Finance is about how businesses, individuals, banks, and governments manage money. And if you’re considering the finance career path, there are plenty of opportunities to build a well-paying career, even at the entry level.
But finance can also be fast-paced and demanding, so finding the right fit matters. If you’re ready to explore the field, here’s how to get into finance with no experience, build the right skills, and stand out to employers in 2026.
Get an Education and Build the Right Skills
Breaking into finance starts with building the knowledge and skills employers are looking for.
Build Your Finance Foundation
A bachelor’s degree is common among finance professionals. According to Zippia, 77% have one, often in finance or related fields like economics, business, accounting, or mathematics.
>>RELATED: 13+ Jobs for Finance Majors in 2025
Build Technical Finance Skills
While finance isn’t usually considered a tech career, it requires technical skills to analyze, report on, and predict finances. Some general key finance skills include:
- Financial modeling skills, including DCF valuation, leveraged buyout (LBO) models, merger & acquisition (M&A) models, and sensitivity analysis — these are particularly foundational for investment banking and private equity roles
- Microsoft Excel skills, including complex formulas, pivot tables, macros, and financial functions like net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR)
- PowerPoint skills for creating compelling pitch decks and client presentations
- Financial statement analysis, including the ability to read balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements, calculate key ratios, and identify trends
- Industry-specific software expertise, including Bloomberg Terminal, FactSet, Capital IQ, QuickBooks, and Sage
- Data analytics and visualization skills using tools like Power BI, Tableau, or Python
- Knowledge of key performance indicators and metrics such as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), return on equity (ROE), return on assets (ROA), working capital ratios, and industry-specific benchmarks
Excel Skills for Business Finance
Apply Excel skills to build a financial forecast and present business performance clearly
Avg. Time: 6-7 hours
Skills you’ll build: Business Metrics, Cash Flow Forecasting, Data Presentation, Data Visualization, Debt Structure, Excel, Financial Analysis, Financial Forecasting, Financial Modeling, Profit and Loss Management
Ahmad says spreadsheet skills are especially important in finance. “My number one [skill] on the list is the use of spreadsheets for financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting,” says Iqbal Ahmad, founder and CEO of Britannia School of Academics and certified accountant (ACCA) and management accountant (CIMA). “It’s a lifelong skill that can be used in a multitude of roles.”
Soft skills matter, too. Ahmad highlights analytical skills and problem-solving, since finance roles often require you to understand complex information and find solutions. He also notes that candidates may encounter verbal and numerical reasoning tests during the hiring process.
Consider What Finance Role Is Right for You
Finance is a broad career path with a variety of different applications. As you build general finance skills and knowledge, it’s time to start considering what type of finance career you want. Are you interested in being a part of major corporate transactions as an investment banker? Do you prefer working with people and want to become a personal finance advisor? Are you by the book and attentive to detail as an accountant should be?
Figuring out what type of finance role is right for you might involve some trial and error, including trying different part-time work experiences, internships, or externships.
Investment Banking
Apply your analysis and communication skills to advise clients as part of our Technology, Telecom & Media Investment Banking team
Avg. Time: 4-5 hours
Skills you’ll build: Business Development, Communication, Cross-Team Collaboration, DCF Modeling, Debt Capital Markets, Enterprise Content Management, Financial Analysis, Financial Modeling, M&A Analysis, Presentation Skills, Relationship Building, Strategic Reasoning, SWOT Analysis, Valuation Methods
If you’re looking for somewhere to start, try taking our free, stress-free finance careers quiz.
What Finance Career Is Right for Me? Quiz
Take our quiz to figure out which career in finance could be right for you based on your interests and preferences. It’s completely free – you’ll just need to sign up to get your results.
Get Experience
Once you’ve built your skills, put them into practice. Hands-on experience shows employers you can apply what you’ve learned — even if it isn’t from a full-time job.
Do an Internship
Internships are especially valuable in finance because many firms use them to recruit future entry-level employees. They can also be highly competitive, particularly in areas like investment banking and wealth management.
Start your search early — some finance internship applications open more than a year in advance. Focus your application on relevant skills, extracurriculars, and leadership experience.
>>MORE: Learn everything you need to know about how to apply for an internship.
Do a Forage Job Simulation
Forage job simulations show you what working at top companies is like through a series of simulated job tasks. These simulations are built along with these companies, meaning they not only replicate the actual work a professional at that company does but also prove to that company that you’re qualified to succeed in your role.
>>MORE: Explore all Forage accounting and banking and financial services job simulations.
Once you complete a Forage job simulation, you’ll receive sample resume bullets and interview tips to help you with your application. Recruiters look for Forage in the application process — helping you stand out and making you 3.3x more likely to land the role.
Apply to Finance Roles
Once you’ve built your skills and experience, it’s time to start applying.
Talk to Finance Professionals
“Some people don’t realize how beneficial networking can be, but it is essential,” says Chunyang Shen, co-founder of Jarsy Inc. Connecting with professionals through LinkedIn, industry events, and other communities can help you discover opportunities you might otherwise miss.
Ahmad also emphasizes the importance of making a strong professional impression. Keep your resume and LinkedIn profile updated with relevant internships, projects, and experience, and communicate professionally with recruiters and employers throughout the hiring process.
Build a Portfolio
If you don’t have professional experience yet, an online portfolio can show employers what you can do.
Shen recommends including personal finance projects, such as analyzing stocks or creating a hypothetical investment portfolio. The goal is to give a recruiter or hiring manager proof that you’ve applied your finance skills—even outside a formal job.
Stay Up to Date on Larger Trends
Understanding what’s happening in the finance industry can help you speak confidently in interviews and put your skills into context.
“Be a daily active reader of financial news and reports such as Bloomberg Terminal and Wall Street Journal,” Chen says. “It helps you make intelligent points about trends in interviews.”
Image credit: Canva
