Deciding on a career path at a young age is a daunting task. But research would suggest that one potential career that’s becoming increasingly attractive to young people is finance. In fact, a recent survey saw UK graduates rank finance as the most stable and attractive industry, with 29% of respondents citing it as their first choice.
There are multiple ways people are able to pursue a career in finance. For some, the best path is enrolling in a university course and gaining a degree in the field to build a solid understanding of the industry. Others may prefer to learn on the job and seek out an entry-level position or internship instead of gaining a formal qualification first. However you decide to do it, entering the world of finance can be extremely rewarding. Find out how in this post.
There are vast opportunities for development
It’s clear that young people value the opportunity for progression and professional development from the very start of their careers. Without this, it’s easy to soon feel stagnant in your career, which can affect both performance in the office and general wellbeing outside of the workplace.
When embarking on a career in finance, you will find that there are so many different ways to progress your own personal skill set and your overall career. Whether these opportunities arise within the same company or elsewhere in the industry, there are always clear routes for progression, meaning your hard work and dedication will be rewarded as you grow within the sector – no matter which area of finance you decide to specialise in.
There are lots of well-paid roles
Broadly speaking, lots of roles within finance offer generous remuneration, even for graduates or people starting out in entry-level positions. However, it’s important to note that the exact rate of pay will differ between fields and roles within the industry, with a specialism like investment banking typically offering higher salaries than a more generic role as a finance assistant.
Beyond your base salary, it’s common for roles in the industry to have additional perks and compensation packages attached to them which acts as a further financial incentive. Again, this will vary from company to company and between different roles, but the financial rewards are certainly attractive to a young person just starting out in the world of work.
Take your first steps in finance
Hiring managers will be looking for a combination of experience and financial literacy from prospective employees, but it’s also key to demonstrate the transferable skills that are applicable to so many different roles in the industry. As well as building up your CV with work experience and a formal education, think about how you can develop core skills like communication, analytical thinking and problem solving to set yourself apart from other candidates looking to enter this increasingly competitive sector.