Biggest Financial Consultant Challenges At Raftelis Financial Consulting
Erik's biggest challenge as a Financial Consultant at Raftelis is the significant knowledge gap between their background in civil engineering and geology and the demands of state-level finance work, admitting "it's that willingness to wanna learn that...you gotta be able to admit". While acknowledging the learning curve, the interviewee expresses confidence in their ability to adapt and master the necessary financial skills, despite the initial hurdle of transitioning from a STEM background.
Overcoming Challenges, Career Development, Learning Agility, Financial Analysis, STEM to Finance Transition
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Erik Milde
Financial Consultant
Raftelis Financial Consulting
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
N/A
Engineering - Civil
Consulting & Related Professional Services, Energy & Utilities, Government & Public Sector
Finance
Disabled, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. Erik's biggest challenge was transitioning from a STEM background (civil engineering and geology) to a finance career without prior experience in accounting or economics. This highlights the importance of adaptability and a willingness to learn new skills.
2. He emphasizes that while some professional skills are difficult to teach, the core principles of finance, like mathematics, can be learned. This is encouraging for students interested in pursuing a career change or entering the field without a traditional background.
3. Erik's experience shows that even with a significant learning curve, success in finance is attainable with dedication and a growth mindset. He stresses the importance of acknowledging the need for continuous learning and improvement, which is a valuable lesson for students in any field.
Transcript
What is your biggest challenge in your current role?
My biggest challenge in my current role is that I didn't come in with finance experience. My work involves a lot of state-level finance, and I don't have a background in accounting or economics.
I have a background in civil engineering and geology, which is STEM. That doesn't fully prepare you for this kind of work. This isn't to disparage those fields, but some professional techniques can't be taught.
However, in this case, it is possible to learn. I think that was a big hurdle. You're changing how your brain works and expecting a completely different methodology, but ultimately, math is math. Once you can work with that, it becomes a lot easier.
I'm still struggling with it and there's a lot to learn. You're never going to be a master, but the willingness to learn is important.