The finance industry is one of the fastest-growing fields in the country. According to a projection from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, financial managers can expect to experience a 15.5% increase in employment by 2029, which is significantly higher than the national average of all industries at 3.7% (BLS, 2021). Most people’s journey in finance starts their second or third year of college via an internship opportunity. But what can one do if they would like to get involved with finance, but are too young for such internships, or are otherwise unable to obtain them? As it turns out, there are a number of opportunities, three of which are outlined below:
Financial Markets According to Joshua Kennon from The Balance, the best way to learn the financial markets is to actively trade in them (Kennon, 2021). With the advent of low-fee brokerages in recent years, and the multitude of free, online trading courses, getting involved is easier than many think. Creating an account can take as little as 5 minutes, and can be done entirely online.
Financial News With so much going on in the financial world, trying to follow it can be difficult or even intimidating. Fortunately, there exists a wide array of news publications, each tailored to a specific audience or topic. For instance, Investopedia can be a great resource for those newer to finance, as its articles generally feature clear, easy-to-read explanations of financial events and phenomena.
Finance Clubs These can be a great way to meet others interested in finance, network with professionals, and discover opportunities in finance. For example, Jamal Ray, a rising senior at Elmhurst College, stated the following with regard to his finance club. “Within the club, we had financial speakers from different corporations every week who would give us career advice. Overall, it was pretty insightful and really great for networking and meeting other students on campus.”
Though the above can certainly help one pursue an interest in finance, it’s important to pursue a few other, non-finance-specific opportunities, too. According to Adam Link, Director of Institutional Equity Sales at Wells Fargo, “College is the single best opportunity to discover yourself. Beyond courses and GPAs, well-rounded life experiences and interpersonal skills can make you a more interesting and relatable job candidate.”
Venturing into Finance