FINANCE is the sector that has produced the Donald Trumps and Ben Bernankes of the world. This field, which is important for the growth of any economy is only bound to grow.

The favourite question asked about this industry is about the moolah in it. Let's put things in perspective, so you know how much hay you can make.

Is finance a good industry to work for in the current scenario? I would like to be a relationship manager or may be even an investment banker. Any suggestions on how to make my dream come true?

-- Aspiring finance professional, Pune

How keen are you?

I read a quote somewhere, which went like this, 'Life would have been far more comfortable if these ifs and buts were not there but these ifs and buts are always there.'

Well, even the quotation has them (ifs and buts)!

Now, 'if' you are genuinely interested in finance and have a reasonable aptitude for it, then finance is a good industry in any scenario including the current one. Every industry goes through ups and downs, including finance. Considering India will still grow at over eight per cent and since growth cannot happen without the financial industry, it is fundamentally well placed. No worries there.

The big question: are you 'genuinely' interested?

A simple way to figure out the genuineness, is to see if it is backed by action on your part. If you don't read finance or dabble in the markets then you are not genuinely interested.

What's on the plate

To answer the second part of your question, I need to make a few assumptions. Assuming, you are fresh graduate who is genuinely interested in finance and economics, basic math does not give you goose bumps, there are two basic ways to get into finance.

One, you pick up further education/skills that make you more attractive for a financial institution to hire you. Obvious programmes that you can do are MBA and CA. If you get into an MBA, make sure you go to an institute that is atleast among the top 50 and attracts good finance companies for placements.

Some recommended B-schools are all the Indian Institutes of Management, FMS, SP Jain etc.

While you get ready to work in finance, I am positive that the hiring outlook for finance companies will also improve and your fears about joining finance will disappear.

Read: The one-year MBA costs more

Photograph: Vipurva Parikh

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e-mail: Sanjay Chaudhary

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