The vast majority of the time, it feels as though the only way to get a career in the finance industry is through your education. Although it’s true that most people who work in finance have a good high school degree, complete with at least an undergraduate degree in finance or a related subject, this isn’t the only way to break into the finance world. In this post, we take a look at other ways that you can improve your chances of a career in the finance industry.

Devote Your Time to Learning

When you’re attempting to forge a new career, time is your greatest asset. Consider devoting your time to learning about the world of forex, as this can help give you the edge over others. The more that you learn about the markets, the more equipped that you will be to tackle them.

Regardless of whether you’re out of work or are in part or full time work, spend your spare time learning. There are two ways this can work:

• Teach Yourself Chart Analysis: Chart analysis is a way that many traders track the price movement of commodities and currencies. They can then use this to guess how the price will move and how to trade. This is complex, but it can be self-taught and sites like Investopedia are a great resource.
• Keep on Top of World Events: Charts aren’t the only way to predict price movements in currencies and indices. The forex, stock and bonds markets don’t operate in a vacuum; they’re influenced by real world events. As such, regularly monitoring reputable news sites can help you learn about the ways currencies will move.

Learning like this, especially if you self-teach can not only improve your knowledge ready for a career in finance; but it will also show potential employers your entrepreneurial spirit.

Consider Alternative Accreditations

Traditional degrees may be the main route into the finance world; but they’re far from the only option. You can get alternative accreditation if you’re interested in formal qualifications.

These are largely varied and can cover everything from online courses to night schools. As you’d expect, there are options for every budget, too. However, if you’re a disciplined self-learner, you shouldn’t necessarily need them, although they could look good on your CV.

Work Experience

Finally, consider work experience. This can take two forms:

• Unpaid internships: If you have savings or live with your parents, you could take an internship to learn the basics at an established firm. This will give you invaluable experience but you’ll be working full time for free and they’re very hard to find.
• Entrepreneurial self-trading: Secondly, you could set up a share dealing account in your own name. This way, you can trade in your own time from home and work it around your schedule. Of course, you won’t get the same expertise as you would with the internship, but it’s a great place to test your skills and an impressive line for your CV.