How to Pursue a Finance Career Without a Finance Degree

HOW TO PURSUE A CAREER IN FINANCE WITHOUT A FINANCE DEGREE

You don’t have to give up your financial-industry aspirations just because you don’t have a degree related to finance!

1

Get a relevant internship and excel at it

The best way to get a glimpse of the financial sector is to experience it for yourself. An internship allows exactly that; not only does it offers abundant exposure to different departments, it also provides a better understanding and clearer perspective of the various roles and skills required.

Besides gaining valuable learning experiences and knowledge, internships also give you the chance to score an excellent reference from your mentor, and provides something tangible to highlight when you gun for a full-time role in the future.

2

Find your advantage

Business and finance graduates may make up the bulk of any company in the financial sector, but graduates with nonrelated degrees are just as important too.

For example, if you have a degree in the humanities, you’ll likely have strong interpersonal and communication skills, be able to offer a more macro perspective and can derive different insights and approaches to problem-solving.

Moreover, given the global nature of the industry, competency in languages is a highly valued and desirable quality in client relations and financial market research. Identify the transferable skills you possess and highlight them during your interviews.

3

Keep up-to-date with financial news

An acute interest in financial news and macro trends in both local and global markets is vital to enter the financial arena. One of the easiest ways to do this is to make reading financial news part of your regular routine in understanding what’s happening in markets around the world.

Get to know what moves and shakes the field through top publications like the Financial Times, Business Insider, Wall Street Journal, The Economist and Forbes. On top of that, build relevant industry knowledge by keeping abreast of market developments.

4

Network and reach out

Hop onto LinkedIn or other social media networks to find people who are already in the financial sector, and are in careers you want to pursue. They can help you learn more about the field and possibly open doors to opportunities that aren’t publicly advertised yet.

The more people you reach out to and speak with, the more well-informed you’ll be regarding your options. But before you approach anyone, be sure to do your own research beforehand and prepare intelligent questions while demonstrating your knowledge!

All in all, the bottom line is to take the initiative and reach out to as many as possible, so don’t be afraid to approach, and connect with, alumni from your alma mater and even mentors from internships.

5

Learn the lingo

If you don’t know the difference between mutual funds and unit trusts, or what AML and KYC mean, it would be useful to browse through Investopedia, an encyclopaedia for all things financerelated.

More importantly, inculcate an eagerto-learn attitude, challenge yourself to read up and understand concepts fully, look up jargon and build a bank of finance vocabulary so you don’t feel lost during networking sessions and interviews.

6

Get a foot in

Aim for a position, even in generalist roles that don’t require specialised financial and numerical skills – these include human resources (HR), corporate communications and client servicing.

By doing so, you can build a network in the industry and gain training opportunities to equip yourself with the relevant qualifications along the way.

7

Adopt lifelong learning

If you’re still in school, consider doing a minor in economics, business, or accounting. If you don’t want to pick up a minor in these areas, consider taking them up as electives instead. This can serve as your introduction to the world of finance, and also will allow you to practise your numerical competencies.

If you’ve graduated, you can still pursue part-time courses that lead to the relevant certifications. To reinforce your commitment towards a career in the industry, self-studying, taking up relevant courses and immersing yourself in financial publications is nothing short of essential.