How A Master In Finance Can Help You Land Your Dream Job

Every candidate has a different reason for attending business school, but one common goal is career advancement. This could include accelerating a promotion, launching an international career, or even securing a high-paying position.

Finance is still a popular career path for master's students, and obtaining a Master in Finance (MiF) is a sure way to stand out to top employers. It can provide a significant return on investment while also providing exciting career opportunities in financial technology (fintech) and sustainable finance.

However, getting a top job in finance is not easy, and students must choose the right MiF program to help them achieve their goals.

What is the earning potential for Master in Finance graduates?

For those seeking front office jobs in a cutting-edge industry, the opportunities in finance are certainly there. 

JP Morgan Chase, Black Rock, and Goldman Sachs count among the names where MiF graduates have recently found jobs. All are known for being leaders in the financial industries; all known for offering tantalizing salaries. Starting salaries at investment banks like Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan Chase can vary between $70k and even $100k.

There are dozens of other opportunities in finance beyond conventional positions and areas. Fintech is attracting more attention from MiF graduates, playing to a combination of finance and technology skills that many master’s students embrace, and is an area MiF students should be aware of. 

Many students venture beyond financial institutions, finding financial roles within other companies. Public sector jobs are a big pull, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, with impact investing and sustainable finance also growing areas of interest.

This versatility is one of the biggest appeals of a MiF degree. You can apply these skills in almost any industry across a wide range of positions. You’re able to have both international mobility and to move from one sector to another. When you think about it, there are few functions that can allow this.

How can you prepare for a career in finance?

First, reliability. “For almost all jobs in finance, the stakes are high, so your manager and the clients need to be able to trust you, so ethics is essential for applicants in finance jobs.”

Secondly, working under pressure. “Often the processes are very tight, you need to be very proactive, and be able to deal well with pressure.” 

Finally, teamwork. It’s not simply a survival of the fittest. “You need to be able to collaborate, because you’ll be dealing with clients and teams from all over the world, and it's always a team effort. If you are too focused on your own career and objectives, at some point, you’re going to fail.”