How To Break Into A Career In Finance

They say that money makes the world go round, and while there might be a little more to it than that, it definitely rings true when it comes to the world of business. All of our lives are affected by what goes on in the world of finance, so making a career within this vertical support sector means being at the beating heart of business. There are so many roles and responsibilities under the umbrella of financial services, and as it cuts across all industries rather than being specific to one, it’s a good choice to give yourself options when it comes to career development. So, what does it take to start a career in finance?

Learning The Right Topics

Certain career paths within finance are open to all, while others will require specific training and qualifications. For example, an accountant would need to be certified, while being a financial advisor requires a different set of qualifications and skills. Other roles, such as when you become an accounting analyst, are more general. So it’s worth looking through a few financial role profiles to understand exactly which path you need to take. There are a few attributes that most of those who are successful in financial careers have in common – the ability to think logically, solve problems and communicate complex information in layman’s terms. These tend to come with experience, but you can find some soft-skills training which might help, as well as support with topics like time management and interpersonal skills.

A Fast Track Program

A lot of large organisations offer fast-track employment programs for those on the financial side, and these are a brilliant way to get into a company. They generally last around two years, and during that time you will be rotated around different areas of the business, so that you can gain an understanding of all the operations that go into making it run. This gives you the chance to ‘try on’ a few different departments before finding the best fit, and you also get to make contacts in different parts of the company that can prove highly valuable later on. Sometimes, you even get to stay in different parts of the country or even the world, depending on the footprint of the business. These programs are highly sought after, and gaining a place can be very competitive, so make sure that your application is up to scratch, with lots of relevant work experience, internships or volunteering that shows you have something more to offer. 

Be Up To The Challenge

Depending on the position that you choose, there can be potential to earn big money in certain sectors, such as investment banking – however, the trade-off is usually a demanding position with long hours and quite a lot of pressure to achieve targets. Think carefully about what motivates you and whether this environment would work for you. There are plenty of positions in finance that are less pressured and may suit you and the way you like to work better – the beauty of getting into such a broad sector is that you will have transferable skills that usually equip you to work in a variety of positions.