Many professionals in the finance industry view mentoring as an incredibly valuable experience that played an essential role in launching and building their career. It’s very possible to succeed without one, but new professionals can gain a lot by learning from the experience and advice of their seniors. Finding a finance mentor often seems like a prohibitive barrier, but students and recent graduates who are willing to take an active role in the process have plenty of options for finding someone to provide professional guidance.
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Identify Personal and Professional Goals
The first big step in finding a finance mentor is a process of serious self-scrutiny. There are dozens of different roles and specializations within the financial industry. Finding the right person to provide guidance requires at least some understanding of personal and professional goals. Mentor-seekers should take the time to learn about the various options and career paths ahead of them, so they can find someone who has experience with issues or areas that interest them.
Utilize School Resources and Faculty
Many colleges and universities understand the value of mentoring and support programs specifically designed to connect students with active professionals. Students should talk with department staff members and their school’s student resources department to identify potential opportunities. Actively participating in the classroom and developing a relationship with faculty members can also help students make meaningful professional connections. Attending alumni events, especially those with a business or accounting focus, is another great way to meet people in the industry.
Look for Internship Opportunities
Interning not only provides essential hands-on and resume-building work experience, it’s also a great opportunity to establish a professional network prior to starting a career. Some companies, including American Express and Morgan Stanley, specifically offer mentoring programs through their human resources department, according to Forbes. These opportunities can also open up doors during future job searches and many of the top firms primarily hire people who have previously interned with them. Students should start researching and applying for internships early on in their education to give themselves time to find the right positions and broaden their work experience as much as possible before graduating.
Get Involved in Industry Events
With dozens of different professions within the finance industry, there are plenty of meetings and conferences for students and new professionals to attend. These events provide different perspectives on the profession and can provide a glimpse of the types of career paths available. These gatherings also typically serve as networking events, which makes them an ideal environment to learn from industry experts and look for potential finance mentors. Some schools and employers also help sponsor attendance to these events as a form of professional or student development.
New and prospective professionals have a lot to learn about their field, including technical knowledge, communications skills and common business practices. While it’s certainly possible to overcome these challenges alone, finding a finance mentor is often one of the most important steps in launching a successful career in the finance industry.
