Typically, when students think of finance jobs, they imagine high-paying, high-prestige positions with investment banks, insurance companies or the “Big 4” accounting firms. They dream of hedge funds, management consulting and private equity as their path to prosperity. However, the job market is tight and not everyone can obtain these highly competitive finance jobs.
Here are a few other finance jobs to consider:
- Sales & Business Development: Many finance majors end up working in less technical positions within the accounting or IT departments. If you have good people skills, then you may be well-suited for this type of work. Developing relationships, selling ideas and communicating to find the right solutions will help you succeed.
- Military Finance Officer: You’ll work on contracts, budgets and cost forecasting. If you get in early, the military may help pay for your education and ensure that you have a finance job when you get out.
- Non-profit Analyst: Non-profit organizations like the Ford Foundation or the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation need to fill a few finance jobs to keep the company viable.
- Financial Analyst for a Government Agency: Government finance jobs pay well. So why not apply at the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Management and Budget, Department of Defense, or Department of the Treasury?
- Peace Corps Volunteer: Executives from Bank of American, Goldman Sachs, Coca-Cola and Exxon Mobil were once Peace Corps volunteers. Companies like Google may let you defer your employment start date so you can spend time volunteering first.
- Entrepreneur: It can be a risky business to go the startup route, but you can be wildly successful if you have the right idea and personality for the work.