For those of you already in finance, how did you actually land your first job? Did you break in through internships, networking, cold applications, or a non-traditional path? I feel like so many job postings require experience, even for entry-level roles, and I’m trying to figure out the best way in. If you could go back and start over, what would you do differently to land your first role faster?

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I got in through an internship that turned into a full-time offer, 100% would prioritize internships if I had to do it again.

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I have been a ‘contract’ tech writer for 27 years - and love it. Contracting is a good way to try out different areas before applying for a FTE position.

I was at Big 4 (Big 6 at the time), pivoted by taking an internal audit job at a major bank. Eventually transitioned into a business role at the same bank.

I am not sure I would do anything different bc the path I took helped me figure out what I wanted to do.

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It was a sales and trading role at the private bank.

Cold application, I was persistent for 3 years until I eventually got the job and I couldn’t be happier

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I started in Finance with Wells Fargo. I actually had a close family relation with a Branch Manager, who was looking for a Banker. They skated me through the interview process; it was more or less my job to lose. Obviously, everyone does not have the same connections or network. If I could do it all over again, it would be the same thing. I would say network as much as you can via internships and general day-to-day life living. You never know when those relationships can payoff.

Cheers!

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Internships were a huge help for me starting out, not only did I get a lot of hands-on experience, but networking! I’m not sure what the landscape looks like now for those fresh out, but be open minded. The internship I got I initially didn’t want anything to do with yet a huge learning experience.

For me, what I would do differently to land my first role speedily is to build portfolio website and work on projects that are centered on real life issues. Some times the hiring team don't care about the experience but what you can do and what you could improve. Although, I got my first role as a data analyst in a financial company with no experience but by simply answering some technical questions in SQL and excel backing it up with my portfolio projects. Then, I had scanty projects to show but it was something I could count on. You could do the same in any domain.

Temp agency for a completely different role.. (office admin) then showed them slowly but surely what the skills i had thru conversations with bosses. This is a hit or miss of course so I did many temp jobs before this opportunity arose. But this turned into a career.

also "can do" attitude... any time there was an issue/task I volunteered..

I broke in by moving to a part of the country where was a less financially skilled workforce and lower competition in order to land a job that would give me the experience to more easily move around. Once i completed my third year, i was able to start a graduate program, move back to a larger city, land a better paying job. Sometimes it’s about location of the job and you have to go where the need is.

Definitely Contracting first. Provides you with the first hand experience and sometimes they do lead to full time roles.

You have to be willing to start at the bottom and work your way up.

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