It makes sense that industries want related degrees, especially in this time when more companies prefer to specialise in particular niches. Singapore’s investment banking and investment management scene, though, is exempt from this trend, and welcomes degrees of all disciplines – but your subject knowledge will still need to be proven, usually with internships or during interviews.

A quick glance into banks and investment firms will yield graduates holding degrees in mathematics, alongside others with academic backgrounds in engineering and physics. Degrees in management and business are also common, and the increasing rate of globalisation and internet connectivity means that students of languages are quickly becoming favourites as well.

On top of all that, because technology is incredibly vital to financial institutions all over the world, graduates with knowledge and degrees in computer science or other disciplines related to IT are in demand, too.

But despite their very different academic backgrounds and areas of expertise in the industry, all these professionals have something in common – they all have the skills, passion and experience the investment banking and investment management needs. What are these? Continue on to find out.

Understand what skills firms are looking for

The unique and dynamic nature of the global markets and the financial industry means that investment banks and investment management companies need a diverse workforce to drive innovation and provide specialised knowledge. Moreover, to cater to an increasingly international clientele, investment firms need numerous perspectives and a firm understanding of customer needs.

However, just because certain skills like an understanding of global market trends and an affinity for numbers are needed, doesn’t mean that other non-financial competencies and soft skills aren’t in high demand! For instance, miscommunication can be rife in diverse workforces if employees don’t have cultural awareness, and open-mindedness is vital if new strategies to boost productivity are to be tried out.

Show your passion

There’s really no point in pursuing a career in an industry or area of work if you have no heart for it. You’ll just end up dreading turning up for work, or even worse, keep bouncing between employment posts as you try to find what keeps your attention. At the same time, the opposite is very true if your job is where your passion lies – you’ll find your job fulfilling and you’ll even enjoy satisfaction.

So if you truly want to enter the investment industry although your degree isn’t in an area of numeracy such as maths or physics, you’ll need to display your passion for it. For instance, if you had been the treasurer of a club or society in university, you can use it to show your enthusiasm for the role and your determination to enter the industry!

Get internships!

Unfortunately, due to the incredibly competitive nature of the industry, an internship is vital to get into investment banking. Most financial institutions recruit graduates through internship schemes, and usually bring in other candidates who’ve had placements with comparable employers.

In other words, if you’re sure you want to pursue a career in this industry, it’s best to start planning in your first year of university. But if you’ve only decided on this course later, it’s not too late! Develop your knowledge of the financial industry and leverage on resources you can find in your campus career centre. You can even consider taking up a graduate internship!

Just because you don’t have a finance degree doesn’t mean that this career path is completely closed off to you. Hiring processes in this industry tend to be formulaic, so if you understand these tips, it’s entirely possible to beat the odds and successfully apply to your dream investment firm. Unfortunately, there aren’t any shortcuts, so the sooner you put in the hard work and begin working towards your goal, the better!