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What does it take for someone with a Bachelor of Science to get a job in the finance industry?

I know it is not as common for someone with a B. Sc. to work in the finance industry but what are the most important skills I should work on to up my chances of getting a job in the finance industry eg. SAS, programming or financial modelling? #finance #financial-services #banking #investment-banking #corporate-finance #financial-analysis #commercial-banking

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Christopher’s Answer

There is a wide variety of Financial Certifications. While I, as everyone else has also stated, would recommend studying for the CFA exams and passing them, there are a multitude of other certifications you can get.



  1. Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

  2. Certified Fund Specialist (CFS)

  3. Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC)

  4. Charter Investment Counselor (CIC)

  5. Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA)

  6. Chartered Market Technician (CMT)

  7. Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

  8. Personal Financial Specialist (PFS)

  9. Chartered life Underwriter (CLU)


I would recommend researching a couple of job requirements for the type of career you are looking to have and find out which of the above stated certifications would help you get the position. I know that having multiple wouldn't hurt, but it is almost never necessary.
Thank you comment icon i agree with you are right Noah
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Karen’s Answer

Having a BS won't stop you from working in finance. Study for and pass the CFA exams.


In the mean time (it takes years to pass all levels of the CFA), you might also want to look at joining one of the Big 4 accounting firms (PwC, Deloitte, EY, KPMG). They offer some of the best (mostly on-the-job) training around and it is not uncommon for them to hire people with science degrees.
Thank you comment icon Hi I am kanika. good question .Thank you. kanika
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Matt’s Answer

This clearly is a good partner question to your other question that I just answered. If you have a B.Sc., what is it in? Since you're speaking of modeling, is it in mathematics, computer science, statistics, engineering (of any kind)? Are you interested in working on quantitative trading strategies?
Thank you comment icon Don’t let your degree determine the field you work in. If you enjoy finance and want to do programming/modeling, go for it. Most of the education/knowledge comes from on the job training. If this is a big career change for you, you may lose status/pay, but it will be better for you in the long run. Start making connections with local companies, attending meetups, and studying about the field you are interested in. Priyank Shah
Thank you comment icon Having general knowledge of the field you want to enter with always be an asset when applying for a job (ie: programming for a financial company). Not only will it enable you to converse better with the end user, but your interest may take you down a different career path. Several of my colleagues, and my wife in fact, do not have degrees in Finance and yet have excelled in the industry. Studying for advanced certifications may sound tempting; however, most will not let you sit for an exam unless you already work for a financial company and/or have a certain number of years of experience in Finance. (CFP®, CFA, CIMA…). Chris Ryan, CFP®
Thank you comment icon yea i agree Noah
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Priyank’s Answer

Don’t let your degree determine the field you work in. If you enjoy finance and want to do programming/modeling, go for it. Most of the education/knowledge comes from on the job training. If this is a big career change for you, you may lose status/pay, but it will be better for you in the long run. Start making connections with local companies, attending meetups, and studying about the field you are interested in.
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William Barrett’s Answer

Hi Flora. Like Jeremy said, you're degree is not all that important when looking for an entry level job. While you are in college, I would focus on learning the basics of the finance industry (maybe taking a finance class or two so you have a better idea of what direction you might want to go into) and trying to find an internship that coincides with what interests you. From there, you can take it upon yourself to learn more about that respective facet of the financial industry and proceed with learning as much as you can so that you can excel in your internships, and use that experience combined with the connections you will make in said internships to leverage your way into an entry level finance job. From there, the doors will open and you can pursue whatever it is that interests you. For example, I was a liberal arts major but got an internship doing financial planning which opened the door for me getting my first job out of college as a training financial advisor. Hope this helps!
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Kimberly’s Answer

I believe how you build your resume from a young age will always help you stand out from other applicants. A lot of large financial institutions do offer internship programs. Not only are internships a great resume builder, but also a great way to expose yourself to a new industry and get a jump start on your career development.
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Jeremy’s Answer

The degree you have shouldn't matter much in obtaining an entry level job in any field you choose (just as long as you have a college degree is all most companies require in order to hire you). From there, it is all on the job training and experience. I too had a B.S (in Political Science). I got an entry level job with a finance company. And, have been in the field for over 20 years now. The key is getting your foot in the door in the field you want to pursue. From there, after working for a few years and getting insight on which direction you would like to go, you can then continue education on line or in evenings for a masters or certifications.
Hope that helps and good luck!
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Mirkasim’s Answer

Hi Flora, I am happy to answer this question as I can relate myself with it. I did B.Sc in Physics followed by Masters in Computers, and now have been working in the Financial Services industry in the software applications development area for last 10 years.


I would advice to focus on your computing skills - programming, algorithm, modeling, analytical skills etc. As long as you master these skill-set you can lend a good job definitely in financial services companies.


I wish you all the best.
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Davis’s Answer

Hi Flora,

I believe that while the degree is important, what's more important to a prospective employer is demonstrating that you are coachable, an effective communicator, and can follow through. I know very successful Financial Advisors who went to school for Engineering, Medicine, as well as Communications. They were able to transition into the field and subsequently succeed due to the aforementioned traits.

You can get your 'foot in the door' by taking the SIE, which is a general knowledge exam of the securities industry. This will be a good primer for what to expect, and will impress employers. It will prepare you well for any conversation you do inevitably have with prospective employers. You can also work towards the more advanced CFA Charter considering the area of focus you're interested in, and while that does take years to complete, having started it will certainly bolster your resume. I wish you luck on your endeavor!
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David’s Answer

If you don’t have a mentor or a friend that can help you get the first interview, you can apply to an entry level job, such as analyst, clerk, teller or receptionist. Once inside, applying to a different position and networking its easier. Don’t be afraid to sacrifice 1 to 2 years getting to the right place.

David recommends the following next steps:

https://www.indeed.com/q-Entry-Level-Finance-l-New-York,-NY-jobs.html?vjk=2e47800663939f8f
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Amala’s Answer

Great question and something I personally relate to. Don't let your degree stop you from pursuing your career interests. No matter what field you are in, its imperative that you enjoy what you do and haven't jumped on the finance bandwagon because others are doing the same. Always think about your core talents, natural ability, transferable skills and then work on it. I myself have completed BSc. Statistics and started off with banking operations- learnt about banking then moved onto risk management. The fields in finance are endless, so research is key to understand where you will fit in and then think about certifications to grow in it. Dont be afraid to start small.
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Mauricio’s Answer

I have a friend who had a similar situation than you, he wanted to be a Financial but he studies a very different career, so what he start doing, a lot of trainings in finance, how to read p&l, how to do interpretation of finance information, once he start doing that, he makes a degree in finance, it took a long time to change what he was ready for, now is CFO in a good organization with presence in USA and Mexico, but the most important thing here it was not the studies or the things he had to do that conversion, or I called that metamorphosis, What was his dream? he wanted to be a finance guy and he wanted to work in something related to finance, so it does not matter what is your background, that you can create from Zero, the important thing is what you want and that can come to reality!!

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Hannah’s Answer

Hi! The finance industry has so many different opportunities, that all degrees can be relevant! What is truly important is showing interest in finance to a future employer/interviewer. From there, anything within the financial industry can be taught. I would also recommend doing some online research regarding the financial industry before any interview. This will show interest to the interviewer, and also the internet has so much information regarding the industry. Good luck!
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Stacy’s Answer

Studying for the CFA exam is also a strong way to prepare for work in the finance industry, and shows your commitment. Some friends of mine even studied for Level 1 CFA during their senior year of college.
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Alejandro’s Answer

Hi Flora, excellent question. Although having a degree in business will allow you to understand business concepts, it is not required in order for you to join the financial industry. In fact. my manager had a degree in psychology and had recently graduated college.
First: You need to be open to learning financial concepts, either be financial modeling/ or learning about the stock market.
Second: Its all about you. Do your own digging regarding any industry you are interested in and follow your passion.
Third (Important): Network and find a mentor in your field of choice to help guide you.
Fourth: Apply for Internship


Majority of times, people who work in finance have degrees other than business. You will learn on the job with specific company training.
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