Six top skills for a graduate career in finance

Whether you want a graduate career in banking, accountancy or financial management, you'll need to focus on developing the skills graduate recruiters are looking for. The rewards are potentially very high in this sector – the average starting salary for graduates joining investment banks or fund managers is now £38,250, according to the most recent membership survey carried out by the Association of Graduate Recruiters.

Numeracy is important, though you rarely need a maths or science degree to demonstrate this. Here are some of the other key skills finance employers value:

• Teamwork. Establishing a rapport with co-workers is important for success in finance because you’ll be working on projects that require the people with a different skills and strengths.
• Ability to communicate. Effective communication skills are essential in the financial sector as you’ll be working with both finance professionals and people with limited financial knowledge.
• Employability. Evaluate your skills and experience and match these to employers and roles to ensure that the job is right for you.
• Can-do attitude. Not all projects in the workplace are exciting, even if they are necessary in order to learn the business or simply get things done, so enthusiasm is a great asset.
• Motivation and drive. Research the firm you’re applying to, and have a grasp of facts and figures and even insights from people working there. You’ll also need a genuine interest in finance, so familiarise yourself with business and markets news.
• Problem solving. Problems in the financial world can be complex so be prepared to think creatively.

You'll need to demonstrate all of these skills when looking for a graduate finance role, so prepare for success while you're still at university. Improve your teamworking skills, for example, by taking on extra-curricular activities that involve working with others. Work on your communication skills by asking for feedback from professors and fellow students. Keep track of jobs which you've held and skills you've gained so you've got a record of them when it comes to application time.

Source: Targetjobs.co.uk, Wednesday 22nd June 2011