What It Takes to Build a Career in Financial Industry ?
In general, if you are a persuasive, hard-working, analytical individual and have a special love for numbers and relish delving into finances of people and companies, you may be a good fit for financial services industry. Of course, this doesn’t deny the need for professional financial training. This only means that this may be an ideal career path for you.
Financial industry may seem easy enough to break through from a distance, but the truth is it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Even if you somehow manage to enter the workforce, carving out a viable and long-standing career is tough. This is true that once you are in the industry, you won’t go out of business. However, it takes hard work, intelligence, long working hours, up-to-date knowledge and a thick-skinned psyche to carve out a niche for you.
This article is not meant to scare you or drift you away from your dream-career. Rather, it focuses on giving you a reality check. Sooner you accept it, better you become in your profession. If you’re also interested in trying your hands in the financial industry or considering a career change, let us take a closer look on what it takes to build a sustainable career in this industry:
1. College Education
College education is a mandatory requirement to seek employment in financial services sector. As it’s a specialized discipline, you need to have strong accounting, mathematical, financial, marketing and selling fundamentals. You are expected to possess deep subject matter expertise and fundamental skills that are transferrable towards a career.
You may consider Centennial College’s financial training courses, for acquiring knowledge, skills and expertise required to work in financial industry. They offer post-secondary and post-graduate level courses in financial services. You can choose them, depending upon specific career goals.
2. License to Sell Financial Services
Successful completion of an industry recognized course as well as qualifying the exams to sell financial services is mandatory. If you want to sell mutual funds in Canada, you will have to write and qualify the Investment Funds Exam to obtain a license. You are eligible to write this program only if you have successfully completed your college education in this discipline. You may also require other recognition, accreditations, certifications or designations to sell different financial products.
3. Securing Work Experience
Because of too much competition in the marketplace, employers are keen on hiring professionals who have relevant work experience in the industry. The best way to secure work experience is to look for internships when in college. What you can do is check with your college’s placement cell.
Most financial services programs at Centennial incorporate internships. However, whether or not you get it depends upon the eligibility criteria that the college has set. Student service centre may also be able to provide you with the job listings. Or you may benefit from your contacts to find work in an organization.
4. Personality Traits
Wondering if your personality traits also count? They do. A career path is right for you only if you can relate to it and your personality traits and natural talents can add value to your profession. Therefore, it’s a great idea to assess yourself and explore what traits of yours can contribute to your profession.
Processing your request, Please wait....
