Entry level positions for Economics major? (1 Viewer)

[mlbnfl]

Hey all,

Im a recent Econ grad and I have been looking for work, generally as a financial analyst or something like that, but generally everything requires at least 1-2 years of experience which I unfortunately don't have. I should have found some internships but didn't and nothing I can do about that now. Does anyone has any ideas as to what type of position I might be able to break in with a company and hope to gain some experience in my field? My ultimate goal is to become an actuary but I have just begun studying so I am a ways away from that anyways.

Im sure topics similar to this have been discussed in the past, and sorry that this is fairly specific but Im somewhat at a loss as to what to do. Really the only jobs that I can seemingly secure right now are in insurance sales and that's not really what I am looking to do.

 

[George Jefferson Airplane]

Exxon-Mobil cashier

 

[Baloney Sandwich]

Find a temp agency that might have a long term contract role that is finance related, will give you some good experience and set you up to have experience when you look for a permanent role towards the end of the contract.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Hey all,

Im a recent Econ grad and I have been looking for work, generally as a financial analyst or something like that, but generally everything requires at least 1-2 years of experience which I unfortunately don't have. I should have found some internships but didn't and nothing I can do about that now. Does anyone has any ideas as to what type of position I might be able to break in with a company and hope to gain some experience in my field? My ultimate goal is to become an actuary but I have just begun studying so I am a ways away from that anyways.

Im sure topics similar to this have been discussed in the past, and sorry that this is fairly specific but Im somewhat at a loss as to what to do. Really the only jobs that I can seemingly secure right now are in insurance sales and that's not really what I am looking to do.

Why not something with a group like Rand or a consultant? Also I would think something in the federal government dealing with domestic or foreign policy would be good.

 

[Jayrod]

You should have gotten into an internship.

 

[Mister Martie]

Find a temp agency that might have a long term contract role that is finance related, will give you some good experience and set you up to have experience when you look for a permanent role towards the end of the contract.

Good advice here.

 

[apalmer]

You should have gotten into an internship.

Yeah? Well that's what Bill Clinton did and look at all the grief he got because of it.

 

[Reegus]

I graduated with a business finance degree with honors but I did not do an internship. It took like 6-8 months but I found an entry level analyst position at a big firm. Use your school business career website if it has one. That seemed to lead to the most promising interviews. Monster and other job sites did not yield many good opportunities.

Tldr... It will take time without an internship but it's not impossible.

 

[Slapdash]

What kind of econ classes are we talking about here? Is it liberal arts, general business, or heavy math?

 

[roarlions]

Hey all,

Im a recent Econ grad and I have been looking for work, generally as a financial analyst or something like that, but generally everything requires at least 1-2 years of experience which I unfortunately don't have. I should have found some internships but didn't and nothing I can do about that now. Does anyone has any ideas as to what type of position I might be able to break in with a company and hope to gain some experience in my field? My ultimate goal is to become an actuary but I have just begun studying so I am a ways away from that anyways.

Im sure topics similar to this have been discussed in the past, and sorry that this is fairly specific but Im somewhat at a loss as to what to do. Really the only jobs that I can seemingly secure right now are in insurance sales and that's not really what I am looking to do.

Why not something with a group like Rand or a consultant? Also I would think something in the federal government dealing with domestic or foreign policy would be good.

I work for an actuarial research/consulting firm and we hire people straight out of college, whether they have started taking actuarial exams or not. I think most insurance companies do the same. If you plan to become an actuary there is no reason why you can't apply to insurance companies, consulting/research firms before you have taken any of the exams. Some firms will even give you time to study for the exams once you have started working.

 

[DCThunder]

Get a job selling insurance, then you can move up into the actuarial ranks.

 

[Gustavo Fring]

Take excel courses while you are searching for jobs. If you want to be a financial analyst, chances are you will need a certain level of excel experience, so having advanced knowledge can put you ahead too. Youtube offers many great videos or you can pay to enroll in classes.

If the job is entry level, it will not be required to have 1-2 years experience, most companies just put that to weed people out. If you are able to get into the interview room, relating your coursework and excel/systems experience will be what they are looking for most.

Everything you begin learn in the "industry" will be during your first full-time position.

 

[sbonomo]

Just out of curiosity, why the econ major? Were you planning to get your Masters? I interviewed five econ major's (Berkley does not offer finance or accouting undergrad) yesterday for an analyst position at a large bank. I was actually surprised how little finance/accounting was tought in the program.

 

[Jayrod]

Econ majors are to finance and accounting what chiropractors are to medicine.

 

[chauncey]

Get a job selling insurance, then you can move up into the actuarial ranks.

I got an econ degree then a career in insurance on the sales side. I wish I had known what an actuary was when I was 21. A friend went this direction and she is crushing it out in LA with a big firm. Lots of work, tests, and corporate stress over the years but there is a well defined career path with great pay and mobility if desired (once you pass all the exams, which are no joke).

 

[chauncey]

Curious as to why you got an econ degree and if it is a BA or BS. At my university econ was the major that all the slackers picked when they were not accepted to the business school.

 

[chauncey]

Econ majors are to finance and accounting what chiropractors are to medicine.

Exactly

 

[Chemical X]

i have an econ BA and started my career at a bank trying credit work. trainable spot and banks are always looking for credit analysts. its vague, but gets you experience in teh field with a chance to get real experience where you would want to go. i woubd up down teh line being a commercial loan approver and work out specialist.

 

[tri-man 47]

Take excel courses while you are searching for jobs. If you want to be a financial analyst, chances are you will need a certain level of excel experience, so having advanced knowledge can put you ahead too. Youtube offers many great videos or you can pay to enroll in classes.

If you need to sharpen Excel skills, I highly recommend these books (the Smart Method):

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=smart%20excel&sprefix=smart+exce%2Caps

You're likely to know the material in the Essentials book, but the Expert book covers a lot. The accompanying Excel spreadsheets are available for free from an associate website. The books are less than $15 each, and well worth it. I use this book for Excel training in the AIS classes I teach at my university.

 

[Osaurus]

Fry Chef

 

[sbonomo]

Econ majors are to finance and accounting what chiropractors are to medicine.

this is why i was wondering about the mba

 

[Johnny Rock]

Start as an Econ Minor and work your way up.

 

[Vrana]

I have degrees in accounting and finance and had similar career plans. Started out as a cat modeler at an insurance company and was able to move to the actuarial department when I passed my first exam.

Get your foot in the door at an insurance company. Even if you can't move the actuarial department at that company, others will like that you're not totally new to the industry.

Also, make sure that you have a GREAT understanding of the math concepts that are needed on the exams. Coming from a business degree, I have greatly struggled with some of the exams because I do not have as strong a background as expected. I'm assuming you're a smart guy, but being a smart guy isn't enough to get through these exams.

PM me if you need some more specific advice.