Graduating soon with a Finance Degree - want some talk on jobs

whyzze · #1 03-09-2007, 02:20 AM

So im graduating from a mediocre school in June with my BS in Finance. Got started on the job search a little late, but its not going to bad.

I wanted to talk to some people in the same boat as me, or others who have just been through it.

I am getting my email spammed by insurance companies and financial planner positions, they also call nonstop. Im not really interested in these positions as I could have gotten these jobs out of high school. I mean the planner job isn't horrible, but its definately my fallback. keep in mind I dont mind sales.

Commercial banks - i am not interested in at all from experience.

Theres a few more, especially analysis that i am considering, but i feel i will eventually hate my job and be bored to death.

I have always been extremely interested in financial derivates and since I decided to major in finance knew I wanted to work in the industry (I would like to move to chicago as well). Anyways, after some research ive found that commodity brokers are in huge demand right now. I know it is high stress and tons of work, but I dont think it will be any worse than a financial planner, but with double the income.

So im looking for some discussion on the jobs that are available to us and the pros and cons. I am also looking for some insider info from someone who knows alot/works at a futures brokeridge.

emon87 · #2 03-09-2007, 03:44 AM

I'm nowhere near the job hunting stage (soph) but AFAIK most/all of the top jobs are settled by now. Recruiting is mostly done in the fall for new grads. You might consider taking a "year off". Do some traveling, volunteer work, whatever. Basically, don't get trapped into an industry you don't like just because you missed the boat this year. You can get recruited again next year.

Feel free to correct me if that is bad advice, but it is basically what my dad did 30 some years ago.

whyzze · #3 03-09-2007, 04:18 AM

Ya i know some company's do the fall recruiting batch process and so on. Some do more than 1 a year. It hasn't gotten in my way at all so far. Maybe a few Canadian company's I have been looking at.

I guess i forgot to mention that the commodity broker is basically my dream job, however information on the profession is not as readily available as the others.

dkoleary · #4 03-09-2007, 05:34 AM

Im studying pharmacy right now (1st year) and am considering changing to Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Finance for the DOLLARS....

Is there really a lot of money in being a broker/dealer or should I just stick with Pharmacy?

I'm in Australian btw;

bluef0x · #5 03-09-2007, 11:43 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Im studying pharmacy right now (1st year) and am considering changing to Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Finance for the DOLLARS....

Is there really a lot of money in being a broker/dealer or should I just stick with Pharmacy?

I'm in Australian btw;

[/ QUOTE ]

Pharmacy absolutely owns in the US. Get your degree and move here for big $$$.

csuf_gambl0o0r · #6 03-11-2007, 04:18 AM

i am somewhat in the same boat except im graduating next year instead of this year, 5 year plan.

last summer, i interned at merrill lynch under an FA. and its defintely something that i am not interested in. financial planning is basically marketing, you have to market yourself. the rest of the stuff, financial planning and managing portfolios is easy.

i was looking at the finance "tracks" and non of them look that attractive to me.

im thinkin about starting out in commercial banking just to get my feet wet.

Thremp · #7 03-11-2007, 04:49 AM

Can you really get a decent job on the 5 year plan?

I'd probably insta-reject most five year guys mostly cause it screams: "It take me 25% longer to do something most average people can do."

caguma · #8 03-11-2007, 10:33 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Can you really get a decent job on the 5 year plan?

I'd probably insta-reject most five year guys mostly cause it screams: "It take me 25% longer to do something most average people can do."

[/ QUOTE ]

Easy response to that would be just to say that you weren't sure yet what you wanted to do with your life and needed some time to decide on it so you took an extra year in school. Plenty of people go for five years who aren't just slackers, what about people who change their major?

kbinder · #9 03-11-2007, 02:52 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Can you really get a decent job on the 5 year plan?

I'd probably insta-reject most five year guys mostly cause it screams: "It take me 25% longer to do something most average people can do."

[/ QUOTE ]

Easy response to that would be just to say that you weren't sure yet what you wanted to do with your life and needed some time to decide on it so you took an extra year in school. Plenty of people go for five years who aren't just slackers, what about people who change their major?

[/ QUOTE ]

Or you could lie and say that your program is a 5-year program. Almost all finance majors at my school do a 5-year program. (I am not a finance major)

RivaLiva · #10 03-11-2007, 03:09 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Can you really get a decent job on the 5 year plan?

I'd probably insta-reject most five year guys mostly cause it screams: "It take me 25% longer to do something most average people can do."

[/ QUOTE ]

Easy response to that would be just to say that you weren't sure yet what you wanted to do with your life and needed some time to decide on it so you took an extra year in school. Plenty of people go for five years who aren't just slackers, what about people who change their major?

[/ QUOTE ]

Or you could lie and say that your program is a 5-year program. Almost all finance majors at my school do a 5-year program. (I am not a finance major)

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not graduating on time, I am graduating a quarter late and it is simply because I got into my major late. But I can see your rationalization with a full 5-year plan.