180 Career Switch
Hi all,
I've been a nurse for 9 years now, travel/contract nurse for around 7.
I completed my MBA in late 2023 from a state school. I decided to do an MBA program over other advanced degrees for its versatility for job opportunity outside of healthcare but also within healthcare.
Mistakenly, I didn't start focusing on a career in finance until about halfway through my MBA. Due to this, I had to do my concentration in data analytics as the school didn't offer a finance concentration.
Networking with my finance professor, he put me in contact with an alum. that worked at GS. We had a few conversations and he set me in a direction to go into ER, which I do find quite interesting. He helped me set up three calls with analyst at GS, JPM, and a VP at Jefferies, all in healthcare/bio divisions. Calls went great, gained good information but didn't materialize into any further steps. My technical knowledge at the time was also minimal, though nothing technical was ever discussed.
As I finished up my MBA, I took a certification specialty track in finance from HBS online. I did this as a test for myself and hopefully add some supplemental value to my resume. Additionally, I'm doing some of the courses from WSO to help build some knowledge.
Due to the nature of travel nursing, I don't have a full-time job. My challenge currently is obtaining a position so that I can stop traveling but will also help me further build my knowledge in finance. Unfortunately, the varied advice I've received thus far is so scattered I'm not sure what direction to go.
Advice I've received:
- Don't waste your time, do something else
- Get a Master of Finance
- Get a financial analyst job/work experience related to finance on your resume.
- Do not take a financial analyst job because it is not helpful towards ER.
- Get a job at a bio company or healthcare company. ("Something like Abiomed pre-acquisition or start up")
- Network.
The ER folks that I have been able to speak to have said not to worry too much about the non-traditional aspect of my background, but I can't help but think I have a substantial gap from where I am to where I would like to be.
My question really concerns the short term, what jobs/positions would be worthwhile towards building my knowledge and would be beneficial towards ER?
Any advice, tips, recommendations are sincerely appreciated.
Thanks
I am not going to be very helpful on this one, but I can say don't get a master's in finance if you already have an MBA with a concentration in data analytics. That year of lost MBA-level wages plus tuition is not worth it.
Have you considered healthcare-focused VCs? they tend to be a little less stringent on formalities compared to top investment banks and your experience and qualifications do make you stand out as an interesting and qualified applicant :)
Good luck!
Also healthcare-related consulting (Due diligence, etc)
Thank you for your comment. I hadn't dug too deep into VCs, my understanding was it would be fairly unlikely without any financial experience, but I may need to look further at that. Yes, I have also explored healthcare consulting!
I've noticed some ER associates covering HC come directly from being in the field to ER. Try networking more and have some stock pitches ready/sent in your cold emails, it makes you stand out. You might not land GS/JPM right away but once you land a role, even if its boutique, you could lateral to a better shop after.
Thank you for the advice.
Jefferies has a program for a career pivot into ER, maybe reach out to some folks.
And networking in finance is not like medicine. My fiancée is in dentistry, she sends 5 emails, gets 3-4 interviews and 3-4 offers. Has done this twice when we moved and makes me very jealous.
In finance, you have to send emails in triple digit quantities, have to keep following up with whom you have had calls.
For instance, just cause your calls didn’t materialize immediately at those 3 contacts, doesn’t mean it never will.
Keep updating them every month or so on what you’re doing and how much you’re interested in joining the team.
It is good nothing technical was discussed initially, you have shown interest and have developed some technical skills. Now you can update them you’ve been improving your technical skills and how interested you are.
Build a couple of stock pitches/reports, whenever you have a call and someone mentions or asks for a work sample you can send those. You can bring them up on your own as well and offer to send a sample when it may seem relevant to the conversation.
Just know you have to keep at it. Finance values persistence and an inability to take no for an answer. You have to switch from the caring nurse persona into a go-getter who keeps pounding.
And don’t do master of finance, it is pointless after an MBA. Keep networking, the market is tough, it might take a few months, but you will get something as long as you keep developing your skills AND network like crazy.
Best wishes!
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