You’ve probably heard the term finance to describe a career before, but what does it really mean? In this career field, you would be in charge of making investment and spending decisions for companies based on your knowledge of the stock market and the financial world around you.
But what does it take to have a career like this? Read on to find out if this might be a good potential major and career path for you
Education
Typically, degrees in this major are earned at the bachelor’s level (4-year degree). Helpful courses to take in high school to prepare for this major include business, statistics AP Calculus BC, AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics. As a student in this major in college, you can expect to take courses like accounting and statistics for financial analysis, financial markets and institutions, investments and international finance. Be prepared to learn and discuss topics regarding the financial world and upcoming trends in business and markets.
Questions to ask before you apply
Getting proper experience is key — does the school you’re looking at allow you to learn about financial management of many different types of organizations? If so, is that taught through lecture or through internship experience? Also inquire as to how strong the internship program is at a particular school and if those programs have a history of hiring students upon graduation.
Salary
This major typically leads you to three different career paths: financial analyst, financial manager or personal financial advisor. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average yearly salary for an analyst, manager and advisor (respectively) was $76,950, $109,740 and $67,520 in 2012.
>Read more about careers in finance or explore other careers on NextStepU.com.
