Financial Analyst

A lifelong goal of mine has always been to become a financial analyst. I struggled in high school with every subject except math and never knew why. My English teacher in the ninth grade gave spelling and definition tests and noticed a problem with my papers. She pulled me aside and asked me if I had ever been tested for dyslexia. I was tested and it was confirmed that I had dyslexia.

My grades started to improve, but I still felt stronger in math than any other subject.

When I enrolled in college for my undergraduate degree, my original plan was a degree in business. My Mom was so concerned with my reading problems that she talked me into a degree in mathematics with a minor in secondary education. I remember that it sounded like a great idea at the time, but I never felt that it was right for me. I did not want to end up wishing I was in a different career after many years of hard work in the teaching field.

I am now pursuing the career that I really want in life.

I did extensive research to make sure that I really wanted to become a financial analyst before starting my MBA. There are several different kinds of financial analyst. Some deal with stocks, predictions about product sells, or forecasting company earnings (Granville, 2006, Becoming a Financial Analyst). In my research, I read an interesting article that stated, “An analyst must be aware of current developments in the field in which he or she specializes as well as in preparing financial models to predict future economic conditions for any number of variables” (Granville, 2006, Becoming a Financial Analyst).

I know that I will be a great financial analyst, because I enjoy working with detailed information in every aspect of my life.

My self-assessment results made me feel even better about becoming a financial analyst. According to Jungian Personality Self-Assessment (2007), I am “gracious, have good interpersonal skills, and I am eager to please. ” An analyst must have interpersonal skills, because you must interact with other co-workers to gather the information you need to create your reports and group meetings. I have always been eager to please.

I will continue to work on a project until I complete it correctly, even if it takes me all day and night.

A financial analyst is a popular job for several reasons. The most important reason I believe is, that people who love math and numbers want to have a career in something other than teaching high school students for the rest of their lives. The pay scale in this field also attracts many people. According to PayScale, “a financial analyst makes $45,743-$64,769” (PayScale, 2010, Finance). I feel confident that having my MBA will improve my chances of securing a higher paying job in this field.

The financial analyst field is a very competitive one, but with higher education and experience, you can move up the corporate ladder quickly. I am excited about starting my new career as an analyst. I think it is important to have a career that you feel like you belong in, and one in which you are given opportunities to improve yourself. My career goal is that as soon as I graduate with my Masters of Business Administration with a focus in finance, I will go into the corporate world as a financial analyst.