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What should you study or do before graduating from college and become a Financial Analyst? #Spring26

I am a junior in college looking to get a job as a Financial Analyst but currently stuck in banking. Looking for guidance on what to do to transition into a Financial Analyst role. #Spring26

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Nick’s Answer

You're on a great path for a Financial Analyst role with your banking experience. Make sure to add any internships to your resume and start applying for positions as soon as possible. Use your banking background to stand out in interviews. Companies look for candidates who are truly interested, can communicate well, and have good grades. If you've done internships in banking, that's a big plus. Since you already have your degree, consider using LinkedIn Learning to boost your skills and prepare for interviews.
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Salomon’s Answer

Hi Linh, you're on a great path for a Financial Analyst role with your banking experience. Retail or commercial banking gives you exposure to financial products, and customer-facing finance that you can frame as relevant experience. The key is bridging toward the analytical, modeling-heavy work that defines the analyst role. Take the right coursework while you still can. Prioritize corporate finance, financial accounting and managerial accounting, statistics, and econometrics if available. If possible get experience with a summer internship, target FP&A, corporate finance, or equity research internships.
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William’s Answer

Banking is a great background for transitioning in to a financial analyst role. Accounting, Finance, and Business Administration are great degrees for pursuing a financial analyst position. Work on ancillary skills like Microsoft excel and Powerpoint, so that you can gain experience with putting together data tables and presentation for leadership. On your resume highlight how the banking world has prepared for your a role in financial analysis, and in interviews try to present the impact you made in your banking role that would impress companies.
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Pinar’s Answer

Hi Linh,

If you want to be ready for a Financial Analyst role after graduation, focus on gaining practical skills and experience beyond just finance courses. Today's analyst roles require skills in financial analysis, forecasting, Excel, communication, reporting, and increasingly, AI and data tools.

- Enroll in courses like Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Corporate Finance, Economics, and Statistics. Make sure you can read and understand the Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement and how they are connected.
- Get comfortable with Excel tools like XLOOKUP, SUMIFS, IF statements, PivotTables, charts, Power Query, scenario analysis, and financial modeling. Advanced Excel skills and handling large datasets are still very important for Financial Analysts.
- Learn to turn large datasets into dashboards and insights. AI is becoming a big part of finance work.
- Try to get an internship before you graduate. Look for opportunities in FP&A, corporate finance, accounting, business finance, or finance rotation programs.
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Christian’s Answer

Hi Linh, you sound like you already have relevant experience that you can leverage in your Financial Analyst job search. Get as much "analysis" experience as you can, whether that is taking on, or volunteering for, that type of your at your current job, or even taking a data analysis certification to boost your appeal to potential employers.
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