained the license. I’d appreciate any insights or suggestions.

Thanks.

2

Hi @Lila_Lang,

Thank you for sharing the details of your situation. That’s a frustrating position to be in, and I’m sorry the recruiter hasn’t been willing to work with you, given the delay in access to study materials.

From a risk-management standpoint, withdrawing or postponing the exam can be safer than testing while underprepared. While a failed SIE attempt isn’t permanent or visible across firms, a failure tied to a rescinded offer may complicate reapplying with the same firm.

That said, the average study time for the SIE is about 50 hours, and many candidates typically prepare over 4–6 weeks. Based on that benchmark, you do have enough time to pass the exam if you’re able to dedicate consistent daily study time. I recommend entering your exam date into your study plan and following the study schedule very strictly so you’re prepared by exam day. If at any point it becomes clear that the workload is too much or your practice scores aren’t where they need to be, you can reevaluate and decide whether to withdraw and prepare independently.

Many candidates choose to pass the SIE on their own and then apply or reapply with the license already completed. This removes time pressure, allows for more thorough preparation, and often makes you a stronger candidate.

I hope this helps as you decide the best path forward.

Best,
Mataia

3

Hello Mataia,

Thank you for the advice I had reached out the my recruiter on Friday to ask about if it would cause any issues if I wanted to reapply But I have not gotten a response as of yet I may try reaching out to a different department regarding this to see what answers I can get .

However I was concerned about that and thought it may be something I should ask about/consider.

thanks again for the advice I sincerely appreciate it.