Making the Transition from Engineering to Wall Street: What You Need to Know

Summary: Find out how to leverage your engineering degree, experience, and MBA to get a job offer in finance.

Question: I have a B.S. in chemical engineering and two years of experience in the fertilizer industry as a process engineer. I’m currently finishing an MBA with an emphasis in MIS and finance. I also have a good command of various software packages and database-management systems. I want to find a job that’s primarily related to finance but utilizes my IS skills. Do you think I’ll be able to find one?

Answer: The typical entry-level job in finance these days for new MBAs is financial analyst, and the majority of those positions require some level of IT expertise. Given your technical background and MIS emphasis in grad school, you should have no trouble finding a job that lets you combine the two skills you enjoy using most.