What a Financial Consultant at Raftelis Wishes They Had Known Before Entering Financial Consulting
Erik, a Financial Consultant at Raftelis Financial Consulting, wishes someone had emphasized that a specific job title background is not always essential; the skills gained from diverse degree pathways, such as engineering or environmental science, are highly transferable and valuable, contrary to the assumption that career paths must directly align with one's degree. This realization, gained through experience, highlights the unexpected breadth of opportunities available beyond initially perceived limitations.
Career Exploration, Job Search, Overcoming Challenges, Industry Realities, Career Development
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. Many different academic backgrounds can prepare you for a career in financial consulting.
2. Your specific degree may not directly translate to a consulting role, but the skills you gain are still valuable and transferable.
3. Don't limit yourself to career paths that seem like a direct match for your degree; explore diverse options within consulting
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone had told you before you entered the industry?
I wish somebody had told me that you don't necessarily need a background specifically in a job title to fulfill that role. I think for a lot of majors, and engineering specifically, the expectation is that you go into that role.
They don't really tell you that those degree pathways have a huge measurable difference while also giving you skills that not everybody would normally have in that kind of role. I wish somebody had told me that.
It's a benefit. I think that some degree pathways prepare you to go into the profession, that you have the training to fulfill that role. But they don't tell you that just because your background is in accounting doesn't mean you can't do something unrelated.
Or that if your background's in environmental science, it doesn't mean you can't eventually go into sustainability consulting. No one necessarily tells you this because a lot of jobs don't directly translate to that degree pathway.
Now, being in the position I am, I have a better understanding of that. I wish I knew that sooner.