Here is advice from a local grad who have worked in IB roles for a US Investment bank and currently for another overseas BB.
I have an accountancy degree whereas my colleagues have diverse degrees from Engineering to History.
The more important thing to do is to pick a course that you can do well in. Because to get into such roles you are usually the top 1% in whatever field you choose to study. (generally speaking)
Whichever field you study, bear in mind that you should be at least familiarised with basic accounting / finance concepts. This may mean electing for additional courses in the Uni or doing a supplementary CFA.
In short, choose the field that you will do well in. Which usually means the field that you are naturally inclined at and which you are genuinely interested in. To me, engineering is tougher than finance to score well. Maybe just my preference.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wootnick
Hi guys, I've just completed NS and am about to enroll into university next year. Thing is, I have offers from SMU Business as well as NUS Engineering and I'm in quite a dilemma. I am looking to working for an investment banking firm as I like the environment and the fast-paced nature of the job (this is based on what I read and hear from friends who are in the industry)
My mom (currently a senior sales manager at a computer systems company) strongly advises me to go through the "engineering" route. That is, graduate an engineer and apply for jobs in the i-banking sector. She reasons that engineers are preferred by such banks for their "analytical" skills as a result of their training, in comparison to Business students who are not as adequately(?) trained. This advise is also echoed by most of the working adults I consult (both in i-banking and related industries). I am also warned against taking up a "non-specialised/professional degree".
I am inclined towards taking a Business degree (or even an Economics one) because it is more relevant than what I want to do in the future, but I am still very unsure after taking heed of all these advice.
So uh, this is going out to all investment bankers as well as my future employers, how do engineering graduates fare against business school graduates in terms of employability? Does taking a business degree give a significant headstart in the industry, or do employers really prefer engine grads for their supposedly better analytical skills? |