HELP

2000amber1

My problem is I want to work in FinTech when I am older however I have no clue on what to do PS wise or degree wise to get into the industry. I'm really lost and most courses I've seen like computational finance require me to pursue higher education and overall I just don't know the best course of action to help me get a job there.

Reply 1

MindMax2000

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by 2000amber1

Fintech is not a small sector with a handful of roles, so you would need to be specific about what you're looking for.
See the following as an example of the roles in the area:
https://www.bankersbyday.com/a-career-in-fintech/
https://300hours.com/fintech-career-path/
https://www.technojobs.co.uk/info/career-advice/a-guide-to-fintech-careers-in-2022.phtml
https://www.efinancialcareers.co.uk/news/how-to-get-a-job-in-fintech
https://www.cfainstitute.org/en/rpc-overview/fintech

From the above, most of the roles are IT related. Whilst you can immediately assume that your go to degree would be computer science, the fact that the tech sector doesn't require you to have a degree (experience and skills on the other hand matter more) kind of make this a bit redundant.
If you do get a computer science degree, you would be looking at something from a top end uni with a good brand name (I would argue that it doesn't matter when it comes to job performance because someone without a degree can still trump someone with a degree from a top end uni, but it is what it is).
Alternative degrees to computer science would be a quantitiative degree that has strong programming elements in it e.g. electrical/electronic engineering, maths, physics. Maths being a popular degree for things like this.

For fields in cybersecurity, business analysis, data analysis, I would recommend professional IT certifications in cybersecurity as opposed to a degree. However, if you do decide to get a degree in them (for whatever random reason), I would look for those that are accredited by professional bodies or are based in top end targeted unis.

If you want to consider getting into quantitative analysis (not entirely sure this should be considered fintech), then you can do the CQF qualification after your degree. See: https://www.cqf.com/about-cqf/program-structure/cqf-qualification

If you don't want to go into the tech side of things, then you would want to have super sharp people skills as the sort of people oriented roles will require you to have strong interpersonal, communication, and sales skills.

Reply 2

skirkdaniel

Look into different job roles, the skills required, and the types of companies that operate in this space. This will give you a better understanding of where you might fit in.

Reply 3

celicas

I understand your confusion about entering the FinTech industry. One way I see is joining a FinTech software development company (I had a great experience with Kindgeek https://kindgeek.com/). They often offer opportunities for individuals with technical skills, such as programming and software development, to contribute to the industry. It can allow you to gain experience, acquire relevant skills, build a network, and gain insights into the workings of the industry. Also, you can consider taking online courses or pursuing a degree in computer science or a related field to strengthen your technical knowledge.