Business, Finance, and Consulting

Mary McCourt on the Times Square billboard for Morgan Stanley

Do you read The Economist, Wall Street Journal, and Financial Times for pleasure? Are you often told that you are a gifted problem solver with strong analytical skills? Do you like numbers and research? Are you a natural leader who enjoys collaborating with others to produce results? If this sounds like you, you might be a good fit for a career in finance, consulting, or business.

The Big Picture

What You Can Expect

There are many job options available for those interested in careers paths in business, finance, and consulting.  Opportunities exist in the private, nonprofit, and government sectors and in a variety of industries.  Obvious industries include financial services, management consulting, insurance, and consumer goods, etc.  In addition, business-related roles are available with most employer organizations, including start-ups, social enterprises, educational institutions, health care organizations, media outlets, tech firms, fashion houses, etc.  While a variety of job titles can be found, common entry-level positions are analyst, business associate, account manager, trainee, and operations specialist.

Areas of Focus

Here are some areas to explore within this broad career path:

Business Operations

Business Development/Sales & Marketing includes tasks and processes aimed at creating value and growth opportunities for an enterprise. Read this for information on the difference between business development and sales and marketing.
(CSR) involves a company’s “initiatives to assess and take responsibility for the company’s effects on environmental and social wellbeing.”
oversees talent acquisition, employee relations, compensation and benefits, and compliance with federal and state labor and employment laws.
Management includes the activities associated with overseeing an enterprise, typically planning, organizing, and staffing an organization to accomplish goals. To learn more about entry-level opportunities, check out this list of shared by Columbia University’s Center for Career Education.

Consulting

or consulting firms help clients understand and solve business problems in a range of industries. “Boutique” firms typically specialize in a specific industry, examples include healthcare, government, financial services, human resources, technology, marketing, and communications.
Some large companies employ within a department.

is the process of designing, launching and running a new business or startup company.

Financial Services roles involve managing assets (money) for individuals (personal finance), governments (public finance), and businesses (corporate finance). Roles frequently involve raising capital through debt and equity and managing money through investments.  There are a variety of operational functions available in research, compliance, risk, compliance, etc.

Commercial Banking provides banking services individuals and organizations.
Corporate Finance is the “in-house” function that manages and organizations assets.
Financial planners and wealth managers help individuals plan their financial futures.
Insurance companies help manage risk to protect against catastrophic losses and to anticipate potential risk problems.
Investment bankers provide financial services to companies, institutions, and governments through equity, debt, structured finance, and mergers and acquisitions transactions, and advise on strategy and execution across a broad spectrum of industries and geographies.
Hedge Funds manage a pool of money for large investors and utilize a particular investment strategy.
Money Management (AKA Investment/Asset Management) represents buy side firms that research, invest, and hold stocks and bonds for institutional clients. These firms use strategy and market trend and company analysis to implement trades.
Private Equity and Venture Capital firms purchase all or part of a company’s equity directly in return for an ownership stake.
Real Estate firms help individuals and institutions buy, sell, manage, and develop property.

Top Resources

Find below some of the best online information available to help you learn about finance, consulting, and business-related career paths. Is there a missing resource you really like? Let us know and we’ll consider adding it.

Do industry research, explore career options, prepare for an interview, and more.

Find free networking, resume/cover letter, case interview, and consulting skills information on this page.

Those seeking Summer '24 internships in finance - check out this Finance Recruiting 101 presentation describing what to expect.
Check out this Reading List for Students Interested in Careers in Financial Services and the sites below to dig deeper.
Access this list of banks and sort by bank type; list also includes links to their web sites and career information.
Just getting started? This resource will be invaluable for following the markets, looking up terminology, and developing skills.
Provides over 600 articles and free weekly updates with interviews with industry insiders, career tips, etc.
Online training in interviews, networking, and financial modeling for career success (these courses are fee-based).

Access is provided by establishing an account at http://wsj.com/ActivateMiddlebury, using your middlebury.edu email address.
For access, “claim a pass” at http://accessnyt.com (Requires middlebury.edu account. Student passes are valid through grad year.
Start your day with the latest news from Wall St. to Silicon Valley.
The 3-minute daily newsletter with fresh takes on the financial news you need to start your day.

Provides free consulting services to businesses and nonprofits in Vermont.
With a mission of empowering diverse students, MiddDIB connects diverse students with mentors and business career information.
Empowers Middlebury women to pursue fulfilling careers in the financial services industry through education and mentors.
Provides students interested in finance with bridges to the board of trustees, job market, networking, etc.

Academic and Professional Development Programs

Middlebury’s Enterprise and Business Academic Program

A set of academic courses designed for students interested in working toward leadership roles in for-profit, nonprofit, government, and for-benefit enterprises. They complement Middlebury’s liberal arts offerings by showing students how the skills learned in the liberal arts translate to skills used in business and enterprise. Middlebury also offers a variety of informal program tracks for students to focus more closely on their areas of interest.
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CORe consists of three courses—Business Analytics, Economics for Managers, and Financial Accounting —and . Immerse yourself in real challenges faced by seasoned leaders across a variety of industries, develop business intuition through interactive learning exercises, and join a global community of peers.

MiddCORE is a mentor-driven, experiential-learning program that builds skills, creates opportunities, and expands networks for t
The Innovation Hub
Through funding, classes, workshops, and mentoring, as well as dedicated workspaces for ideation and collaboration.

Slide deck covering résumé writing for internships and jobs in business, consulting, and finance.
Slide deck covering effective networking for internships and jobs in business, consulting, and finance.
Deloitte consulting’s tips for a great résumé.

A case interview community where candidates with similar career goals get connected, practice cases and sharpen their consulting
Offers consulting case prep, resume edits, case study examples, practice cases, and more. Some of the resources have a fee.
Learn how Dalberg Advisors uses case interviews to evaluate candidates.
A prep tool to practice demonstrating your problem-solving skills, analytical ability, and strategic thinking.
Practice cases to help you get comfortable with the type of questions asked, and boost your confidence.
Oliver Wyman provides tips and practice cases to help you learn more about their evaluation process.

Stories from the Field

Finding the right career path starts with hearing real-world stories and connecting with those who’ve been there. CCI offers a range of resources to help you explore careers, gain advice, and build meaningful connections.

MiddConnect

Need career advice? MiddConnect is your gateway to connecting with Middlebury’s global network of alumni and parent volunteers. Search an extensive database using filters like employer, job role, location, or major to find people who align with your career interests.

Use MiddConnect to:

Set up 1:1 conversations with alumni and parents.
Explore career paths and industries.
Network for advice when applying for roles.

MiddConnect is part of the Midd2Midd platform, which fosters mentoring, networking, and engagement within the Middlebury community worldwide. Whether you’re seeking a mentor, exploring career options, or sharing your expertise with others, MiddConnect helps you build meaningful connections across the Middlebury community.

Guest: Craig Wilson ’07.5, Managing Director at Data Future Lab
Guest: Andres Fontao ‘96, Partner at Rainmaking for Spain and Latin America and Co-founder of Finnovista
Guests: Lacey Johnson ‘08, Partner, Alumni Ventures Group and Marco Casas ’07, Venture Investor, Basecamp

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