On September 6th, The Finance Club recently hosted its inaugural alumni talk, featuring DKU alumnus Vince Xu. Vince shared his invaluable insights and experiences within the finance industry during this one-hour lecture.
He offered a comprehensive overview of five prominent career paths for recent graduates, offering guidance on job qualifications, workloads, and how to embark on a successful journey in finance.
Student Resources
As DKU currently does not have a strictly “finance” or “business” major, Xu suggested that finance aspirants pursue mathematics, data science, computer science, or economics majors. Xu also recommended that students look to Career Services for advice as he once did.
Key Financial Sectors
The talk delved into key finance concepts associated with different roles in the industry. For each position, Xu provided his analysis of the position from a career perspective, highlighting workload and skills requirements along with examples of internships in each field.
1. Equity Research
Xu elucidated equity research, a career that analyzes company financials, performs financial modeling, and determines investment recommendations. He emphasized the demanding nature of this role, particularly the need to stay alert for market changes for extended hours each day.
2. Investment Banking
Vince discussed investment banking, shedding light on the intense work hours involved, up to 100 hours per week. He described daily activities and explained the nuances of getting a company listed on a stock exchange and the associated risks.
3. Fund Management
Xu’s next topic was fund management, which involved overseeing investments on behalf of clients. He noted how the work environment will be “friendlier for some people” but also pointed out how the requirements are typically higher, as many expect a Master’s Degree with a solid finance background and the ability to handle stress.
4. Commercial Banking
Xu next covered commercial banking, an occupation that addresses the everyday financial needs of companies. This sector has a significantly better work-life balance, with more structured work hours and generous vacation allowances, and unlike other sectors, commercial banking has more attainable requirements, making it a viable starting point for most students.
5. Corporate Finance
The final sector Xu covered is corporate finance, a vital sector that focuses on managing an organization’s financial activities. He outlined general responsibilities in this area and emphasized that a bachelor’s degree, coupled with relevant financial auditing experience, is often sufficient for entry into this field.
Career Roadmap
Vince underscored how internships prove one’s interest and capabilities in finance and provided a roadmap for undergraduate students to explore their interests and engage with alumni resources.
