A finance degree leads to jobs in corporate finance, commercial and retail banking, investment and wealth management, insurance, real estate, financial operations and government budgeting. Graduates often start as analysts or associates, and some roles require securities licensing exams, usually sponsored by an employer after you are hired. Accounting licensure is a separate path that needs specific accounting coursework, so decide early if it interests you.
What you can do on day one
- Build a spreadsheet model that projects revenue, costs or cash flow.
- Read financial statements and explain what they say about a business.
- Value an investment or a project and weigh the risk.
- Present numbers to people who do not love numbers.
- Pay attention to detail when a misplaced decimal matters.
In interviews, describe a case or model you built: the question, your assumptions and what you recommended. That is far stronger than listing courses.
Entry-level paths
- Financial analyst in a company: budgets, forecasts and reports for leadership, often called financial planning and analysis.
- Treasury or financial operations: manages cash, payments and banking relationships for an organization.
- Credit analyst or loan officer trainee: evaluates whether businesses or people can repay loans.
- Personal banker: works with customers at a bank branch, a common first step into banking.
- Investment operations or research assistant: supports portfolio managers and analysts behind the scenes.
- Wealth management associate: supports financial advisors with clients, usually with licensing exams after hire.
- Insurance underwriter or claims analyst: prices risk or evaluates claims.
- Budget analyst: manages budgets at government agencies, schools and nonprofits.
- Real estate: finance skills help in property analysis, lending and sales. See how to become a real estate agent.
Some finance roles lean heavily on data. If that appeals to you, see how to become a data analyst.
Credentials and grad school
- CPA: requirements are set by each state and include accounting coursework, an exam and experience, so finance majors usually need extra accounting classes. See how to become an accountant.
- Financial planning designation: requires coursework, an exam and work experience, and is common among advisors.
- Investment analysis charter: earned through a series of demanding exams plus work experience, valued in investment roles.
- MBA: usually most useful after a few years of work, for moving into leadership or switching tracks.
- Law: some finance graduates go into corporate, tax or securities law. See how to become a lawyer.
Getting ready while still in school
- Start internship research early. Finance recruiting often begins sooner than students expect, sometimes in sophomore year. See college internships.
- Get very good at spreadsheets. Speed and accuracy show up in interviews and on the job.
- Join a student investment or finance club to practice pitches and learn the language.
- Add a minor in accounting, computer science or statistics.
- Work part time at a bank, credit union or campus office that handles money.
- Run your own budget. Our guide to budgeting for young adults is a practical start.
If graduation came and the offers did not
- Look beyond investment banking: corporate finance, insurance, credit unions, government and nonprofits all hire finance graduates.
- Pick two target roles and tailor your resume to each.
- Ask alumni and family contacts for informational interviews, which matter a lot in finance.
- Practice technical and behavioral questions with our interview prep guide.
- Take a related role, such as operations or banking, and move toward analysis once you are in.
- Use our senior year job search guide for a weekly routine.
Common worries
Is it all brutal hours on Wall Street? No. A few high-profile jobs are known for punishing hours, but most finance work happens inside ordinary companies, banks and agencies with steadier schedules. Will AI take analyst jobs? AI tools are speeding up routine analysis, which raises the bar for judgment, communication and checking the work. For outlook on finance occupations, check the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Where a mentor helps
A mentor helps finance students choose a path, plan internships and applications, prepare for interviews and stay accountable through recruiting and the job search. Mentors do not give financial, tax or investment advice, and they are not admissions counselors or credentialed career counselors. See mentoring for college students and our career and education focus.
Related
- College majors guide
- What can you do with an economics degree?
- What can you do with a business degree?
- Your first job after college
Common questions
What is the difference between finance and accounting?
Accounting records and reports what happened financially, while finance uses that information to plan, invest and make decisions. Accounting has a clearer licensing path through the CPA.
Can I become a CPA with a finance degree?
Often, but you will usually need additional accounting coursework to meet your state’s requirements, plus the exam and experience.
Do finance jobs require licensing exams?
Some do, especially roles that sell or advise on investments. Employers usually sponsor those exams after hiring.
Is finance a good major if I am not sure what I want?
It can be, because it opens doors in many industries. If you are torn, compare it with economics or accounting before choosing.
Get started
Studying finance and want a plan for internships, recruiting and your first job? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.