The term “fintech” is shorthand for financial technology. It’s a buzzword that encompasses a large and thriving industry that is becoming more prevalent with each passing year. Many individuals who are interested in the marriage between high-end tech and the financial industry want to get into this niche when they get out of college.
While they’re still attending classes, if they need help completing their assignments, they can always turn to one of the prominent online companies to assist them with their take-home work. For instance, Studybay is legitimate and reliable. Students can find real Studybay reviews on Reddit that prove it’s not a scam. Having a trustworthy entity to review homework tasks and complete them can put individuals in a better position to graduate on time.
If you’re currently studying with an eye on getting into the financial technology sector, you should make sure you’re setting yourself up for success when you enter the job market. Let’s look at ways you can get ready for a career in this area.
A Few Facts About This Niche
There are a few specific things you should know about this profession. Understand that:
- This industry is more diverse and complex than you might imagine
- These jobs are not necessarily exclusive to finance
- Positions in this industry are growing faster than almost all other sectors
Employers who are hiring in the fintech area want a diverse skill set. Some job postings that fall into this category emphasize the need for a familiarity with artificial intelligence. Some might require a knowledge of Amazon Web Services, while others want a background in coding. You might also need expertise in the cryptocurrency market.
Many of the jobs that fall into the fintech niche will be offered by major consulting firms or tech innovators. However, you will also find many startups who are looking for individuals with a background in this area.
Finally, you should understand that in recent years, job postings that fall into this category are outpacing almost all other openings. These facts, taken together, reveal a complete picture of what students need to do to prepare themselves to be competitive in this particular job market. Keep three indisputable facts in mind:
- Young job seekers, before they graduate from college, can prepare themselves to be competitive in fintech by sharpening their skills in a wide variety of areas
- When you are ready, you can look for a job with a major firm, or you can try your luck with a startup instead
- You’re probably going to be able to rely on this industry becoming more prevalent in the coming years rather than less
With these three facts in mind, we can start to imagine a path forward for students who want to get into this niche.
Gain a Diverse Skill Set Directly and Tangentially Related to Financial Technology
One of the first things young people who want to pursue this career path can do is enroll in classes that will teach them about the topics that future employers are going to ask them about. Those include:
- Cryptocurrency
- Corporate finance
- Artificial intelligence
- Business foundations
- Investment management
- Blockchain
- Data analysis
- Coding
- Statistics and mathematical modeling
There are several universities that offer degrees in these areas. Quinnipiac University has a reputable program, as does Fordham University in New York. St. John’s and Drexel are two more well-regarded options.
If you’re not able to attend an in-person school, you can still get the skills you need online. If you’re going that route, then Purdue Global’s BS in Finance gets a lot of rave reviews.
Make sure that the school you pick has a concentration in the particular area or skill set that you want to learn about before you proceed.
Consider Exploring Both Major Firms and Startups
When you’re not far from graduation, you should start exploring which companies are hiring and considering which ones you’d like to work for. If you’re trying to sign on with a major, well-established entity that already has a strong presence in this world, some of your best bets include:
- Scratch Financial
- CashApp
- Plaid
- Beyond Finance
- Enigma
However, don’t forget what we said earlier about breaking into this field by signing on with a startup. There’s an element of risk involved, but if your fledgling company finds success, you will have a foothold on the ground floor. Building a business entity from scratch can be a rewarding experience.
Here are more than 100 startups directly or indirectly related to financial technology. Many of them have hiring opportunities, and you shouldn’t overlook them in your haste to sign on with one of the industry’s giants.
Building Bridges: Leveraging Networking Opportunities
The last factor to keep in mind is that since this niche is growing so fast, you can frequently take advantage of networking opportunities that it’s harder to find in other professions. There are virtually limitless fintech-related events that you might attend either in-person or in the digital space. They’re a terrific way to start meeting people, and you can do so before you even graduate if you can find the time.
If you join organizations having to do with this industry, they often have networking events. Consider becoming involved with groups like the Financial Planning Association (FPA), the Security Traders Association (STA), or the American Finance Association (AFA). This is how you can meet up with potential peers and mentors.
After graduation, you can also look into postgraduate events having to do with your new field. Any reputable business school from which you graduate should have career placement teams whose sole purpose is to help you.
They will probably offer workshops on salary negotiation, resume writing, and more. The individuals who form these teams often have connections to hiring managers who are already highly placed within the industry.
The top business schools will also offer events where you can network with community leaders in your region. These are educational, but they are also usually laid back. They can be ideal situations to network with like-minded individuals without feeling a lot of pressure.
Conclusion
In short, the fintech industry is one that is making great strides with each passing year. To prepare yourself to enter it, getting the proper education should be your foremost priority. Start by trying to get into an undergraduate program related to this field. Learn about the underlying fundamentals and master the skills that your would-be employers will be looking for.
At the same time, try to network as exhaustively as possible. Consider joining or checking out the entities we mentioned. As you approach graduation, it becomes increasingly important to prioritize expanding your list of industry contacts. Also, make sure you know about and take advantage of your school’s postgraduate events and job placement programs.
By doing all of these things, you should put yourself on the inside track to success in this highly competitive niche.
References
- Simmons, A. (2023). Fintech Degrees: Bachelor’s Programs. https://www.fintechdegrees.org/programs/bachelors/
- Baker, S. (2020). Fintech revolution: How technology is transforming finance. Oxford University Press.
- Comptroller of the Currency. (2021). Exploring special purpose national bank charters for fintech companies. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. https://www.occ.treas.gov/publications-and-resources/publications/special-purpose-charters-for-fintech.pdf
- Frost, J. (2020). Fintech and big tech credit: What explains the rise in loan growth? Bank for International Settlements. https://www.bis.org/publ/qtrpdf/r_qt2012e.htm
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