Global Reach. Innovative Programs. Diverse Perspectives.

CAREERS IN FINANCE
ORIENTATION GUIDE
Practical Advice for Your Career Success in Finance
September 2018
The Schulich Finance Alumni Association (SFAA) has prepared this
Career in Finance Orientation Guide (the Guide) summarizing
our thoughts and career stories that we hope will be insightful and
beneficial to your own careers and searches.

Our objective is to provide practical advice to help you determine if

Finance is the right choice for you and, if it is, what functional areas and/
or business segments of Finance suit you best. We also provide some
tips for your particular and unique job search preparation.
1
Introduction
CHAPTER

and Objective

Pursuing business education at Schulich School of

Business (Schulich) is a personal investment that
provides you with the tools and groundwork to excel.
Some of you have quit your previous jobs and all of
you have spent significant money and time looking
for a turning point in your careers. Like all shrewd
investors, you have a target return for your investment
– a gainful career with improved remuneration,
continued enrichment of your experience and good
prospects for advancement.

In September 2016, the Schulich Finance Alumni Association (SFAA) prepared the
first edition of the Career in Finance Orientation Guide, summarizing our thoughts
and career stories, which many students and recent graduates have found useful in
their career orientation and job searches. In the two years that have passed, the SFAA
has updated and prepared the second edition of the Career in Finance Orientation
Guide (the Guide). Our objective remains to provide practical advice to help you
determine if Finance is the right choice for you and, if it is, what functional areas
and/or business segments of Finance suit you best. Towards this end, we have added
two chapters to the Guide, which provide practical suggestions and insights towards
starting your careers. In Chapter 4, we also provide a framework for effectively
targeting your job search efforts to maximize your chances of landing the first career-
launching following your business education. In Chapter 5, we further discuss the
recent developments in financial technology and its impact to jobs in the financial
services sector and your career choices.

1
 We are two years farther down the road to economic recovery after the 2008 – 2009
COORDINATED BY: Financial Crisis, but the business world and financial industry are by no means more
Gregory Pau stable or less uncertain. U.S. protectionism has heightened with NAFTA at risk and
(BBA ’88, MBA ’89) a potential all-out trade war brewing with U.S. trading partners; Brexit’s outcome
Meggie Lee (IMBA ’12) remains uncertain as March 2019 approaches; the refugee influx to Europe has drawn
different responses from governments; and tensions have risen between the United
Taha Amiralli (MBA ’14)
States and the European Union. All of these topical issues make business and financial
planning challenging. Despite strong economic performances in developed countries
CONTRIBUTED BY: in the past two years, businesses and financial institutions have remained hesitant
Schulich Finance Alumni to expand their hiring of business graduates. In addition, with advancing technology
in Finance (see Chapter 6 for in Finance (artificial intelligence, blockchain, etc.), new jobs are emerging, certain
contributors) old job types are shrinking while responsibilities and skill requirements for other
positions have continually changed, making choosing his or her career path a critical
decision for every graduate. In this context, the job search process continues to be
IN COLLABORATION WITH:
highly competitive, creating anxiety for business students in the Finance world.
Schulich Alumni Relations
To succeed in this challenging environment and to finally hear the long-awaited
Schulich Career words, “You’re hired!” are wonderful experiences for graduates, who expect Schulich
Development Centre
to be the start to a rewarding career and return on educational investment. This is
Schulich Finance also the experience Schulich and the SFAA wish for our students.
Alumni Association
Our team of Schulich Alumni in Finance has been where you are – we have made
Schulich Finance Association
important career choices since graduation, worked hard and achieved or are on
the way to achieving career advancements in our selected paths. Finance itself is a
broad area with different options and each of us has a different story. Nonetheless,
looking back on our own experiences and choices, we believe that two crucial
elements enable students to become competitive in their job searches and increase
their chances of embarking on a lucrative path: self-awareness and preparation. In
this Guide, we share our experiences and ideas and hope that they will be insightful
and beneficial to your own.

2
2
Self-Awareness –
CHAPTER

a First Step toward

Career Success

Self-Awareness is the first and most critical step

toward getting the job that launches a successful
career. Having a conscious knowledge of one’s own
character, strengths, skills and interests often helps
professionals (1) focus their job searches on what suits
them, (2) excel in their roles, (3) facilitate continued
learning on the job and (4) identify and pursue career
advancement opportunities.

Students entering business school often ask: “How do I know my core strengths
and interests?” There is no single answer to this question and the paths toward
self-awareness differ. In some cases, students are interested or naturally gifted in
certain areas from an early age, even before taking their core courses. In other cases,
students find summer internships or co-op programs, which are great opportunities
to identify their strengths and interests in a professional setting. Still, in other
cases, many graduates and seasoned professionals alike simply stumble by chance
into certain companies, functional areas or roles that they find interesting and
in which they feel comfortable. This may happen in companies’ rotational programs
or internal job placements.

Not all jobs in the Finance industry are similar. In fact, many job functions and
business segments are quite different, requiring different skill sets and personal
attributes to succeed. The skills and experience required for a successful
corporate-banking relationship manager are unlike those required for a seasoned
credit-risk adjudicator, even though both are essential to corporate banks. Likewise,
skills required for a market risk-management professional are different from
those required for a sell-side investment banker, even though both are essential
to investment banks.

With so many types of jobs and areas in Finance, students may find their job searches
and preparation disorienting. When the Alumni shared and discussed our own
career experiences, we realized that, while there are many diverse opportunities and
careers, they could be broadly categorized into Finance-Focused Careers and
Finance-Versatile Careers as defined and elaborated as follows.

3
 Chapter 2: Self-Awareness – a First Step toward Career Success

• FINANCE-FOCUSED CAREERS
The following two resources Ideally suited to Finance professionals who possess (or have the aptitude to
are useful references for the acquire) and are passionate about high levels of proficiency in certain core skill sets
various roles in the Financial required for selected areas of Finance (such skills will be described in more detail
Services industry: in Section 3A of the Guide). Career progression is based on in-depth knowledge
and experiences in these skills and strong problem-solving ability. Some examples

1 Financial Services
Career Advisor
of these relevant functional areas include: Equity Research, Asset and Wealth
Management, Credit Analysis and Adjudication, Credit Portfolio Management,
(developed by the Market Risk Management, Derivatives Analysis, Actuarial Science and Compliance.
Toronto Financial Services
Alliance (TFSA)) • FINANCE-VERSATILE CAREER
To view the in-demand Ideally suited to Finance professionals who have interest in and solid knowledge
careers in Financial Services of Finance, but also of multiple non-finance skill sets such as marketing, sales,
(e.g., Role, Career Path, people management, operation management or negotiation. They develop flexible
Career Impact), visit: sets of skills from business education and from working experience, and enjoy
www.explorefinancial
using these diverse skills in job performance (such skills will be discussed in detail
services.com/Careers
in Section 3B of the Guide). Career progression is based more on the ability to
You can also create a profile acquire and apply multiple skills on the job rather than in-depth expertise in any
to view your personalized particular one. Versatility also offers the possibility of transitioning from one
career matches at: function to another during their careers. Some examples of these job areas include:
www.explorefinancial Corporate Banking, Commercial Banking, Private Banking, Sell-Side Investment
services.com/CareerMatches
Banking, Financial Advisory, Banking Operations, Banking Product Management
and Strategy Management.
2 Financial Services
Career Map
While the Alumni recommend that job-seeking students keep options open,
(Developed by the Canadian
understanding their interests, inherent skills and personality traits could lead to a
Securities Institute (CSI))
better appreciation of which broad career type would offer them the best chance
To learn about diverse to develop a successful and enjoyable career and how to tailor their job searches
career roles, visit: accordingly. Based on our experiences as interviewers in the hiring process or in
www.csi.ca/student/en_ca/
discussions with students and recent graduates, it becomes clear that those who lack
careermap/index.xhtml
self-awareness are more likely to struggle, experience higher levels of frustration
Note: The CSI and TSFA and rejection and may end up making sub-optimal career changes as a result of
websites are only provided disappointment in earlier choices.
as resources to explore career
options. Schulich Alumni As the job market remains challenging, graduates may not be able to land the
and Schulich do not endorse ideal job that launches their intended career on their first try. If you do not have the
or recommend any external majority of skills required for your intended career path, you might want to search
courses. for and start with a different job that allows you to develop the skills you need.
It is important to get your foot in the door. On the other hand, if you determine that
a certain job or career path is suitable and ideal for you, start laying the ground
work and work toward acquiring the necessary skill sets. Don’t be discouraged that
you are not qualified right now because, if you stay focused and work hard, you will
become qualified.

A long career that spans 25 years or more could be all the more satisfying, both
monetarily and in terms of self-fulfillment, if you approach the important step
of self-awareness seriously and try to find a job that aligns with your core interests
and strengths. After all, we all learn faster and perform better in our eight- to
ten-hour working days if we find what we do rewarding and fun. We wish you all
the best in your journey to self-awareness, an effective job search process and a
rewarding career path.

4
 3
Career Experiences
CHAPTER

from the
Contributing Alumni

Each alumnus contributing to the Guide has generously

The following are the
contributing alumni with shared his or her personal career story and has
Finance-Focused Career
experiences. Read their addressed a number of questions that are frequently
personal advice to students
with hyperlinks to their
asked by students or recent graduates regarding
full contributions found in
Chapter 6 of this Guide:
self-awareness, preparation, first jobs and subsequent
career progression.
Carrie Chai (MBA ’11)
Director, Internal Ratings
Management, Scotiabank
We have summarized key points based on the stories of two groups of Alumni – those
Richard Digioacchino who pursued a Finance-Focused Career and those who pursued a Finance-Versatile
(MBA ’03) Career – in Sections 3A and 3B below, respectively. Since a summary cannot capture
Vice President, Trading Floor every point of each contributor’s insightful and rich career story, we provide hyperlinks
Risk Management, Scotiabank
to their full accounts in Chapter 6.
Conrad Fernandes (MBA ’15)
Associate Director,
Group Risk Management Credit, SECTION 3A: FINANCE-FOCUSED CAREERS
Royal Bank of Canada
Nine of the contributing alumni (the Focused Team) have embarked on a Finance-
Valeriya Kolobashkina
Focused Career in functional areas, including: Fixed-Income Analysis, Credit Portfolio
(MF ’14)
Senior Manager, Exposure and
Risk Management, Credit Assessment and Adjudication, Asset Management,
Capital Analysis, Global Risk Market Risk Management and Equity Research. We have summarized their answers
Management, Scotiabank to four key career-related questions, through which they share their experiences
and suggestions to students.
Rick Kotick (MBA ’06)
Head, Competitive Intelligence
& Sales Enablement,
RBC Global Asset Management 1. Why did I choose to pursue a career in Finance?
Gregory Pau While each alumnus has a unique story, we found some common ways
(BBA ’88, MBA ’89)
the Focused Team discovered its interests and strengths in Finance:
Lecturer in Finance,
Schulich School of Business • All alumni on the Focused Team found strong interest in subjects that
Raj Ray (MBA ’09) require analytical skills and logical thinking as well as their application to
Vice President, Precious Metals real-world situations.
& Mining, Desjardins Securities
• All think that their possession of strong quantitative skills and affinity for
Andy Thi (BBA ’12)
working with and interpreting numbers have influenced their career choices.
Credit Analyst, Fixed Income,
Foyston Gordon & Payne Inc. • All have indicated that they enjoyed the Finance courses at Schulich,
June Wang (MF ’11) which have helped to cement their interests in Finance.
Senior Financial Analyst
• Many have also realized that they enjoy the subject matter and reading
Valuation Analytics, Ontario
Teachers’ Pension Plan
in Finance-related materials more than those in other streams in their business
school programs.

5
 Chapter 3: Career Experiences from the Contributing Alumni

• During their studying years, some alumni discussed their initial interests
with professors, alumni, upper-year students and/or friends in the industry and
learned more about the different areas of Finance. The discussions provided the
alumni with valuable insights that helped them make their own career choices.

• Some alumni went to business school to change careers. While entering

a new area of Finance, they have been able to apply their previous experiences
(in engineering and mining, for example) in their selected jobs and careers
in the industry.

• Many were attracted to our specific functional areas in Finance and found them
fascinating because the opportunities and career progression require continued
learning and application of analytical skills and expertise in problem solving.

2. H
 ow did I earn my first job to start
my career in Finance?
Getting the first job in our desired career is often difficult, given the intense
competition from other business graduates and more experienced professionals
seeking employment. Alumni on the Focused Team offered three suggestions
to improve the chances of securing the invaluable job opportunity that launches
your career:

• PROACTIVE NETWORKING
Proactive networking is an important way to be noticed by experienced
professionals and goes beyond simply attending networking events. This involves
showing up well prepared, researching job functions and requirements in the
targeted career area and the key firms likely to hire in this area as well as showing
that you are passionate, equipped and confident. Such diligent preparation will
enhance your chance of giving an excellent first impression to professionals, who
may end up referring you for job opportunities that arise. Students may refer to
the Glossary section of this Guide for some interesting websites that could improve
networking skills and methods.

• INTERNSHIP OR CONTRACT POSITIONS

Four alumni on the Focused Team who held summer internship, co-op or contract
positions during their business education have been hired back by their respective
employers after graduation. These part-time positions are useful to students in
many ways. First, these roles give students an opportunity to impress potential
industry employers with their good work ethic and to apply educational knowledge
to real-world situations. Once the employer identifies a strong candidate, he or she
is likely to be offered a full-time position after graduation. Second, students may
also gain a better understanding of whether the specific job function represents an
area to develop in his or her own career. If the answer is yes, students could then
choose elective courses that facilitate future career development and better target
his or her job search in these areas.

6
• PLANNING AND PREPARATION
Planning and preparation are key. These involve:

A. Highlighting skills and experiences (including those acquired prior

to your business education) that are relevant to your targeted job area
prominently on your resume;

B. Carefully reviewing the job descriptions of positions to which you are

applying and researching the areas in which you have limited experience
before interviews;

C. Showing enthusiasm for as well as technical knowledge and experience

in your targeted area (e.g., conduct equity valuation on selected companies,
write equity-research reports on them and be ready to discuss them during
interviews for an equity-research position); and

D. Acknowledging that you do not know every subject, but showing your
curiosity and eagerness to learn during interviews.

3. What do interviewers look for

in potential candidates?
From our experience as both interviewers and candidates looking for jobs, the
Alumni on the Focused Team believe that interviewers for entry-level positions for
graduates generally look for the following characteristics:

• T
 RAINABILITY
Since employers are investing in training you to be proficient, they normally
prefer candidates who have a strong aptitude and a good attitude toward
learning and application; therefore, candidates who demonstrate a willingness
to learn and perform as well as solid work ethics and good technical skills are
likely to have an advantage.

• PROFESSIONALISM
Interviewers also look for candidates who have a high level of professional
integrity and who work well with colleagues and/or clients.

• ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS, APPLICATION AND CRITICAL THINKING

For certain job functions that require strong analytical skills, particularly (but
not limited to) asset management, risk management as well as credit and equity
research, interviewers also emphasize academic achievements, application and
critical thinking as well as thoroughness and attention to detail. Attainment
of or progress toward a Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) designation often gives
the candidate a decisive advantage.

• COMMUNICATION AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS

Effective communication, both in writing and presentation, is an important
skill for any effective Finance professional. Interviewers favour candidates who
can demonstrate their ability to communicate their analysis or work in a clear
and competent manner. In addition, interviewers also look for good leadership
skills and the ability to take initiative when needed.

7
 Chapter 3: Career Experiences from the Contributing Alumni

• QUALIFICATION AND CERTIFICATIONS

Qualification and certifications such as CFA, Financial Risk Manager (FRM) and
Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) are increasingly valued and sought after
by interviewers of potential candidates. Students who are progressing toward
a certification could be in an advantageous position compared with those who
have not yet begun. The CFA is more relevant for positions in credit and equity,
capital markets, asset management, investment banking and corporate finance
while the FRM is more important for professionals in market-risk management,
credit-risk management and compliance. While most CPAs tend to pursue careers
in accounting, strong accounting skills are often an advantage to applicants for
Finance jobs such as preparing financial statements (e.g., financial control, internal
audit, treasury) or users of such statements (e.g., credit analysis, adjudications and
equity research).

4. Once I got my first job, how did I progress

to the current position?
The path from the first job to the current position was quite different for every
alumnus on the Focused Team, depending on opportunities available and the nature
of the job; however, there are also some common factors that contribute to career
progression, including:

• ACCUMULATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE

This is the one of the main factors contributing to career progression in a Finance-
Focused career. Continued learning, expanded expertise and experience are often
main considerations for future career advancements.

• JOB PERFORMANCES
Applying knowledge and experience to produce quality work, good
recommendations and decisions as well as applicable solutions to problems are
abilities that distinguish an excellent performer from an average one in promotion
decisions. This also enables a performer to gain a reputation within the industry,
which leads to potential recruitment opportunities from other employers.

• HELPFULNESS AND DEDICATION

Willingness to do more than required is identified by five alumni of the Focused
Team as crucial to their career progression. Such effort often puts the Finance
professional in good light by showing dedication, fostering team spirit and forming
relationships with colleagues.

• ADAPTATION TO CHANGING ENVIRONMENT

In today’s fast-changing Finance industry with developing products, increasing
regulations and occasional shocks to markets, five alumni on the Focused Team have
identified the ability to adapt quickly to changing environments as a key success
factor in their jobs. Such adaptability requires a professional to keep updating his or
her knowledge, think critically and develop strong problem-solving skills; these skills
will enhance the professional’s chance of being considered for promotion.

• NETWORKING AND REPUTATION

One alumnus identified building relationships with colleagues and a reputation
within the firm as important for those who explore different roles within their
expertise throughout their careers.

8
The following are the SECTION 3B: FINANCE-VERSATILE CAREERS
contributing alumni with Nine of the contributing alumni (the Versatile Team) have embarked on a Finance-
Finance-Versatile Career Versatile Career in functional areas, including: Commercial Banking, Corporate
experience. Their personal
Banking, Private Equity, Strategy and Planning, Tax and Audit as well as Technology.
advice to students and
Each alumnus on the Versatile Team comes from a rather unique background and also
hyperlinks to their full
contributions can be found in
pursues his or her career in different roles; hence, the summary below demonstrates
Chapter 6 of the Guide: a mosaic of their answers to five career-related questions. Students should be able to
pick and apply what is most relevant to their personal situations.
Taha Amiralli (MBA ’14)
Senior Product Manager,
Digital Banking, Scotiabank
1. Why did I choose to pursue a career in Finance?
Mandeep Anand (MBA ’13)
Assistant Vice President, Each alumnus on the Versatile Team has chosen a career in Finance for different
Commercial Associate, Bank of reasons. One common element for all Versatile alumni is that they find Finance to
America Merrill Lynch be interesting and think they can excel in it regardless of their background. Here is a
Diana Arsenyan (MBA ’14) collection of their motivations for pursuing Finance:
Senior Accountant, Assurance
Services, Ernst & Young
• Belief that financial management is a great foundation of knowledge and skills
required to better understand business and make better business decisions.
Heston D’Souza (MBA ’15)
Relationship Manager, • The desire for career advancement and financial freedom at a younger age.
Corporate Banking, ICICI Bank
• Five of the alumni on the Versatile Team cited the desire for a career change as their
Canada
impetus for finding a career in Finance. Four had an engineering background and
Cindy Jin (MBA ’17) were attracted to Finance because of their comfort with numbers and interest in
Associate, Private Equity interpreting financial figures as well as the business stories behind them. They were
Sponsor Coverage Group, also attracted to the crucial role of financing in business operations and success.
Scotiabank The fifth alumnus had a neuroscience background and saw accounting as a stepping
Meggie Lee (IMBA ’15) stone to the Financial Services industry, which she finds interesting.
Senior Analyst, Statutory
• Seeing banking and finance as a distributive occupation that channels financial
Transfer Pricing, Royal Bank
of Canada
resources to facilitate creative, innovative and entrepreneurial endeavours.

Tej Kumar Mehta (IMBA ’12) • Enjoying decision-making from one transaction to another and the satisfaction of
Client Manager, making the right bets.
Global Banking & Markets,
• From the first job offered in banking after undergraduate studies, gaining interest
HSBC Bank Canada
in commercial and corporate banking on the job.
Ken Shen (MBA ’03)
Independent Management
• Finding specific interests in evaluating companies as well as building financial and
Consultant valuation models.

Shiva Srikantan
(BBA ’11, MBA ’15)
Associate Relationship
Manager, Corporate Banking,
MUFG Bank

9
 Chapter 3: Career Experiences from the Contributing Alumni

2. How did I earn my first job to start my career

in Finance? What did I like about it?
Getting the first job in a Finance-Versatile Career is equally competitive as in Finance-
Focused Careers. Alumni on the Versatile Team found their first jobs in various means
and by understanding what a career in Finance entails. The contributors noted the
following key points:

• CONNECT AND BREAK THE ICE

Connect with experienced bankers through professional interests and common
interests, such as sports. Leveraging personal ability to break the ice with different
individuals, keeping conversation interesting and connecting with people was a key
advantage in helping alumni land their first jobs.

• PROACTIVE NETWORKING
Proactive networking and rigorous preparation before meetings about the people,
their experience and the areas of Finance in which they work. Treat every networking
meeting as an interview. Students may refer to the Glossary section of the Guide for
some interesting websites that could improve networking skills and methods.

• REASSESS INTERESTS AND STRENGTHS

Take what he or she learned from these meetings to reassess interests and
strengths, the types of jobs that are most suitable and the availability of these jobs.

• STUDENT CLUB ACTIVITIES

Through proactive participation in student club activities, the Versatile professionals
impressed external advisors who referred them for their first job.

• NETWORK-BUILDING PROGRAM
Develop a network-building program with clear targets (e.g., meeting at least one
new person per week) and take opportunities to attend different networking
events, information sessions and seminars.

• EXPLAIN REASONS BEHIND CAREER SWITCH

For graduates switching careers, the biggest challenge is to explain why they want
to shift. This can be better explained in person (through networking) than on paper
(in resumes or cover letters). When looking for job opportunities to switch, identify
jobs in which the skills and expertise acquired during your previous career/role can
be applicable or facilitate the learning process and prepare to illustrate it if you are
selected for an interview.

The Versatile Team liked their first jobs because:

• Their personalities were compatible with job requirements, enhancing performance

and career progression.

• The job combined analytical aspects and emphasis on relationship management.

• The job helped them gain experience in Finance and accounting systems.
• Credit analysis provided a good understanding of patterns in financial statements
while making financial decisions.

• They learned multiple skills on the job, including auditing, process management,
product management, understanding of strategy behind risks associated with
product offerings and developing a broad and holistic view of the organization.

• The job provided good exposure to leveraged finance and alternative investment
transactions, financial modeling and other corporate finance analysis.

10
3. Once I got my first job, how did I progress
to the current position?
Similar to the Focused Team, the path from the first job to the current position was
different for every alumnus on the Versatile Team; however, many prefer lateral
movement to vertical movement. Eagerness to explore different fields helped these
alumni to advance in various fields and areas. Here are some crucial career-propelling
factors identified by the contributing alumni:

• Rotation through roles, which enables acquisition of broad skills in areas such as
strategy, planning, corporate development and financial management, all of which
are applicable to the current position.

• Responsiveness to provide solutions and relationship building, which are key success
factors when facing competition on the job.

• Ability to meet clients’ expectations, even when execution of solutions depends on

people or circumstances beyond one’s control.

• Experience in smaller companies where one can take on broader responsibilities,

which could be a key differentiator. Students should be open to taking jobs with
smaller organizations.

• Demonstrated keenness to learn on a consistent basis is usually valued by

hiring managers.

• Communication skills are key to the current role, which focuses on client relationship
management, staff development and developing new business opportunities.

4. What questions should students ask

when networking with you as an experienced
Finance professional?
When asked what questions a business student should ask during a chat over coffee,
the contributing alumni mentioned:

• What is your role and what responsibilities are associated with your job?

• What gets you excited about your job? What makes you passionate about this role?

• What are the skills (hard and soft) and experiences required to be successful
in this role?

• What are the key success factors for this role?

• What are some practical things I should do or learn to start my career in your area?

• What does a “good” day in your job look like for you?

• What are the key challenges in your role and what is the one ball that
you cannot afford to drop?

• What makes your job matter the most to your team, function, firm and society?

• What innovations are taking place in the industry and what is your company
doing to keep up and move with the times?

• What are some projects you are working on and would like to share?

• What courses at Schulich helped to prepare you for your current job?

11
 Chapter 3: Career Experiences from the Contributing Alumni

5. What should students know about

the industry’s culture?
As the contributing alumni perform on the job and make career progression,
they have encountered certain cultural issues in the Finance industry and in their
organizations. Overall, the alumni agree that culture should be one of most
important determinations for choosing a potential company. Agility and teamwork
are also imperative. The alumni highlight some tips for students as they embark
on their career journeys:

• Each organization’s culture is different, so cultural awareness and business

acumen often play a key role in advancing your career.

• Leave your ego behind.

• Relationship building often involves working after hours while deal deadlines
may require working through weekends. Students need to be prepared to go the
extra mile.

• Learning never stops in Finance and constant effort to improve your skills
could put you ahead of your competition.

• Have fun with what you are doing.

• Finance is not about the “Wolf of Wall Street.” A successful Finance professional
needs to work hard, demonstrate new ways of approaching old problems, work
well with people and constantly learn and refine skills.

• The Financial Services industry is facing innovative and disruptive threats,

such as fintech. A successful professional needs to be innovative by contributing
ideas; developing strong technical, analytical and interpersonal skills; and
having a strong work ethic.

• Increasing regulatory pressure is changing the capital markets industry and

pushing toward a more compliance- and risk-averse culture.

12
4
Skills and
CHAPTER

Jobs Matching

Time flies. As valuable and memorable as the time

spent on your business education has been, graduation
is just around the corner. Ideally, entering your
final year, you already understand your strengths and
interests and know whether you are leaning toward
pursuing a “Finance-Focused” or “Finance-Versatile”
career path.

By now, you have also selected the elective courses that help build your foundation
and competencies, started to build your networks and are preparing resumes and
job applications. At this stage, and unless there is a career to go back to, students
often wonder where to apply for their first job in Finance. Many students or recent
graduates target their job search toward specific business segments or broad
financial institutions, stating that they want to find a job in an investment bank,
corporate bank or insurance company.

Although this is a convenient way of targeting your efforts, it may not be optimal.
This is because there are often many job functions in each of these business segments
that require very different skill sets and personalities. For example, sell-side
investment bankers, buy-side fixed-income researchers and trading-floor operation
managers are job functions that require very different skills and lead to different
careers but all can be found in investment banks. By focusing your applications on
jobs in investment banks only, you may risk applying for and landing an investment-
banking job that does not suit you. This could potentially lead to weak job
performances as a result of mismatched interests or competencies. This in turn could
necessitate a career change later and possible delay in career progression.

At the same time, many job functions exist in almost all types of financial institutions.
An example of this is credit-risk adjudicators, who are needed in and transferrable
between commercial banks, corporate banks, investment banks, asset-management
firms and credit-rating agencies. Again, by focusing job applications on investment
banks only, you may miss out on attractive opportunities in other business segments
in financial institutions.

13
 Chapter 4: Career Readiness

Instead, the alumni believe that students should assess suitability of jobs during
The survey respondents also their job search by asking these questions:
added the following comments:
1. Do I possess or am I able to acquire quickly the skills required for the jobs posted?
Would skills acquired in previous working experience be readily transferrable?
• Students need to gain
hands-on real-world 2. Is the nature of the job posted likely to lead to a career path that suits my
experience during university strengths and interests (as I have discovered in my self-awareness effort)?
studies to prepare for work,
recommending internships
Answering “yes” to both questions is often a good indication that the job and its
as the best way to gain such
intended career path are likely to be suitable for you. This will also offer you a good
experience.
opportunity – alongside vigorous preparation, of course – to do well in interviews,
•  Candidates who can during which you can explain your interest in the job as well as showcase the passion
demonstrate and articulate that interviewers seek and demonstrate why your skills make you a good match
their career readiness
for the job. It is important to note that, even if you answer “yes” to both questions,
usually enjoy a competitive
there may still be skills that you either need to acquire or improve. To find the
advantage over and are more
courses or other means to acquire those skills, you may want to consult the resources
likely to be promoted more
quickly than those who are available at Schulich, such as the Career Development Centre and the Faculty or
less career-ready. the alumni who have experience in the functions.

•  Candidates who are focused The alumni group has collated and summarized a set of 28 job functions, their
and have a clear sense of respective job responsibilities and skill requirements in a Job-Type Table documented
career aspirations, direction in Appendix 4-A. Contents of the table are based on experiences from various
and goals will also have
alumni and information from TFSA’s website: www.tfsa.ca/explorefinancialservices/
an advantage over other
in-demand-careers. While we think the table is a useful generic reference for
candidates.
students, we caution that there could be differences in responsibilities and skill
•  Candidates could speed requirements for the same job function in different organizations as a result
up and strengthen their of differing business mix and focus, organizational setup and job seniority.
career growth process by Students are advised to review the responsibilities and skill requirements in the
seeking career development
“Job Description” and “Skills Required” section of each specific job posting when
opportunities, engaging
considering its suitability and fit.
with mentors and showing
flexibility, responsiveness
The “Jobs-Skills Map” Summary Table in Appendix 4-B provides students an
and willingness to learn and
easier reference to compare the different job functions and skill requirements.
perform.
In the Appendix, we have grouped all skill requirements in nine wide-ranging
groups as follows:

CORE FINANCE SKILLS OTHER SKILLS

• Product knowledge in • People and relationship skills

financial institutions • Operations and process
• Analytical and research skills management
• Legal and regulatory frameworks • Project management
• Data, quantitative and • Audit and accounting
computing skills • Information technology

14
The “Jobs-Skills Map” could be a useful tool and we suggest you consider these steps
when finalizing resumes, applying for jobs and preparing for interviews:

STEP 1: Review each skill set in the right-most column (under “Specific Skill Sets”
heading on page 24) and identify those that you either (i) already possess
from pre-business education experience, (ii) have acquired or are acquiring
at Schulich or (iii) are confident about learning.

STEP 2: Map the skill sets that you have selected in Step 1 to the nine broad
groups across the top. Identify which broad skill groups you have strong
competencies and interests.

STEP 3: Examine the job types in each row and shortlist those that best match your
personal skill sets. You may find it useful to refer to the more detailed table
schulich.yorku.ca/sfaafocused for more specific skills required for each job.

STEP 4: Search the job postings available that are consistent with the job types
that you just shortlisted in Step 3. Review the job postings carefully to
understand the specific job descriptions, responsibilities and skills required.

STEP 5: Update your resume and write your cover letter to highlight how your skill
sets match the job requirements and to demonstrate how your passion and
interest align with the job.

It is important to emphasize that these tables represent a sample of common job

types and are by no means exhaustive. They are meant to be used as a step-by-step
guiding tool to help you focus your job search. As you go through job postings, you
may find other job types not listed above. The tables above could still be helpful as
you can complete Steps 1 and 2 and then jump directly to Step 4 to assess whether
your selected skills match the skill requirements for the job. Once you conclude that
there is a good match, proceed to Step 5 and get yourself ready.

Now that you have a tool to help focus your job search, all you need to land the job
that launches your career is preparation, a positive and confident attitude, patience
and a bit of luck. The Alumni group would like to direct your attention to Chapters 3
to 6 of another useful career guide entitled, Ultimate Career Guide by Robert Hines
and Simon Beck in partnership with the Career Development Centre – issuu.com/
schulichschool/docs/schulich-cdc-careerguide-web. These chapters provide useful
guidance in resumes and cover letters, networking, use of LinkedIn and social media
and interview preparation. Finally, the alumni wish you the best of luck in your job
search and success as you progress in your career.

15
16
APPENDIX 4A: JOB TYPE TABLE

Front & Back Office

CAREER PATHS JOB TYPES ALSO KNOWN AS SEGMENT JOB RESPONSIBILITIES SKILLS REQUIRED

Versatile Relationship Account Manager Corporate Banking – Manage a portfolio of client relationship – Relationship management and selling skills
Manager Credit Officer Commercial Banking – Develop and sell products and – Problem-solving
services to new clients – Knowledge of financial products
Private Banker
– Collaborate with other service divisions – Negotiation and conflict management skills
– Financial analysis skills

Versatile Client Service Sales Representative Retail Banking – Provide detailed info, recommendations – Relationship management skills
Chapter 4: Skills and Jobs Matching

Representative Product Sales Wealth Management and advices on products / services to clients – Sales and service orientation
– Respond to clients’ requests – Product and service knowledges
Insurance Sales Insurance Companies
– Conflict management skills
Retail Broker Stockbrokers

Focused Debt Recovery Collection Officer Corporate Banking – Maximize recovery of debt from – Financial and collateral analysis
Associate Debt Restructuring Commercial Banking clients in arrears – Knowledge of products and services
Specialist – Negotiate resolution and recommend actions – Negotiation and conflict management skills
Retail Banking
– Implement debt recovery solutions – Understanding of legal and
Work-out Specialist
– Initiate and follow up on litigations, regulatory frameworks
if necessary

Focused Fund Fund Performance Fund Management – Analyze and report Net Asset Values – Accounting and cash flow analysis skills
Accountant Evaluator Investment Banking of funds and investment portfolio – Knowledge of investment
– Maintenance of accounting systems products and trading
and application – Knowledge of regulatory and
– Conduct research on fund performance legal frameworks
comparisons – Analytical thinking and
problem-solving skills
– Details orientation

Focused Transaction Operations Officer All Financial – Process transactions in accordance – Ability to process / reconcile large
Processor Institutions with established procedures volumes of information
– Resolve inquiries regarding – Details orientation / ability to ensure
these transactions accuracy and identify discrepancies
– Ensure quality standards are met – Knowledge of regulatory polices
with accuracy and procedures
– Ensure record keeping for audit trail – Analytical thinking and
problem-solving skills

Focused Trading & Dealer All Financial – Research on factors affecting market prices – Understanding of market dynamics
Sales Trader Institutions (exchange rates, interest rates, equity prices) and factors affecting market prices
– Generate and implement trading strategy – Knowledge on financial and
Treasury Officer
– Match sell and buy orders and Execute investment products
trade orders and earn a spread – Analytical thinking and ability to
– Take proprietary trading position within interpret events and market movements
prescribed risk limits and try to maximize – Numeric and ability to conceptualize
capital gains profits and loss of trade transactions
– Maintain relationship with trading
counterparties
 APPENDIX 4A: JOB TYPE TABLE

Front & Back Office continued

CAREER PATHS JOB TYPES ALSO KNOWN AS SEGMENT JOB RESPONSIBILITIES SKILLS REQUIRED

Focused Trading Floor Treasury Operations All Financial – Review trading floor transactions to – Knowledge of trading floor operations
Operations Treasury Institutions ensure prompt settlement of all trades and settlement process
– Ensure all trades and trading positions – Knowledge of credit risk and market risk
Administration
are accurately recorded limit setting and monitoring
– Ensure compliance of traders’ trading – Familiarity of trading agreements
and position limits (ISDA), mark to market process and collateral
– Report any discrepancies, limit violation, requirements
delayed settlement and collateral posting – Knowledge of financial and
to risk management investment products

Versatile Product Product Financial Institutions – Conduct usability tests with end users – Relationship Management Skills
Management Development and other product- – Discussions with users regarding deliverables – Business development and selling skills
based organizations in business operations and performance – Leadership Skills across functions
improvements – Product development skills
– Document business, system and data flows
– Provide advices to development team on
new system production and testing
– Facilitate roll-out and implementation of
new system functionality
– Review to align processes to changing
business conditions and new products
– Develop feasibility studies, cost/benefits/risk
assessments for technology projects.
– Document business, system and data flows

Focused Corporate — Financial Institutions – Research to identify business and – Relationship management and
Development and other product- deal opportunities interpersonal skills
based organizations – Use financial modeling to forecast – Financial and statistical analysis and
corporations’ future cash flow and valuation modelling skills
– Pitch to customers on potential revenue- – Data interpretation and communication skills
generating deals such as debt/equity – Team collaboration
issuances, underwriting and merger – Knowledge of regulatory and legal policy
and acquisitions and procedures
– Coordinate efforts between Research,
capital market, underwriting, legal and other
teams to structure and negotiate deals

17
18
APPENDIX 4A: JOB TYPE TABLE

Project Management & Analysis and Advanced Analytics

CAREER PATHS JOB TYPES ALSO KNOWN AS SEGMENT JOB RESPONSIBILITIES SKILLS REQUIRED

Focused Data Scientist / Data Analytics Corporate Banking – Explore and analyze large volume of data – Knowledge in data mining, processing
Analyst Specialist – Build data programming, modelling and reporting
Retail Banking
Data Analytics and mining – Statistical analysis and modelling skills
Insurance Companies – Communicate analytical findings and – Analytical thinking and
Officer
Private Banking & recommendations problem-solving skills
Wealth Management – Identify data-driven opportunities – Data interpretation and
for improvements in processes and communication skills
Chapter 4: Skills and Jobs Matching

customer relationships – Financial analysis skills

Focused Financial Research Analyst Corporate Finance – Research and analysis of current and – Financial analysis skills.
Analyst Financial Controller historical financial information – Knowledge of financial regulations
All Financial
– Participate in budgeting and – Knowledge in economics, accounting,
Financial Modeller Institutions
variance analysis financial markets and banking
– Build financial models for forecasting – Data interpretation and
and sensitivity analysis communication skills
– Prepare financial reports, with
interpretation and recommendations on
potential courses of action

Versatile Performance Quality Analyst All Financial – Develop corporate data warehouses – Database architecture and design skills
Analyst Institutions and tools to obtain relevant data – Knowledge in data mining, warehousing,
– Define, design and develop analytical processing and reporting
solutions to meet business needs and – Data interpretation and
cross-product initiatives communication skills
– Maintain and improve analytics, reporting – Facilitation, negotiation and
and relevance in delivering consistent problem-solving skills
information and insights – Knowledge of financial services
operations and processes

Versatile Program Project Leader All organizations – Set standards for project – Expertise in project and
Management Project Management management capabilities change management
Officer – Establish Project Management Office – Budget, cost and profitability
structure, operations and staffing management skills
Change
requirements – Knowledge of resource management
Management Officer
– Track and provide project status and – Strategic thinking and leadership skills
audit reports – Facilitation, negotiation and
– Manage risks, issues and conflict problem-solving skills
resolution process
– Prioritize projects based on value,
impact and strategic alignment
 APPENDIX 4A: JOB TYPE TABLE

Risk & Insurance

CAREER PATHS JOB TYPES ALSO KNOWN AS SEGMENT JOB RESPONSIBILITIES SKILLS REQUIRED

Focused Actuary Actuarial Officer Life Insurance – Create mathematical model to evaluate and – Expertise in statistical and quantitative
Actuarial Modeller General Insurance probabilities of occurrence of risk events theories, modelling and applications
– Assign monetary value to such risk events to – Knowledge of financial service businesses
determine insurance premiums and operations
– Make recommendation on risk, design – Knowledge of specific insurance products
and structure of insurance products, – Skills in database design, modelling
reserves required to cover claims and other and analysis
risk mitigants

Focused Claims Claim Assessment Life Insurance – Meet and discuss with claimants – Knowledge of policy coverage, liability
Adjuster Officer General Insurance for detailed information on events and limits and reinsurance policies
Claim Evaluator assessment of loss – Experience in investigative procedures
– Review details of claims against insurance and documentation
policies to determine approval, further – Analytical thinking and
review or decline of payments problem-solving skills
– Liaise with claimants and experts and – Communication skills
provide regular updates – Detailed orientation

Focused Insurance Insurance Officer Life Insurance – Evaluate insurance applications for risk – Mathematical and quantitative analysis skills
Underwriter General Insurance levels and recommended premiums – Analytical and decision-making skills in
– Determine terms and conditions insurance policy applications
contracts (including terms, conditions – Knowledge of financial services business
and coverages) and operations
– Provide underwriting advices and answer – Customer focus and collaboration
inquiries from brokers and customers – Knowledge of information and
communication technologies

Focused Credit Risk Credit Approver Corporate Banking – Assess credit applications and assess – Ability to assess financial, quantitative
Adjudicator Credit Underwriter Commercial Banking key risk factors and qualitative information to form
– Negotiate and recommend terms, a credit opinion
Counterparty Credit Investment Banking
conditions, pricing and structure for – Knowledge on lending, other credit and
Risk Manager
credit approval investment and treasury products
– Making credit decision within – Experience in accounting practices,
credit authority financial modelling and research
– Train staff on credit policies and – Understanding business operations and
credit approval process data interpretation
– Review and maintain credit policies, – Knowledge on credit agreements,
response to changes in credit practices legal and insolvency frameworks
and regulations – Knowledge of regulatory and legal policies
– Communication skills

19
20
APPENDIX 4A: JOB TYPE TABLE

Risk & Insurance continued

CAREER PATHS JOB TYPES ALSO KNOWN AS SEGMENT JOB RESPONSIBILITIES SKILLS REQUIRED

Focused Credit Credit Operation Corporate Banking – Review credit agreements to ensure terms – Knowledge of credit approval process,
Administrator Officer Commercial Banking and conditions are consistent with credit lending products, credit structure, credit and
approval requirement security agreements
Investment Banking
– Safe keep all credit and security agreements – Administrative skills and detail orientation
– Track credit review process as required by – Knowledge of financial and
credit policy and guidelines investment products
– Monitor payments and collateral conditions – Understanding of the bank’s credit and
Chapter 4: Skills and Jobs Matching

are consistent with credit agreements risk management policies

through loan tenor and report to risk
management any violations

Focused Risk Analyst Credit Analyst Corporate Banking – Research, source and review data relevant – Ability to analyze complex data into reports
Fixed-Income Commercial Banking to the specific risk areas (credit, market or that can be used by decision makers
Research Analyst operation risks) – Quantitative, analytic modelling and
Investment Banking
– Understand potential impacts from each computer programming skills
Market Risk Analyst
risk area to overall business – Knowledge of risk and credit management
– Prepare reports on risk exposure and – Knowledge of regulatory and legal policy
suggested mitigants and procedures
– Support business managers to respond – Research, analytical and reporting skills
to identified risk exposures
– Ensure consistency of business practices
with risk policies

Focused Risk Modeller Portfolio Risk All Financial – Work with business to define – Knowledge of statistical modelling
Manager Institutions risk parameters techniques, database architecture and
Market Risk – Research and build mathematical and design, and financial analysis
Modeller statistical models to quantify risk exposures – Ability to understand changes in
– Report assumptions, methodology and market trends
Value-at-Risk
outputs of risk models – Ability to interpret and translate complex
Modeller
– Stress test models to ensure consistency outputs to provide insights
and quality – Knowledge of information and
– Adjust and improve models as needed communication technology, programming
and design
 APPENDIX 4A: JOB TYPE TABLE

Financial Advisory & Investment Management

CAREER PATHS JOB TYPES ALSO KNOWN AS SEGMENT JOB RESPONSIBILITIES SKILLS REQUIRED

Versatile Financial Financial Product Retail Banking – Sell financial and investment products – Analytical thinking and
Advisor Sales Commercial Banking (prospecting, selling and negotiating terms problem-solving skills
Investment Product of services) – Relationship management skills
Financial Planning
Sales – Negotiate with product suppliers on rates – Knowledge of financial services business
Wealth Management
– Maintain customer relationships and operations and financial products
introduce new financial products to them – Knowledge of regulatory and legal policies
– Provide financial planning advice to achieve – Proficiency in financial projection techniques
customers’ financial goals

Versatile Investment Capital Markets Investment Banking – Research to identify business and – Relationship management and
Banker Associate deal opportunities interpersonal skills
Mergers & – Use financial modeling to forecast – Financial and statistical analysis and
Acquisitions corporations’ future cash flow and valuation modelling skills
Associate – Pitch to customers on potential revenue- – Data interpretation and
generating deals such as debt/equity communication skills
Sales & Trading
issuances, underwriting and merger – Team collaboration
Associate
and acquisitions – Knowledge of investment products and
– Coordinate efforts between research, capital financial instruments
market, underwriting, legal and other teams – Knowledge of regulatory and
to structure and negotiate deals legal policy and procedures
– Knowledge of credit and market risk
management in the finance sector

Versatile Portfolio Fund Manager Asset / Fund – Develop investment policies, target asset mix – Research and analytical skills
Manager Investment Manager Management and strategies for the portfolio – Data interpretation and
Investment Banking – Conduct investments and trading for communication skills
Asset Manager
the portfolio – Knowledge of financial products
Insurance Companies
– Measure and evaluate portfolio – Knowledge of investment theory and
performance against targets portfolio management
– Ensure compliance of target asset mix,
investment strategies and regulatory
requirements
– Maintain relationships and communicate
with investors on changes in portfolio,
market trends and return

21
22
APPENDIX 4A: JOB TYPE TABLE

Financial Advisory & Investment Management continued

CAREER PATHS JOB TYPES ALSO KNOWN AS SEGMENT JOB RESPONSIBILITIES SKILLS REQUIRED

Focused Research Fixed-Income Credit Asset / Fund – Research on trends and developments in – Analytical, research, accounting, financial
Analyst Analyst Management markets, economies and political issues and statistical modelling skills
(Buy-side) Investment Analyst Investment Banking – Analyze risk and return on specific – Knowledge of investment products and
financial assets currently or potentially in financial services operations
Equity Analyst Insurance Companies
the portfolio – Knowledge of regulatory and
Stockbroking
– Recommend to investment committees legal policies and procedures
whether to invest in or divest such – Presentation and communication skills
Chapter 4: Skills and Jobs Matching

financial assets
– Maintain database and financial
spreadsheets on industry and company-
specific data

Versatile Research Fixed-Income Investment Banking – Research on trends and developments in – Analytical, research, accounting, financial
Analyst Research Analyst Corporate Banking markets, economies and political issues and statistical modelling skills
(Sell-side) Equity Research – Analyze risk and return related to financial – Knowledge of investment products and
Stockbroking
Analyst assets to be sold by the company financial services operations
– Prepare pitch book for bidding for capital – Knowledge of regulatory and legal policies
market or M&A mandates to issuers and procedures
– Prepare sell-side research reports to solicit – Presentation and communication skills
interests from potential investors – Relationship management and
– Maintain database and financial interpersonal skills
spreadsheets on industry and company-
specific data

Versatile Specialized Financial Product Retail Banking – Offer specialize financial planning advices – Expertise in one or more of the
Investment Specialist Insurance Companies (relating to trust, estate, tax, offshore specialized investment areas
Advisor Financial Planner investments etc.) to customers – Customer service and relationship
Asset & Wealth
– Maintain up-to-date knowledge management skills
Management
of the specialized investment areas – Analytical, research, and financial
– Understand customers’ financial modelling skills
objectives and recommend appropriate – Knowledge of statistical and
financial products quantitative methods
– Investment and sale management skills
 APPENDIX 4A: JOB TYPE TABLE

Compliance & Audit

CAREER PATHS JOB TYPES ALSO KNOWN AS SEGMENT JOB RESPONSIBILITIES SKILLS REQUIRED

Focused Compliance — All Financial – Review practices and operations to – Knowledge of regulatory and
Officer Institutions assess and ensure adherence to policies legislative policy and procedures for
and regulations the financial sector
– Investigate and identify root causes of – Knowledge of credit and risk management
non-compliance events – Quantitative analysis skills
– Provide guidance and recommendations – High ethical standards and awareness
for corrective actions – Understanding of financial markets and
– Develop and update compliance policies processes in sales, trading, operations,
for the company control and product structuring
– Education and train staff on
compliance matters
– Liaise with regulators on regulatory,
audit and compliance matters

Focused Internal — All Financial – Determine internal audit scope, timing – Knowledge of audit practices and processes
Auditor Institutions and plan in collaboration with compliance – Knowledge of credit and risk management,
and control regulatory and legal policy and procedures
– Conduct audit, review effectiveness – Finance and accounting skills
and consistent adherence of control – Analytical thinking and
and compliance problem-solving skills
– Identify follow-up actions for improvement – High ethical standards and awareness
– Compile audit reports, summary of findings – Experience with accounting and
and recommendation information systems
– Monitor implantation of corrective actions

23
Chapter 4: Skills and Jobs Matching

APPENDIX 4B: FINANCE JOBS-SKILLS HEATMAP

CORE FINANCE
OTHER SKILLS Specific Skill Sets
FUNCTIONS
PROD A&R LEG DQC PEO O&P PM AUD IT CORE FINANCE FUNCTIONS
# of Skill Sets 2 9 1 4 3 3 2 2 2
PROD = Product Knowledge
FRONT & BACK OFFICE Knowledge of Financial & Insurance Products
1 V Relationship Manager 1X 2X 2X Knowledge of Investment Products & Trading

2 V Client Services Representative 1X 2X A&R = Analytical & Research

3 F Debt Recovery Associate 1X 1X 1X 1X Ability to Process Info & Details
Financial & Cash Flow Modelling & Accounting
4 F Fund Accountant 1X 3X 1X
Analytical Thinking & Problem Solving
5 F Transaction Processor 2X 1X Data Interpretation & Communication
6 F Trading & Sales 1X 3X Economics, Accounting & Financial Markets
Knowledge of Credit Agreements &
7 F Trading Floor Operations 2X 2X 1X Legal Frameworks
8 V Product Management 1X 4X 1X 2X 1X 1X 1X Knowledge of Risk Management
Research, Analytical & Reporting Skills
9 F Corporate Development 1X 3X 1X 1X 1X
Investment & Portfolio Management
PROJECT MANAGEMENT & ANALYSIS AND ADVANCED ANALYTICS
LEG = Legal & Regulatory
10 F Data Scientist / Analyst 3X 3X
Legal & Regulatory Frameworks
11 F Financial Analyst 3X 1X
DQC = Data, Quantitative & Computing
12 V Performance Analyst 2X 1X 1X
Data Mining & Analysis
13 V Program Management 3X 2X 2X Statistical Modelling & Computing
RISK & INSURANCE Mathematical & Quantitative Skills
Database Architecture & Design
14 F Actuary 1X 2X 1X
15 F Claims Adjuster 1X 3X 1X OTHER SKILLS
16 F Insurance Underwriter 1X 1X 1X 1X 1X 1X
PEO = People & Relationships
17 F Credit Risk Adjudicator 1X 4X 1X Customer Relationship Management & Sales
18 F Credit Administrator 1X 3X 1X Negotiation & Conflict Management
Leadership & Management
19 F Risk Analyst 3X 1X 3X
O&P = Operations & Processes
20 F Risk Modeller 1X 3X 1X
Time & Change Management
FINANCIAL ADVISORY & INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Process Modelling & Analysis Tool
21 V Financial Advisor 1X 2X 1X 1X Knowledge of Financial Services Operations

22 V Investment Banker 1X 3X 1X 1X 1X PM = Project Management

Project Management Tools
23 V Portfolio Manager 1X 3X 1X
Budget, Cost & Profitability Management
24 F Research Analyst (Buy-side) 1X 3X 1X 1X
AUD = Auditing & Accounting
25 V Research Analyst (Sell-side) 1X 1X 1X 1X 1X
Investigative Procedures & Documentation
26 V Specialized Investment Advisor 2X 2X 2X 1X Audit, Compliance & Law Enforcement
COMPLIANCE & AUDIT IT = Information Technology
27 F Compliance Officer 2X 1X 1X 1X 1X Information & Communication Technology
Business Analysis Tools
28 F Internal Auditor 3X 1X 1X 1X

V = Versatile Career Path; F = Focused Career Path

Adapted from: Toronto Finance Services Alliance (TFSA), In-Demand Careers in Financial Services
www.tfsa.ca/explorefinancialservices/in-demand-careers/
Note: Number of Xs denotes the number of specific items in the skill group identified for the job.
See Detailed Jobs-Skills Map for details.

24
5
Disruption in the
CHAPTER

Financial Services Industry

Driven by Technology

Technology is changing the way we do things in every

aspect of our lives. Innovative ideas and new
developments are coming onto the markets every day
in a bid to create and meet customer demand and build
new experiences. The financial market is no exception.

Advances in financial technology (or Fintech) are disrupting established business

models in the financial services sector, thus creating new career opportunities and
impacting existing professions. We see three broad categories in which jobs in
the financial services space fit: (1) jobs that are shrinking (e.g., securities brokers,
relationship managers, transaction processors), (2) new job opportunities (e.g., digital
product management, chief data officer) and (3) jobs that require incumbents to
adjust (e.g., investment banking, underwriting) to technological changes.

Some key technologies that will influence jobs include:

Mobile Technology
Everyone uses mobile communication devices on a regular basis, so what better
way to get financial products in front of this mass audience than by exploiting the
necessity to stay up to date. In financial services, these tools can be used for a wide
range of purposes from making personal budgets to creating savings goals, investing
money and borrowing funds to start a business and can be easily and conveniently
tailored to users’ individual requirement. As a result, mobile technologies are having
a huge impact on existing jobs in the retail and even commercial financial services
space. Prospects that have experience with e-commerce, digital transformation,
automation and process improvement will see an abundance of opportunities in
applying the same in the retail financial services space, especially in the following:

• FAST AND EFFICIENT MONEY MANAGEMENT

Many applications are faster than their desktop counterparts and have been
designed for user-friendly and quick transactions. With these apps providing
precise and popular functions, users can complete transactions efficiently.

• PERSONALIZED CONTENT
Despite consumers’ general hesitation to give companies access to their individual
preferences, these preferences enable financial-services providers to personalize
the content of their communication and services to their clients’ individual
needs. Fintech is increasingly providing the opportunity to gain user interest and
customize based on experiences, which give consumers the ability to pick and
choose based on several factors such as location, interests and online behaviour.

25
 Chapter 5: Disruption in the Financial Services Industry Driven by Technology

• INTERACTIVE ENGAGEMENT
In today’s rapidly changing consumer climate, having a brand persona has never
been so important. This identity helps people feel comfortable when transacting
for financial services and offers them a chance to interact on a personal level
and offer feedback. Mobile technology is one of the driving forces behind social
interaction and, since its inception on general social media platforms, Fintech
is making progress to ensure that applications are at the forefront of customer
engagement for all companies.

Insurtech
The application of technology in the insurance space will have a seismic impact on
all aspects of the insurance industry, from distribution to underwriting and pricing
to claims. Advanced technologies and data are already affecting distribution and
underwriting with policies that are priced, purchased and bound in near real time.
Some key areas impacted in the insurance value chain will likely include:

• DISTRIBUTION
Traditional agent-based distribution and the corresponding corporate-support
functions are being dramatically disrupted as technology is used to increase
productivity. Customer interactions today are shorter and more meaningful,
making digital channels ideal as primary channels. Thus, opportunities are being
created for candidates who have managed data-driven digital sales, customer
journeys and even smart contracts in favour of established distribution schemes.

• UNDERWRITING AND PRICING

Manual underwriting will cease to exist for most personal and small-business
products across life and property and casualty insurance as the majority of
underwriting will be automated and supported by deep-learning models built
within the technology stack. As such, opportunities will become prevalent in areas
of the financial institution that support data-driven decisions ranging from pricing
departments all the way to regulatory functions that review machine learning-
based models.

Cryptocurrencies and Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT)

Cryptocurrencies and DLT are relatively new concepts that are making waves across
the world, especially relating to the transfer of value from one party to another.
Some key areas of disruption for the financial-services space include payments
(retail and commercial), new asset classes in the wealth-management space and the
regulatory compliance burden. This creates a number of new opportunities across
a financial institution’s value chain, ranging from the building of new core banking
systems/money-transfer infrastructures all the way to cryptocurrency traders in a
bank’s capital markets division.

Conclusion
The financial-services sector is ever evolving and is digging deeper into the habits
and behaviours of businesses and consumers using the multitude of available
services. This insight will help grow this fast-paced and innovative industry and
will begin to see developments in other areas, such as virtual reality and machine
learning, to predict and analyze data for maximum effect. Fintech is changing the
way people carry out everyday transactions and this is set to become one of the most
significant changes to the industry over the next few years. Prospective students
should keep this in mind and be flexible to learn new skills and become technology
literate as they forge careers after their business education.

26
 6
Personal Advice
CHAPTER

from the
Contributing Alumni

Being a few steps ahead in our career paths, contributing alumni would like to
offer a few words of personal and heartfelt advice to you, our future alumni,
and we hope that you will find them beneficial and inspiring. Their full inputs
can be found at schulich.yorku.ca/sfaafocused.

FROM THE FINANCE-FOCUSED TEAM

Link to detailed inputs from the Team: schulich.yorku.ca/sfaafocused

Carrie Chai (MBA ’11) Richard Digioacchino (MBA ’03)

PAST POSITION: PAST POSITION:
Senior Manager, Internal Ratings Vice President, Exposure and
Management, Scotiabank Capital Analysis, Scotiabank

CURRENT POSITION: CURRENT POSITION:

Director, Internal Ratings Management, Vice President, Trade Floor Risk
Scotiabank Management, Scotiabank

Finance is an industry with many positions that fit It is very important that candidates can present themselves
people with different skill sets and different interests. well in networking/interview settings. This shows that they
The most critical step in my view is to get entry into understand social cues and can fit into a team workplace
the industry. Once you are in, you’ll have tons of environment. My advice would be to focus on soft skills
opportunities to try and work in different areas if you during networking and not try to impress recruiters with
are a quick learner and like to challenge yourself. technical questions. Recruiters are looking or people who can
If you choose a career in Finance, select as many finance fit in with the dynamics of their teams.
courses as possible and do well in each course, which Candidates should also be honest with themselves in terms
will equip you better in applying to your entry job. of where their interests lie. If someone is not interested in a
field, it becomes readily apparent in an interview. An honest
self-assessment of skills and interests is imperative to finding a
good fit for employment.
Finally, candidates need to make sure they are prepared for
interviews. They should research the company, department
and interviewer as far as they can through publicly available
information and contacts. This shows interest.

27
Chapter 6: Personal Advice from the Contributing Alumni

FROM THE FINANCE-FOCUSED TEAM continued

Valeriya Kolobashkina (MF ’14) Conrad Fernandes (MBA ’15)

PAST POSITION: PAST POSITION:
Senior Manager, Exposure and Associate Director, Trading Credit
Capital Analysis, Global Risk & Collateral Management,
Risk Management, Scotiabank Royal Bank of Canada

CURRENT POSITION: CURRENT POSITION:

Senior Manager, Exposure and Associate Director, Group Risk
Capital Analytics, Scotiabank Management Credit, Royal Bank
of Canada

While at school or on the job, do not be afraid to raise your Every person has a unique value proposition to offer. It is
hand and take on more responsibilities – this is how you imperative that you demonstrate a strong understanding of
get valuable experience and improve your self-awareness yourself, express the willingness to embrace change and your
and understanding of what you like and where you want to ability to articulate and influence individuals as a stakeholder.
move next. Be vocal and let people around know what you Moreover, whether we are taking graduate courses,
are passionate about and how much you have done to get participating in extra-curricular activities or even engaging
prepared for the job – you never know where an opportunity in networking events, make sure you are doing them with
may come from. Be yourself – we are all humans and work intention and purpose.
in teams, no matter how many acronyms follow our names.
You are selected for an interview based on your skills and
experience, but are offered a job based on your personality.

Rick Kotick (MBA ’06) Gregory Pau (BBA ’88, MBA ’89)
PAST POSITION: PAST POSITION:
Senior Analyst, Competitive Intelligence, Senior Vice President, Corporate Ratings,
RBC Asset Management DBRS Limited

CURRENT POSITION: CURRENT POSITION:

Head, Competitive Intelligence & Sales Lecturer in Finance, Schulich School
Enablement, RBC Global Asset Mgmt of Business

Follow your passion and your career will never feel like work. Follow your heart and mind when selecting your career
Realize that no matter how much you know, there is always path because you will learn fast and perform best in the career
more to learn. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, even the most that suits your strengths and interests. If you choose a
basic ones. No one will ever fault you for asking questions, focused career in Finance, select your courses wisely to build
asking for guidance or suggestions on how to proceed. the foundation to learn and seek internship opportunities.
Work hard to improve your soft skills, these are the true Evaluate job descriptions and highlight your relevant
differentiators in your job search. The ability to communicate experiences to the job requirements in your resume before
with confidence in a concise manner is something that applying. Once you get your first job, keep absorbing
will always be in demand. I wish you the best of luck in your knowledge like a sponge and be proactive in applying what
career path and remember that fellow Schulich alumni are you learn. All the best in your studies and good luck in
here to help! your job search.

28
FROM THE FINANCE-FOCUSED TEAM continued

Raj Ray (MBA ’09) Andy Thi (BBA ’12)

PAST POSITION: PAST POSITION:
Vice President, Precious Metals & Mining, Assistant Vice President, Global Energy
National Bank Financial Corporates, DBRS Limited

CURRENT POSITION: CURRENT POSITION:

Vice President, Precious Metals & Mining, Credit Analyst, Fixed Income,
Desjardins Securities Foyston Gordon & Payne Inc.

Success in any field requires preparation, perseverance To find the right career path for you, it is important to be
and patience. In addition, it requires smartness to realize honest with yourself and to truly reflect on your strengths,
one’s strengths, interests and competitive advantage and weaknesses and interests. What are you really good at?
act accordingly. Make use of every single resource at your What do you find challenging that others might be stronger
disposal and be proactive in your job search. Whether at? What do you enjoy reading about? What excites you?
you are looking for an internship or a full-time job, it is By answering these questions honestly, you will be in a
important to cast your net wide enough to be able to catch better position to find a career path that you are genuinely
every single opportunity that is out there. Stay focused interested in and that aligns with your core strengths –
and motivated and don’t give up until you have met your hopefully leading to a long and successful career.
objective. Best of luck for your studies and job search.

June Wang (MF ’11)

PAST POSITION:
Senior Consultant, Financial Risk
Management Consulting, Ernst & Young

CURRENT POSITION:
Senior Financial Analyst, Valuation
Analytics, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan

I started my career as a consultant in a Big Four accounting

firm. The opportunity allowed me to gain experiences in
derivative valuation, risk management and capital adequacy
through international engagements and to become a subject-
matter expert over the years. Keenness to learn, willingness to
work with others and persistence are the key skillsets which
consulting firms, or any firms, are looking for from their
employees. Long hours and travel outside country for long-
term projects can be exciting, yet challenging depending on
one’s lifestyle and other commitments. My advice to students
is stay connected, be humble and always be willing to give.

29
Chapter 6: Personal Advice from the Contributing Alumni

FROM THE FINANCE-VERSATILE TEAM

Link to detailed inputs from the Team: schulich.yorku.ca/versatile

Taha Amiralli (MBA ’14) Mandeep Anand (MBA ’13)

PAST POSITION: PAST POSITION:
Product Manager, Game Consoles, AMD Consulting, Corporate Banking at ICICI
Bank Canada
CURRENT POSITION:
Senior Product Manager, Digital Banking, CURRENT POSITION:
Scotiabank Assistant Vice President, Commercial
Associate, Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Invest the time in discovering the balance between what Over the last few years the Finance industry has evolved
you are passionate about and what your natural talent lends significantly and I believe it offers exciting and challenging
itself well to. The sooner you can figure out this balance, the opportunities for new grads. I would advise new grads to
more time you have to make the decision to close experience/ explore opportunities in Fintech in addition to traditional
skill gaps. This effort should primarily be focused on doing banking jobs. I don’t foresee Fintech replacing current
as this is the only sure method of truly figuring out what is finance jobs completely but believe it will create a whole
involved and, more importantly, convincing others of your complementary industry requiring a different skill set than
interest. Finally, change is the only constant in today’s world so what traditional banking jobs require. Additionally, the
make this discovery process a lifelong journey. It is important only other advice I would like to give to current students
to dedicate time to update this career map to continuously is that give equal (if not more) importance to what you do
improve and remain relevant in the marketplace. outside of class.

Diana Arsenyan (MBA ’14) Heston D’Souza (MBA ’15)

PAST POSITION: PAST POSITION:
Biology and Neuroscience Assistant Manager, Capital Projects,
Reliance Infrastructure
CURRENT POSITION:
Senior Accountant, Assurance Services, CURRENT POSITION:
Ernst & Young Relationship Manager, Corporate
Banking, ICICI Bank Canada

Start networking with an open mind. As much as you are Those with successful careers nearly always have a great
interested in securing that next internship or full-time combination of a curious mind and a dependable network of
position, gaining an understanding of the specifics of the field, peers. In a fast-changing world, it is imperative to be up-to-
each person’s career path and why they chose that particular date on the latest developments while having a pulse on the
path could be quite valuable in helping you make your own changes in industry through other professionals. Organizations
career choices. Sometimes, unexpected opportunities come are always short of leaders who can help them navigate
your way – take them! I never thought that I was going to change; this is where managers can make the greatest impact.
work in a financial institution, but that opportunity gave
me tremendous exposure and in-depth knowledge into how
the industry operates, which I use today on the other side to
provide better services for our clients.

30
FROM THE FINANCE-VERSATILE TEAM continued

Cindy Jin (MBA ’17) Meggie Lee (IMBA ’12)

PAST POSITION: PAST POSITION:
Analyst, Leveraged Finance, ORIX USA Transfer Pricing Analyst,
McCain Foods Limited
CURRENT POSITION:
Associate, Private Equity Sponsor CURRENT POSITION:
Coverage Group, Scotiabank Senior Analyst, Statutory Transfer Pricing,
Royal Bank of Canada

There is no shortcut in finding the most ideal job and there There are multiple ways to get your dream job. If the
is no such job as a “right” role. If you are not sure what straightway does not work now, try different ways! If you
to do, reach out and talk to as many people as possible in think of changing your career, understand what you are
the industry to learn about their job functions/required getting into and how your past experiences can be
skill sets and do not limit yourself in one field. Do not ever transferrable. Networking will be a great help to understand
say “Anything. I just want to work in a bank.” It is your
your situation and where you are lacking. Remember that
responsibility to figure out where your interests and strengths
you do have transferrable skills to perform in a new job.
are before anyone else can help you. Be proactive and always
Try to put together your story – what you have done and why
be prepared to tell your story that’s consistent with your
knowledge, skillsets, interests and passion. your past experiences can bring new ideas to the team.
Trust yourself! Good luck!

Tej Kumar Mehta (MBA ’12)

PAST POSITION:
Assistant Relationship Manager, Corporate
& Investment Banking, ICICI Bank Canada

CURRENT POSITION:
Client Manager, Global Banking &
Markets, HSBC Bank Canada

At school, you will have tons of opportunities to do many

things. The key to choosing the right things is very simple.
Focus on your long-term priorities and then ask yourself if the
option in front of you will make sense five years down the
line. Do this two to three times to be sure – you will know
what you have to do. Be focused.
Having said that, pick up a hobby and go nuts! Add this hobby
to your resume; make sure it is a differentiator. In case it helps,
I picked up long-distance running. You can choose to pick up
beer tasting (better be a champion at it). Doing this brings out
your character. The street likes this – everyone has an MBA,
CFA, etc. Character is unique and if you can align it with the
position for which you are applying, you will have arrived.

31
Chapter 6: Personal Advice from the Contributing Alumni

FROM THE FINANCE-VERSATILE TEAM continued

Ken Shen (MBA ’03) Shiva J. Srikantan (BBA ’11, MBA ’15)
PAST POSITION: PAST POSITION:
Manager, Strategy and Planning Account Manager, Commercial Banking,
(Aftersales), BMW Canada TD Bank Financial Group

CURRENT POSITION: CURRENT POSITION:

Independent Management Consultant Associate Relationship Manager,
Corporate Banking, MUFG Bank

Congratulations on your completion of the successful There’s no one way to do it, so always learn and continue
academic journey at Schulich School of Business! To start and improving day by day at whatever you do! Your education
sustain a successful professional life, career-planning and gives you a level playing field and what you do with it after
management skills are definitely crucial. The CDC can help, dictates how far you go in life with a little bit of luck. I come
but the ground work has to be yours. Similar to running a from an immigrant family, so I work with an attitude that I
business, starting with a clearly defined vision and mission have been afforded opportunities that people who are a lot
statement for your career will differentiate your form the smarter and more hard-working than me have not been given
crowd. However, it will be a journey, so do not be afraid to ask simply because of circumstances in life. So, it’s only right that
questions and sometimes make tough decisions. We have been I fully leverage my opportunity at success to better myself and
living in a world with constant changes, and the inevitable keep “paying it forward.” Finally, I won’t say find your passion
changes may impact your professional career development and make it a career because many of us don’t have the luxury
and management as well, so I strongly recommend that you of time to find our life’s calling. So, find something that you’re
start early and step back and reflect on your key strengths at least a little bit interested in and keep getting better at
and career positioning in the context of market demand it. Always remember “success” is different to each person,
and opportunity. Be flexible to adjust based on your unique and make sure you find your own definition and not what’s
situation and external environment. advertised! Good luck to you all.

32
 7
Glossary of
CHAPTER

Useful Resources

Financial Services Industry

ORGANIZATION DETAILS WEBSITE

Alternative Investment Information on alternative

www.aima.org
Management Association investments

Job postings in capital

Breaking Bay Street (BBS) markets and investment breakingbaystreet.com/job-postings
banking career resources

List of top www.benefitscanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/

Canadian Pension Funds
100 pension funds BC0617_Top100Pensions-CHARTS.pdf

Canadian Securities Financial Services

www.csi.ca/student/en_ca/careermap/index.xhtml
Institute (CSI) Career Map

Career Connections Careers in the property &

www.career-connections.info
(Insurance) casualty insurance industry

eFinance careers (U.S.) Careers in financial markets bit.ly/1qDZMQv

List of member portfolio

Portfolio Management
management firms in www.portfoliomanagement.org/firms/?all_firms=true
Association of Canada
the association

Articles on roles in U.S.

Mergers & Inquisitions capital markets and
www.mergersandinquisitions.com
(U.S.) investment banking career
resources

The Investment Funds List of member investment

www.ific.ca/Companies/CompanyDirectory
Institute of Canada fund managers in Canada

List of top 40 money www.benefitscanada.com/wp-content/uploads/

Top 40 Money Managers
managers in Canada 2017/12/Top-40-Charts.pdf

Toronto Financial Services

Explore in-demand careers www.explorefinancialservices.com/Careers
Alliance (TFSA)

Vault Career Guide to

Vault Guides (U.S.) Commercial and Investment CareerQuest  Resources  Student Resources  Vault
Banking

Note: These resources are provided as a reference only. Schulich Alumni and Schulich do not endorse or recommend any external materials.
33
Chapter 7: Glossary of Useful Resources

Industry Associations

ORGANIZATION FOCUS DESIGNATION WEBSITE

Canadian Bankers
Banking – cba.ca
Association

Chartered Financial
CFA Society Toronto Financial services www.cfatoronto.ca
Analyst (CFA)

Women in Capital Markets Financial services – www.wcm.ca

Canadian Venture Cap and

Private equity – www.cvca.ca
Private Equity Association

The Risk Management Risk management Canadian Risk

www.rims.org
Society (RIMS) (insurance) Management (CRM)

Global Association of Risk Financial Risk

Risk management www.garp.org
Professionals (GARP) Management (FRM)

Professional Risk Managers

Risk management – www.prmia.org
Association

Extra-Curricular Activities

AVAILABLE TO ALL UNDERGRADUATES MASTERS

• Bloomberg Aptitude • Association of Canadian Intercollegiate • Graduate Business Council

Test (measures critical Investment Clubs • Schulich Asset Management Association
thinking in finance • DECA Stock Market Challenge • Schulich Asset Management
and capital markets;
• Junior Achievement Competition
Bronfman Library)
• RISE Finance Case Competition • Schulich East Asian Business Association
• Bloomberg Essentials
Training Program • StockTrak Investment Competition • Schulich Finance Association
(Bronfman Library) • Undergraduate Business Society • Schulich Investment Banking Club

• Marquee Financial • York Entrepreneurship Society • Schulich Real Property

Modeling Workshop • York Finance Club (M&A Competition, Students’ Association
Stock Market Competitions, Capital • Schulich Women in Leadership
Markets Certified) • York Consulting Group
• York University Student
Investment Fund

Note: These resources are provided as a reference only. Schulich Alumni and Schulich do not endorse or recommend any external materials.
34
Networking

SOURCE WEBSITE

“How to Network your Way into Investment Banking

bit.ly/1sHjHZD
in 5 Simple Steps,” Brian DeChesare

“How to Rock your Informational Interviews” bit.ly/1TqqIOs

breakingintowallstreet.com/biws/breaking-into-
IB Networking Toolkit
wall-street-courses/

Interview Preparation
SOURCE WEBSITE

Breaking Bay Street Incubator (Canada) breakingbaystreet.com/products/products-incubanker/

breakingintowallstreet.com/biws/breaking-into-
IB Interview Guide (U.S.)
wall-street-courses/

Vault Finance Interviews Practice Guide CareerQuest  Resources  Student Resources  Vault

Vault Guide to Finance Interviews CareerQuest  Resources  Student Resources  Vault

Industry Reading

SOURCE WEBSITE

Financial Post www.financialpost.com

Wall Street Journal www.wsj.com

Note: These resources are provided as a reference only. Schulich Alumni and Schulich do not endorse or recommend any external materials.
35
 8
Conclusion
CHAPTER

As we did two years ago, this revised Career in Finance Orientation

The Schulich Finance Alumni
Association (SFAA) team
Guide is a renewed collaborative effort by alumni, who generously
and CDC would be delighted share their experiences and insights despite their busy work and
to have your feedback on
the usefulness of this Guide family commitments; advisors at the CDC, who contribute their
and any other comments.
Please feel free to email your
expertise; and students in the Schulich Finance Association (SFA),
feedback at: who give feedback from their perspectives.
CDC (Career
Development Centre) For these efforts and contributions, we would again like to say a particularly heartfelt
[email protected]
“thank you” to all. The Career in Finance Orientation Guide published in September
or 2016 received positive feedback from many students and recent graduates who have
successfully launched their careers in Finance. Some of them are now contributing to
Schulich Alumni Relations
this revised Guide with their own career experiences and insights.
[email protected]
We believe and hope that this effort by the alumni will continue to benefit you and
help launch your career and navigate the competitive job market. In the near future,
your own experiences and insights will benefit future students. This is how our SFA
community is built and will continue to be vibrant.

As a recap, the Alumni Team believes that the following key points will enhance the
chances of getting your first job after graduation and achieving subsequent career
advancements:

• Starting early to gain self-awareness by evaluating your strengths and interests.

• Targeting the career path (Focused or Versatile?) that suits you best.
• Pursuing independent research projects, internships, co-ops and part-time job
opportunities in relevant areas.
• Understanding your own skill sets (competitive advantage) and target your search
toward the job types in which such skills are required and valued. These skill sets can
make a difference in your job performance.
• Working relentlessly to learn about industry trends and challenges and acquiring
competencies to be career ready.
• Building relationships early and learning how you can add value by connecting with
industry professionals through networking.
• Once you get your first job, being prepared and eager to learn, work hard, perform,
contribute and be helpful.

We encourage students to review the Guide carefully and make use of the tools and
suggestions. More importantly, we encourage you to stay connected, participate in
events presented by SFA and SFAA and stay active. As and when you approach your
graduation, we will be delighted to hear about your job search experiences and career
success stories. Finally, we look forward to eventually welcoming you all to the SFA
community. In the meantime, we wish you all the best in your studies and careers.

36
 Schulich Global
Alumni Network
You’re a part of it

Be a part of your alumni community:

Enroll in the mentorship program
Sign up to have a coffee chat with alumni
Attend alumni events (special student pricing available)
Join the Schulich alumni online community
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Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

Visit us at:
schulich.yorku.ca/alumni-services-for-students

Connect. Engage. Thrive.

Your alumni legacy begins now.
Global Reach. Innovative Programs. Diverse Perspectives.

The Schulich Finance Alumni Association (SFAA) has the objective of building a vibrant
community of Schulich alumni in the finance profession, providing networking and learning
opportunities among alumni and giving back to current students and recent graduates
in finance through career orientation and guidance.

Schulich School of Business

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