As the title suggests, I'm looking for tips for starting a career in the finance industry.
I attended a top 50 US University (a public, research university if it matters). Early in my college career, I developed a strong interest in economics as an academic discipline, so I decided I would pursue a PhD in the field. In order to prepare myself for a PhD program, I majored in econ and minored in math. I am currently in the first year of my PhD program, and I realize that it is not what I want to do with my life, because I do not want to teach and do academic research for the rest of my life. So, I've decided that I will stay for one year, earn a masters in economics, and hit the job market. A career in finance seems rewarding, challenging, exciting, and a good use of my skills and interests. Specifically, I would love to get an entry level job in asset management or private equity. I'm not picky and realize I'm not a Harvard grad, so I understand that I'm not going to get a job at a top firm. Basically, I'm looking for advice about how I could get an entry level job at a bank, insurance company, private equity, or financial services firm. A job that will allow me to learn about the industry and obtain the proper knowledge and skills for a finance related career.
P.S. In case it helps give advice, I've added some other details below.
1) The PhD program I'm currently in, is at a top 50 University (with a top 50 Econ PhD program).
2) My undergrad GPA was about 3.7, and I expect to have a B or A average in grad school.
3) If you want to know why I don't want to be a professor, it basically boils down to this: I don't like how detached grad level econ and cutting edge research is from the real world. I don't want to sit around doing abstract and esoteric research, that doesn't have much real world relevance. I want to get out in the real world and apply my knowledge and skills to practical problems. I respect what academic economists do, it's just not the life that I want to lead.
do you have any work experience?
network?
I have no relevant work experience (and little work experience overall). I also have no network to rely on. I won't have a chance to gain any work experience or build up a network before getting my masters.
May I ask the reason why you havent accumulated any work experience/internships over the past 5 years of school?
Its hard to get a SA w/out previous work experience these days so I cannot imagine how hard it will be coming out of a masters and goin for grad.
On one side, you do not seem competitive enough for the big firms, and on the other, small, less known firms are too lean to train/risk taking on someone with little previous experience.
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