Every business seeks out capable workers that are intelligent, devoted, and motivated. A finance degree will teach abilities like financial modeling and analysis, but it might not do much to teach other skills like communication, problem-solving, and time management that are crucial for success in practically any field.
The ten strategies listed below will help you convince prospective employers that you have both the talents they value in employees and the drive needed for a lucrative career in finance.
1. Learn the Lingo
Consider learning financial terms and concepts by exploring the wide vocabulary of terms at websites like Investopedia or by reading.
A non-finance graduate may find it very impossible to move past the initial interview stage due to a lack of knowledge of the financial jargon. Regardless of school background, an interviewer will typically presume that a candidate for a finance position is educated about finance.
2. Round Off Your Education
What if you didn’t major in finance when you graduated? You can always correct the issue by enrolling in pertinent undergraduate or graduate courses with a focus on business or finance.
Undergraduate economics, accounting, and financial analysis classes are all excellent choices. Since an MBA includes a significant amount of finance coursework, it helps level the playing field for graduates in finance and those in non-financial fields.
- Attend a financial boot camp.
Advanced spreadsheet abilities and financial modelling are just a couple of the skills you may learn in intensive courses offered by companies like Wall Street Prep and Training the Street. These intensive courses might cost several thousand dollars, but they offer the advantage of not needing a lengthy time commitment.
- Broaden your knowledge base
A college degree is not the only way to acquire pertinent knowledge. To increase your financial literacy, there are many resources accessible, both offline and online. These resources could be offered by course providers for free or at a cost.
5. Make Use of a Trading Simulator
Investopedia is one website that offers trading simulators that may be used to create dummy portfolios. You will be forced to monitor the markets and stay up to date on market changes if you use a trading simulator. This is a fantastic approach to demonstrate your trading skills, to a potential employer while only investing a small amount of time on your part.
6. Completing Industry-related Courses
In addition to showing your dedication to a career in finance, completing a relevant industry license course, like the one provided by the Canadian Securities Institute, gives you an advantage over the competition in terms of work preparedness.
The Securities Industry Essentials Exam (SIE), however, was developed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and is available without sponsorship.
7. Maintain a Financial Blog
A fantastic approach to share your investment ideas with the public is to launch and manage a financial blog. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate to a potential employer your range of abilities, including your financial savvy, communication skills, and technological know-how. Those who already have some of these skills are most suited for this method of self-marketing.
- Consult a mentor.
Another strategy for launching a career in finance is to connect with a mentor. Anyone in a position of authority who has faith in your talents and is eager to support you in achieving your objectives can serve as a mentor. Never be afraid to approach someone you believe could assist you in your job quest.
- Land a Summer Internship
One of the easiest methods to guarantee a prominent full-time job in finance is to secure a summer internship because many Wall Street firms choose their new hires from the ranks of their summer interns. An estimated one-third to one-half of MBA students at the top management schools begin working for their summer employment right after graduation.
- Make an effort to enter the door.
Make every effort to gain entry into a financial institution by sending resumes to HR departments, broadening your job search to other places, and using your network to look for openings. Even in a non-finance profession, landing an entry-level job with a financial organization may pave the way for future career opportunities in finance.
Conclusion:
Without an MBA or having been a finance major, it is still feasible to have a prosperous career in the financial sector. Your venture will benefit from taking relevant courses in finance or economics. Frequently, an internship with a respectable business will enhance your résumé. You might also think about majoring in a field other than finance that is in demand on Wall Street, such platform development, mathematics, or information technology.
