Resources to Bookmark

Handshake Event Calendar UPO Office
Tippie Career Services Finance Toolkit Tippie Toolkit

Explore

Prepare

  • Enroll in FIN:3020 (Professional Finance Seminar) to learn more about careers in the Finance field and network with employers

  • Participate in volunteer experiences related to business or finance, such as budget management for a non-profit

  • Create your resume using Pomerantz Career Center or VMOCK and highlight your finance courses, projects, and tailor your bullet points to finance

  • Have your resume reviewed by a Peer Career Advisor at the Pomerantz Career Center

  • Start a LinkedIn account and create a profile; get a professional headshot at Tippie or Pomerantz Career Center, follow companies and organizations of interest

  • Attend Career Fairs sponsored by Pomerantz Career Center to learn about prospective employers

  • Attend student organization-sponsored job fairs

  • Participate in a Mock Interview, Big Interview, or Case Coach to polish your interview skills

  • Initiate a conversation with your finance faculty to expand your knowledge about the major, industry, and careers

  • Be aware of events offered by the University of Iowa, Tippie College of Business, Pomerantz Career Center, and Handshake

Experience

  • Complete your Tippie RISE requirements

  • Participate in at least 2 of the following:

    • Business/finance internship

    • Finance case study

    • Externship/job shadow/informational interview

    • Alternative spring break

    • Employer-sponsored summer program

    • Part-time/summer job in finance

    • Study abroad/international volunteer or internship experience

    • Finance research opportunity

Take advantage of additional opportunities to gain experience:

  • Participate in professional development activities (i.e. Coursera or LinkedIn Learning)

  • Participate in a career trek offered by the Pomerantz Career Center or your department for exploration and networking opportunities

  • Work a Student Employment job on or off campus to gain general work experience and build transferable skills

  • Take on a leadership role or volunteer for financial responsibilities within a student organization

  • Attend workshops/activities sponsored by the Finance Department

  • Participate in suggested activities from My Career Path to explore additional opportunities

While you gain experience, continue with the following:

  • Collect and keep samples of your work from projects or internships to create a portfolio

  • Participate in Mock Interviews, Big Interview, or Case Coach to further develop your interview skills

  • Update your resume and highlight your finance courses, projects, and tailor your bullet points to finance

  • Write a sample cover letter focused on your knowledge, skills, and experiences and have it reviewed by a Career Peer Advisor at Pomerantz Career Center

  • Identify and develop your brand through tailoring your resume, cover letter, and portfolio materials

  • Attend Career Fairs sponsored by Pomerantz Career Center and connect on LinkedIn with recruiters of employers that are of interest to you

  • Attend other student organization-sponsored job fairs

  • View undergraduate career leads to identify opportunities of interest to your career goals

  • Use Handshake and other finance-related sites to search for finance internships/jobs

Achieve

  • Plan to invest at least 10 hours a week toward your job search (average student may apply to 50+ positions)

  • Apply for full-time jobs beginning in September – knowing the average search can take 6-9 months

  • Create an individual job search plan with clear targets and action steps

  • Update your Handshake profile and use Handshake to conduct a job search

  • Create a “saved search” or “search agent” in Handshake tailored towards your career interest areas

  • View undergraduate career leads to identify opportunities of interest to your career goals

  • Update and tailor your resume and cover letters to highlight your finance experience and knowledge

  • Prepare a list of references/seek recommendations from professors and other professionals

  • Attend Career Fairs sponsored by Pomerantz Career Center and connect on LinkedIn with recruiters of employers that are of interest to you

  • Attend other student organization-sponsored fairs and networking events

  • Attend workshops/activities sponsored by the finance department and seek contact information from speakers

  • Join finance-related professional organizations to make connections

  • Participate in a Mock Interview, Big Interview, or Case Coach to polish your interview skills

  • Use Pomerantz Career Center resources to investigate salary ranges for jobs that you are considering

  • Learn how to use other job search resources, including personal contacts and faculty leads

  • Use LinkedIn to connect to alumni who work for companies that don’t traditionally recruit through fairs or postings on campus

  • Once an offer is received, read it carefully, ask questions of the organization’s HR contact, consult with a mentor or Career Coach, negotiate any changes in writing, and respond by the deadline