Are you struggling to figure out which direction you want to take your career in finance? Careers in finance can be tricky to navigate, as finance is both a business function and an industry (financial services). At the MBA level, it is important to make decisions around both industry and function while setting your career goal.
If you find yourself drawn to investment banking or private equity, you are probably interested in the financial services industry; here roles focus on raising capital to grow a company. On the other hand, if you see yourself wanting to navigate financial decisions within a non-banking firm, finance as a function is more aligned with your career goals. In these roles, you’ll focus on operational decisions to manage the firm’s financials.
The distinction between the financial services industry and finance as a function is critical for you to understand fully to show up competent and goal-oriented with alumni and employers.
Check out this article by Investopedia to help differentiate investment banking from corporate finance, and use the MBA Finance industry map to get clarity on what roles are available to you. Setting up an appointment through Handshake to chat with your Career Coach to work through these resources and your decision making is a great next step.
Investment Banking vs. Corporate Finance: What’s the Difference?
