A liberal arts degree is not only about learning lots of things, it’s also about how well you learn them. You’re taught how to process information in order to get the most out of it, which can be applied anywhere.
A liberal arts education cultivates students who are smart and curious, and who pay close attention to detail. These qualities transfer easily across disciplines, so your student could one day study literature, political science or sociology after finance.
Students with an undergraduate degree in another field may find that financial studies apply directly towards their career. For example, architects must have a solid understanding of accounting before they start designing buildings, while lawyers must know some basic economics.
This article will talk more about what graduate school courses look like for those interested in banking and investing. We will then discuss some tips for getting into finance as an undergraduate student.
Get an advanced degree
An advanced degree is always a great way to get into finance, but particularly these days when there are few job openings for non-financial professionals with little experience in banking or investing. If you’re already working in other areas of business, such as marketing, logistics, human resources, or production, then adding some financial expertise to your repertoire can be straightforwardly transferred onto the workplace.
Alternatively, if you’ve got a skill that can be monetized like writing or math, then starting your own consulting practice or moving into higher paying employment will help you climb the ladder even faster. Either way, an additional qualification is never a bad thing!
There are many types of advanced degrees available, so whatever level you’re at now it is worth looking into what else is out there. General education courses are often a good place to start because they don’t cost too much (often free!), and their transferability is proven. For example, most universities offer at least one course called ‘Business Applications of Mathematics’, which could be valuable currency for those who aren’t necessarily studying finance.
Build your resume
After deciding what career path you want, now is the time to build your professional life. You will need to make sure that everything about you matches your goal. This includes where you live, what types of jobs you apply for, and how you present yourself during interviews.
In fact, having a good personal relationship with yourself is one of the most important things you can have as an employee or employer. Yours will help you feel confident and keep you motivated when times get tough.
As we know, finance is a very broad field, so instead of limiting yourself to only banking careers, try thinking beyond that. For example, if you are passionate about numbers and organization, then maybe accounting is not the best fit for you!
You could always go into business management, marketing, research, or even software engineering.
Practice your skills
One of the best ways to get into finance is by practicing your skill on real-world scenarios. This could be through attending business meetings, talking with colleagues about their jobs, or just going down the street and asking someone what kind of financial institution they use.
By interacting with others in the field, you will learn some of the key parts of the profession and how it works. Plus, you’ll get to see if these people would actually hire you!
There are many different types of careers that fit within the realm of finance. So don’t feel like you need to pick one specific career path before entering the workforce. Rather, choose a career pathway once you have determined that banking isn’t for you and learned all of the other valuable skills that relate to money.
Join a firm
Even if you do not plan on working in finance, joining a team of professionals can help you gain knowledge about the field. Many large firms have internal programs that offer free professional development courses for people with or without financial experience.
By becoming part of the organization, you get access to the resources and tools the company has to offer, which are usually very expensive solo.
These PD courses vary from industry to industry and typically focus on things like leadership, marketing, business strategies, etc. They’re often given by experienced professionals who know what they’re talking about.
Many companies also hire student interns or recruit students directly, so it is easy to find work in this area.
Find a job
One of the best ways to get into finance is by owning your own fire. And while people with MBA or other business degree degrees can be very lucrative, not everyone needs an advanced degree to work in financial markets.
Anybody can learn about investing by reading investment books and learning how to invest their money in stocks and real estate. Plus, you do not need an expensive education to become a banker!
With banks requiring only a high school diploma for entry-level positions, it is possible to start working in banking without having a bachelor’s degree.
So what are some easy ways to get started? Here are five tips that may help you gain knowledge about investments and begin investing in the stock market.
Disclaimer: This article should contain statements such as “The best way to achieve this goal is through XYZ Investment Company, they offer free trial accounts which means you can try before buying” and “XYZ company is a trustworthy firm that does not take unnecessary profits”. These statements would be factual information and not advertisements or promotions.
Stay positive
A lot of people start their journey into finance by taking courses that are very theoretical. These courses can be fun to study, but they may not necessarily prepare you for the real world.
A degree in business or economics will help you deal with numbers, concepts and theories, which is great, but it doesn’t teach you how to apply those skills in the workplace.
Having a liberal arts background helps you develop other key qualities like being able to analyze situations, communication skills, and teamwork. These things are important in the work place!
Furthermore, many employers look at degrees beyond just what school you went to. They look at whether you have activities outside of studying, if you show an interest in others, and if you are able to communicate well. All these things contribute to the person you are.
These days, there are lots of ways to get career advice from non-profit organizations, universities, and consulting firms. You should consider looking into them so that you don’t miss out on some valuable resources.
Start your own business
Starting your own business is one of the best ways to get into finance. This is especially true if you don’t have much money to invest at first, or even no money at all! All it takes is an idea that people will pay you to do something, and then you get to keep the profits.
The hardest part about starting your own business is deciding what kind of business to launch. You can start with anything from offering dog walking services to designing logos to running a website. It doesn’t matter how professional you look while working in corporate America, there’s always someone who’s willing to hire someone more experienced for a little bit less than they would pay their internal employee.
There are many different types of businesses where you could work with very few resources- think about it, we’re living in a digital age where almost everyone has access to a smartphone so why not offer your hobbiestesque skills as making mobile phone calls? Or maybe you’d like to try your hand at writing, therefore creating your own blog and marketing it! The possibilities are endless when it comes down to it.
Another easy way to begin investing in yourself is by renting out a room in your house or apartment to other individuals or companies.
Tips for starting a business
Starting your own business is an incredible way to achieve your financial dreams. But before you dive in, there are some important things that must be considered.
Running a business comes with its share of responsibilities, so it’s essential to know what kind of person you are before jumping into the startup process. Are you someone who can handle stress well? Can you prioritize needs over wants?
A good amount of people have dreams of owning their own company, but not many prepare for all the hard work that comes along with it. Before investing in the concept of “I will start my business next month,” make sure you’re prepared to invest both time and money into this venture!
Start by assessing whether or not having your own business is something you want to do. If you feel confident about yourself and your ability to run a successful business then go forward and give it a try, but don’t expect too much more than what you’ve got going on right now.
