Lindsay

As I got smarter about the career world, I realized that investment banking was a great stepping stone for a career in business, because of the financial fundamentals you gain in the analyst program. I had hoped to get a job at Goldman Sachs but being a pragmatic person, I had settled on another firm as a solid choice if I didn’t get of an offer from Goldman Sachs.

When I speak with prospective employees, including college students or even people in other fields who want to change paths, I often tell them that the junior years in finance are tough (all work, little to no life) but that if you have an end goal in mind and use this as a stepping stone, it is a great move. For someone looking to go into the business world and one day run a company, finance is one of the best places to start, particularly if you are inclined towards number and analytics.

The skills you gain will be good to you in life and having work experience at a place like Goldman Sachs is extremely valuable. I would also add, particularly for undergraduates, that people rarely “love” their first jobs but that is okay; your first job out of school is a learning experience that will give you the basis upon which to build. More important, your first work experience will be a vehicle for tremendous personal and professional growth, and if you stumble upon the makings of a career along the way like I did, that’s a great bonus.