alternative careers

Everyone knows that you need to come from a target school with a high GPA to become a person with the job title "Investment Banking Analyst" at the Bulge Bracket Investment Banks like GS, MS, Barclays and etc. But I am wondering what OTHER jobs can a recent finance graduate from a non-target and...

06 Mar 2022

I know the very notion of switching over to the public sector is probably blasphemous here, but I'm curious about this because there are a lot of areas where the analytical/speaking skills you'd build in IB or consulting can transfer to some pretty cool careers on the other side. Granted, you likely...

06 Jan 2022

Hi everyone, This is my first post on WSO so please bare with me. I am a fresh graduate of Copenhagen Business School, having just completed my masters in Finance and Investments (M.Sc. Finance and Investments). This means that I am currently in the process of applying for FT offers. While finishing...

29 May 2018

Been told to consider other careers by my network if IBD is not working out. I've been researching a lot and am hitting a dead end on what alternative options there are for a UK graduate? Can someone give me a few ideas please? Regional IBD opportunities -> require a specific EU language...

14 Jun 2014

I recently read an interesting interview/post on mergers and inquisitions about a person who worked in a European (eastern European I think) Ministry of Finance. Before I entered undergrad I was a nerdy obsessed high schooler with dreams of making the big bucks on Wall Street. I've slowly come to...

25 Aug 2012

Hello All, So I am looking for advice from WSO users regarding a career move that I have been contemplating for some time. First- here is a quick background: Started my career in Big 4 public accounting (4 1/2 years)and had exposure to a broad base of clients (including audit work for a small...

28 Sep 2010

I graduated with a finance degree and a 3.4 GPA (3.8 in finance courses) from UofA (Canada) 2 years ago. I have been working in Fort McMurray as a Project Controls Analyst since. I have been heavily looking for a new job for the last 6 months in Commercial Banking. My friend works in corporate...

14 Jun 2015

Hello all- I'm a former IBD analyst who is now considering what to do next and for a career. My background is: finance + accounting in undergrad. Two years at a bulge bracket bank. Got good deal experience and have good references there. Also briefly worked at a startup investment firm. Took the...

15 Apr 2010

Hello, I'm a recent graduate from college (last month), has a degree in Biological Science and minor in Economics. I want to pursue a career path that is related with the business sector in the pharmaceutical field, but all I'm getting are rejection letters from pharma companies. I've done 2...

16 Jun 2014

Everyone always talks about how bankers can move on to PEs and HFs, but what about the unsuccessful ones, the associates who either are fired after a year or two or leave on their own accord...where do they go? I mean, not everyone's getting PE or HF.

14 Feb 2012

I have had an interesting career thus far, here are the highlights : - Studied in the University of Michigan (did not do exceptionally well) - Worked on Business Intelligence, Corporate Strategy and Project Management for one of Malaysia's Largest Investment Banks - Worked and a Business...

01 Jan 2015

Today, I was talking to one of junior partners after interview for entry-level (less than 2 year exp) position. I want to hire someone who has done a lot. The junior partner wants to hire someone who has done only our job. Let me explain. You prefer heineken to buds because you have tasted both...

15 Aug 2014

Hello all, I'm currently a Credit Underwriting Associate at a financial institution, primarily focused on provided Asset Based Loan (ABL) for the Healthcare industry, I also have experience in ABL for the general industries, i'm only 5 years into my career after a finance degree, my ultimate goal is...

07 Jun 2015

Hi everyone, I have a very different background. I was pre-med in college so I am a biology major with a minor in business administration and public health. I decided medicine is not what I wanted to do so I decided to go into the corporate world. Honestly, I was so naive in college. I didn't know...

29 Jan 2015

Are you searching for jobs? Are you finding it difficult to search a job on Internet? There is no need to worry now !!! Now there are lot of latest technologies with different and interesting branches of your choice. There are various kinds of recruitments that are provided on various job portals...

13 Oct 2014

I am completing my MBA, and my focus has always been marketing. However, I find I enjoy all of my MBA subjects a lot, and would love a career that exposes me to a variety of different things. For this reason, I am considering moving towards the research side of things -- but am struggling to figure...

06 Apr 2011

I've been working on a project with an academic who is working for a think tank who is in turn (I think) "working" for the SEC. This academic has a undergrad student who will be doing his thesis with this advisor next year. He is a double major in finance and pre-law. Since I once upon a time worked...

12 Mar 2012

Hi everyone, I am from India and my education includes B-tech (mech.engg) followed with an MBA (in finance & International business). I am presently working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as a payables controller, in the accounting department of my firm. I have completed 3 yrs in my job and want to have a...

08 Jul 2015

See title. My first thought was Equity Research, given the report-writing and ad hoc market commentary, but are there any other finance-geared positions that rely heavily on writing skills?

18 Jan 2018

This forum has certainly explored and discussed its fair share of alternative careers: Hollywood talent agents, Big Law, surgeons, etc. I had a teacher in school whose husband was a nurse anesthetist (CRNA), and he made a pretty comfortable living. CRNAs rake in somewhere on the lower end of six...

10 Dec 2017

The only thing I can think of is day to day trading and independent investing. Are there other careers that I missed?

19 Aug 2012

I was sifting through the web and found the average computer science graduate salary to be a lot lower than an ACA or an investment analyst. I'm entering uni in September. Doing computer science from a VERY elite university, or getting a BBA from an average university - which would be a more...

11 May 2015

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18 Apr 2013

Guys.. I am currently working as medic in London, As I graduated from so called "overseas" university I struggle to get on the training ladder (not that I think you would be interested in this story) Anyways I am considering career change and looking into IB. What are your opinions on this? Any ex...

29 Jan 2013