Upon graduation, most students pursue traditional roles within an organization when seeking employment. These are typically individual contributor (non-managerial) roles focused on an area of study. For finance majors, common roles include financial analyst, financial planner, and loan officer. For students who would welcome a healthy dose of professional development early in their careers, like the idea of getting a broad overview of an organization, and have an interest in tackling managerial roles sooner rather than later, a Finance Rotation Program could be a better fit.
These programs generally last from 1-3 years and will rotate you around to various units within an organization. The rotational nature of these programs gives you a better sense of the finance function across the organization, and you might even rotate in and out of non-finance units for even broader exposure. Upon completion of the program, you typically have the opportunity to be considered for more senior roles, which may include management responsibilities. The benefits of these programs include understanding the business at a deeper level, building relationships across the organization, and developing your leadership skills in a variety of settings.
Check out the below resources to learn more about rotational programs and be sure to make an appointment with your Career Coach to talk through these possibilities.
25 Companies that Offer Exceptional Professional Development Programs for Entry-Level Employees
W. P. Carey’s List of Leadership Development and Rotational Programs
How a Rotational Program Can Kickstart a Career (Capital One)
