Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Financial Analysts
Kimo suggests that "rotation programs" at larger companies are the best way for undergraduates and graduate students to break into corporate finance, noting that these programs allow analysts to explore different teams and roles, helping them discover their preferences; Kimo also advises students to start looking at rotation program opportunities in the summer or fall before their graduation year due to the competitive nature of the industry.
Rotation Programs, Entry-Level Positions, Financial Analysis, Corporate Finance, Early Career Development
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Kimo Thomas
Sr Financial Analyst
Dexcom
University of San Diego
Finance
Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical
Finance
Scholarship Recipient
Video Highlights
1. Financial Analyst Rotation Programs: Large companies, especially Fortune 500s, offer financial analyst rotation programs designed for early career professionals. These programs involve rotations of six months each, lasting two to three years, allowing participants to work on four to six different teams.
2. Benefits of Rotation Programs: Rotation programs help recent graduates discover their preferences and strengths within finance, clarifying what they enjoy and what they don't. This experience is invaluable since many students are unsure of their career interests upon graduating college.
3. Timeline for Applying: Recruitment for these rotation programs typically begins in the summer or fall of the year preceding the program's start date. For instance, if graduating in 2026, one should start exploring these opportunities as early as the summer/fall of 2025.
Transcript
What entry-level positions in this field might undergraduates and graduate students consider?
I would say the biggest and most well-known way to break into corporate finance is through rotation programs within each company. Larger companies, like Fortune 500s, usually have financial analyst rotation programs for early careers.
These programs are designed because many analysts and students don't know what they want to do yet. They involve six-month rotations, typically lasting two to three years. This allows you to work on four to six different teams.
I personally didn't have that opportunity but worked for two different teams within two years. I felt like I created my own mini rotation program. It helped me figure out what I liked and what I didn't like.
Coming out of college, you truly don't know what you like until you're in the actual role. So, if there's anything, rotation programs are a great way to get in.
These programs usually open up in the summer or fall of the previous year before they begin. So, if you graduate in 2026, you should probably start looking at those roles already. It's a bit crazy to say, but that's just how the industry is nowadays.
Advizer Personal Links
LinkedIn.com/in/kimo-thomas/