How to Join the Investment Banking Operations Industry without a Finance Degree?

In the investment banking operation industry, in most cases, employers seek candidates with a finance degree. But, is it possible to make your way into the industry if you don’t have one? While without a doubt, the task is an uphill one for you to secure a job in investment banking if you don’t possess a finance degree; there are still ways you can get in.

A finance degree will make a candidate skillful in areas, like financial modeling and analysis; however, these are not all the qualities employers seek in a candidate. They want something more too.

The Skills Investment Banks Look for:

●     Communication

Communication is the key in most professions. Your ability to communicate the facts and present your ideas in a proper manner towards your client, team, or management often plays a vital role in job interviews.

●     Intelligence

Investment banking is not an easy industry. To succeed, you must have a higher level of intelligence and resourcefulness.

●     Global outlook

The way you look at finance and its impact within the bigger picture of international relationships and history and international politics plays a major role as an investment banker.

●     Innovation

As an employer, banks not only check if you can solve the problem but also the way you think and if you deliver the most optimum solution in the hard paced environment. Being innovative while solving problems will give you an edge in investment banking.

●     Passion and Resilience

A real passion for business and finance along with the ability to deal with high-stress and demanding environments can make you successful in the investment banking industry.

Now the bigger question is – how to achieve the skills desired in investment banking when you don’t have a finance degree. Below few points could be your guide:

●     Round off your degree

MBA in Investment BankingYou can always make your resume stronger even without a finance graduate degree by taking banking courses after graduation. You may opt for an investment banker course.

A relevant course will help you catch up with your competitors and also will make your resume suitable for investment banking employers.

●     Expand your knowledge base

There are plenty of materials available online or offline. It’s important to learn the finance lingo besides your finance knowledge. Various finance journals and websites are there at your disposal to learn the finance language.

●     Complete industry course

A relevant industry course under your belt not only makes you job-ready but also showcases your commitment to building a career in finance.

●     Score an internship

Many banks hire from their interns. Getting a paid internship for a non-finance student is very difficult; however, there are other options like an unpaid internship or volunteer work with a broker. Considering the impact of internships to get a full-time job in investment banking, alternate ways are not a bad choice either.

●     Look for mentorship

If you know someone who is influential or a successful finance professional, who believes in your professional capabilities, then don’t hesitate to approach for help. This could be a great help in your job search to jumpstart your career.

●     Networking

If you want to step in without a finance degree you have to build a large network. Do not leave any opportunities to connect HR departments in various platforms, do not restrict yourself to a specific location, and reach everyone for help. In short, do everything you can to step into a finance organization. Be patient, work hard and better opportunities will come your way.

Conclusion:

Though it is difficult for a non-finance degree holder to secure a job in investment banking, relevant banking courses after graduation or an investment banker course can give you the edge you are looking for. With enough hard work and networking, you can join investment banking without a finance degree.

Related Article:

What is the best way to start a career in Investment Banking?

Blockchain: The Possible Answer to Trade Finance Modernization

Recently, a study was conducted by the capital financial technology giant, C2FO, regarding European treasures. Herein, it was found that 75% of these treasurers are supposedly focussing on investing in trade finance technology, in the following year of 2017.
Colin Sharp, who holds the position of senior vice-president, EMEA at C2FO, is of the opinion that the shifts within the microeconomic environment, are resulting in the pressuring of corporates, in order to refocus their efforts to trade finance. He further goes ahead to say, “Treasurers are facing a lot of uncertainty, both from the United States of America and as result of the on goings around Brexit. This is putting immense pressure over the supply chain, and with the demand increasing and decreasing. Treasurers want the ability to use their assets to make returns and give some certainty.”
There have been more and more efforts, which are offering insight into, finding out how blockchain can supposedly be used, in order to benefit small as well as medium size ventures. Any said digital trade chain, supposedly wants to achieve a perfect balance, between identification of opportunities and connecting them with each other and their banking partners. This would be made even simpler, when banks would bring in their own client bases herein, thus eliminating rigorous on-boarding.
Anne Claire Gorge, who holds the position of the head of the product management department, trade services, and finance of Societe Generale, is of the opinion that, treasurers believe that more control over trade finances, can help them greatly in the other areas of business. She says, “Better use of trade finance helps theses treasurers, to have a greater overview of their working capital positions. Offering financial solutions to suppliers, for instance, in order to improve the terms of payments, helps greatly in guaranteeing cash flow.” She is of the firm thought that the deployment of latest technology will definitely end up simplifying the process. In her words, “Trade happens to be very heavy on letters of credit or invoicing solutions, making it complicated to finance receivables and payables. Doing all this, as a part of a digital solution, has great potential of making it easier”.
trade finance marketThe experts believe that a little rocking, cannot cause any harm to the ship, in financial jargon, they are basically hinting at the climate of uncertainty. Especially when it comes to Banks, a little uncertainty does not seem to be a negative thing. This actually makes for a rather encouraging temperature for the requirement of trade finance tools, in order to offer stronger guarantees. The solution for the entire thing can finally come from block chain, is the combined belief of all the trade finance gurus. But for this concept to see the light of the day, there needs to be a rigorous industry wide effort, in the direction of implementation.
As many changes take place, in order to develop and strengthen the field of Trade Finance, the number of aspirants herein also multiplies. This is why professional training institutes like Imarticus Learning seem to be getting popular by the day.