Industrial Engineering for Consulting and Ibanking
Hi,
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I am in HS and contemplating what I want to major in. I feel that I am pretty good at math and science, and I would probably want to go into some kind of operations role (COO, PE Operations).
I have a few questions regarding Industrial Engineering as a major:
1. Can you still get into banking with an Industrial Engineering major if I decide to change my mind?
2. Would it negatively impact me (or even give me advantage) if I do industrial engineering over say econ or bba for finance roles?
3. Is it looked upon favorably, or do you need to do a lot of explaining as to why you chose the major over econ or bba? I guess what I mean is - Is it a common pathway to finance, or is it more of an unorthodox pathway?
Thanks.
Based on the most helpful WSO content:
Can you still get into banking with an Industrial Engineering major if you decide to change your mind?
Yes, you can absolutely break into investment banking with an Industrial Engineering major. While it’s not the most traditional pathway, many engineering majors, including industrial engineers, have successfully transitioned into finance. The key is to maintain a strong GPA, gain relevant internships, and network effectively.
Would it negatively impact you (or even give you an advantage) if you do industrial engineering over, say, econ or BBA for finance roles?
Industrial Engineering can give you a unique advantage in certain aspects. It demonstrates strong quantitative and analytical skills, which are highly valued in finance. However, you may need to put in extra effort to learn finance-specific technical skills (e.g., financial modeling, accounting) that econ or BBA majors might already cover in their coursework. This can be addressed through self-study, online courses, or internships.
Is it looked upon favorably, or do you need to do a lot of explaining as to why you chose the major over econ or BBA?
Industrial Engineering is considered an unorthodox pathway to finance, but it’s not unheard of. You may need to explain your choice during interviews, but as long as you can articulate how your major has equipped you with problem-solving, analytical, and quantitative skills, it can be a positive differentiator. Highlighting your interest in finance through internships, extracurriculars, or certifications (like CFA Level 1 or financial modeling courses) will also help bridge the gap.
In summary, Industrial Engineering is a viable major for consulting and investment banking, but you’ll need to proactively build your finance knowledge and network to make the transition smoother.
Sources: Banking doesn’t sound as bad when you consider other paths., Finance Career Path & List, Do the humanities have value in today's banking world?, Industrial Engineering to i-banking?, Accounting major, can't seem to break into IB
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1. yeah you can get into IB as an industrial engineering major. you'll have to self study more for interviews, however.
2. no. i'd say in terms of difficulty, engineering/math/stats/cs >>> finance/econ >> bba. so you'll be perceived nicely.
3. there's plenty of non finance/econ/bba majors in finance. it will depend on what school you attend. if you go to a target/semi target, your major shouldn't matter much. if you go to a non target, stick with finance/econ/bba. industrial engineering is considered more difficult but it's not a common major so highlight the difficult courses you take on your resume
Thank you.
What is your perspective on economics as a major? Right now there is a thread bashing the econ guy lol, but some of the things mentioned in the thread worry me. Is economics really a useless degree (in terms of practicality)? If you had the option to do BBA or finance over economics, would you take it because BBA and finance are more applied than economics?
for econ, it depends on the school. it's less applicable than a BBA/finance major typically as you said, but i don't really think employers differentiate between the two. if you look at gpa expectations, it's the same for BBA, finance, and econ majors so it won't matter which one you pick, i'd pick the one that you're most interested in or if your school has better career support services for bba/finance then that. econ typically isnt a major in the business school at most large school. and at ivies and many other schools, there's no business or finance major so it won't matter.
i do still think econ is fairly good major. even though it's less applicable to finance roles than a finance major, it's still in the same field. you'd have more explaining to do if you apply for a fortune 500 corporate finance internship as an engineering major than an econ major.
but yeah, i would pick the major where i can get best gpa and career support. that depends on school. at most schools with undergrad business schools or bba/finance programs, the econ major isn't that attractive of an option.
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