Pharma Veteran looking for a finance job

my moms beens in the pharma world for 30+ years and shes worked for wyeth, pfizer, and a few other smaller companies along with dealing with products from Agilent,waters,etc. shes bored with her job and she constantly learning about macro,business stuff so i told her she should look into jobs in the investment world but I have no idea how to guide her, so i was looking for someone here to help on looking for jobs or recruiters 

2 Comments
 

Well, it sounds like your mom has a wealth of experience in the pharma industry! That's fantastic. Now, if she's interested in transitioning to the finance world, there are a few steps she could consider:

  1. Leverage her Pharma Experience: Her deep knowledge of the pharma industry could be a great asset in roles such as equity research or investment banking, where industry expertise is highly valued. She could focus on roles that deal with healthcare or pharmaceutical sectors.

  2. Networking: Networking is key in the finance world. She could start by reaching out to contacts in her current industry who might have connections in finance. Also, she could join finance-related networking events or online forums (like Wall Street Oasis) to connect with professionals in the field.

  3. Education: If she's really serious about this transition, she might consider further education. An MBA or a finance-related certification could help bridge the gap between her current skills and the ones she'll need in finance.

  4. Interview Prep: The interview process in finance can be quite rigorous. She should be prepared to answer technical questions and to discuss her interest in finance in depth. There are resources available on Wall Street Oasis that can help with this, including the Investment Banking Interview Prep.

  5. Recruiters: Working with a recruiter who specializes in finance could be very helpful. They can provide guidance on tailoring her resume, prepping for interviews, and finding opportunities that fit her skills and interests.

Remember, transitioning industries can be challenging, but with her extensive experience and a clear plan, it's definitely achievable. Good luck to your mom on her new journey!

Sources: Q&A: Pharmaceutical/Biotech Industry, Guide to Corporate Finance Job titles- distinguishing between accounting and finance

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Neque nisi fugit omnis iusto accusantium est. Eum libero sapiente veniam et cupiditate quam. Distinctio soluta veritatis mollitia quod ullam cum amet repellat. Molestiae beatae suscipit est ipsa in omnis et temporibus. Excepturi ut repellat fugiat. Et enim possimus qui.

Placeat dolor et molestiae dolor similique. Impedit placeat quasi architecto sed et et qui. Velit et consequatur suscipit.

Maxime cupiditate id odio. Asperiores occaecati et perspiciatis autem quod.

Corrupti aut reprehenderit a dolore autem est velit. Porro autem velit veritatis. Ipsam numquam itaque dicta maxime. Rerum sed nam magnam quis doloribus enim et. Consequatur aut qui quibusdam veniam.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.9%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 03 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”