I want a career in finance... is starting out as a teller a good way to start?
I just graduated with a BComm Degree from University of Toronto. I don't have any experience expect a few months as a telemarketer at BMO and sales associate at walmart. I may be offered a job as a teller at BMO... is this a good way to get my foot in the door of the financial industry? I am going for my CFA level 1 exam in dec. Any advice would help. And salary is not much of an issue to me right now.
If a college -degree guarantees no job or income, why are people so concerned with college -degrees ? do you have a college -degree ?
A college degree does not guarantee a job or income. But lack of college education or vocational training past high school graduation generally guarantees a severe lack of opportunities, and high probability of no job and no income.
Does a business/finance degree guarantee a well paid job at the end of it...?
A degree in business/finance will not "guarantee" you a good paying job necessarily, but it is considered one of the "safer" sectors of the business industry to get into—meaning, chances are you will most likely find employment after earning your degree. This is because just about every company and organization needs someone to manage and take care of their finance department. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for those in finance are predicted to increase by 20%, creating 49,000 new jobs in the market during the next decade. If you happen to find employment in an actuary firm, bank, or an investment firm, your pay will be greatly influenced by your level of education, local and previous experience, but you can expect to earn anywhere from $40,000 to $70,000—naturally the larger scale will go to those who work for larger and more prestigious firms. If you have an advanced degree (a master's or PhD) you might possibly earn a higher salary as well. With that said, some specific job titles you can earn are, but not limited to, the following: actuary; financial advisor; financial analyst; or financial controller. To learn more about these career choices, click here http://www.bestcollegesonline.com/business/online-finance-degrees/
Is finance a good major?
First off, ignore those who say you can work on wall st and top investment firms. Unless you attend an Ivy league school, this is NOT an option for you. Also, nearly all customer oriented "financial advisors" are just sales positions that involve little finance at all - you sell prepackaged stuff and like a car salesman, you either have the talent or don't to hard sell. True finance people know that financial advisors are not true finance positions and make a mockery out of them when they try to pass that off. Second, most finance majors end up working at a financial institution or the government (not as much so these days). Banks hire a lot of entry level grads with finance degrees to churn through paperwork. Don't expect much money at all; banks pay poverty wages for the new hires. A lot of finance grads get their foot in the door this way then either a) move up the ladder, b) quit and find somewhere else to work. At a later point if you survive , since you got many years of experience rotating through different financial positions by then, you can expect much greater opportunities and money including getting into a good paying financial specialists position, middle management at a financial institution, or go into non-profit management. Third, don't get finance confused with accounting. They are different. Accounting will generally get one a higher initial salary but finance majors will have higher earning potential IF they can survive an entry level position somewhere.
Is finance a good major choice?
Finance and accounting are excellent majors...my boss has advised me that if I'm thinking of going back to school, anything that deals with finances is a good degree as after the Enron scandal, etc., companies now place a great degree of value on their financial records and dealings.