Within the field of finance, you can choose to work as part of the “corporate finance staff” of an organization or a company that provides “financial services” to individuals, groups, institutions, or organizations. Some functions or industry sectors most commonly associated with finance include Commercial Banking, Corporate Finance, Financial Planning, Insurance, Investment Banking, Investment Management, and Proprietary (“Prop”) Trading.
Finding Internships
The Wall Street investment banks have large junior internship programs and hire for full-time largely from their summer internship class. These internships are competitive, as both students and employers hope that the junior internship results in a full-time job. They look for high achievement and a demonstrated interest in finance and financial markets, which can be established through coursework, involvement in student organizations, participation in employer-led networking and educational events, as well as previous internship or externship experience in the broadly defined realm of financial services. Other types of financial institutions, asset management firms, hedge funds, trading firms, private equity, and venture capital firms may also have summer internships.
Finding Jobs
Many firms have increasingly focused on converting their summer interns into full-time hires, however, there are still positions available beyond the class of summer interns. It is particularly important that you make every effort to meet and get to know (and be known by) as many people in the field as you can.
Graduate and Professional Programs
Graduate school is not required to work in finance. However, financial services firms often hire from MBA programs, as well as master’s of finance and master’s of accounting programs.
Harvard College encourages undergraduates to take time during the Winterbreak to refresh and recharge. OCS is one of numerous Harvard centers and departments that offer some limited programming during the Winterbreak and Wintersession periods.
Winterbreak
Undergraduate students who wish to …
By Anthony Arcieri
Anthony ArcieriAnthony Arcieri, Director of Undergraduate Career Advising and Programming, Architecture, Engineering, Environment Advising
Ever since Maggie Lena Walker established and presided over the first bank to service black organizations, African Americans have been shaping the history of finance. 100 years later, people of color are still making contributions that leave everlasting impacts on …
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Anthony Arcieri Anthony Arcieri, Director of Undergraduate Career Advising and Programming, Architecture, Engineering, Environment AdvisingMeet Anthony
Christiana Cough Assistant Director, Consulting, Finance, Real Estate, Business SchoolMeet Christiana
Katie Fell Assistant Director, Harvard College Still Deciding, Exploring, & Self-AssessmentMeet Katie
Loredana George Assistant Director, International Relations and Development, Global Health, Human Rights, Poverty Alleviation, Education, Psychology, Social Services and Alumni EngagementMeet Loredana
Nicole Satyanarayan Assistant Director, Law, Government, Non-Profits, Foundations, and Military ServiceMeet Nicole
Christiana Cough 
