Industry Insights:
Banking, Insurance, & Investment
You do not need a business degree to work in an industry centered on money and finances. You also do not have to be a mathematical whiz, but you could be! While exploring this industry note these skills and competencies are also relevant: law, technology, writing, operations, product development, communications, financial literacy/education, and more.
Perform online job search and research the industry
Here are some industry career websites and professional association job boards to get you started:
- Association for Financial Professionals
- Jobs in the Banking Industry
- Careers at Chase
- International Association of Insurance Professionals
- National Association of Personal Financial Planners
- American Bankers Association
You can also search for the job titles you discovered in you research, on the major job boards like Indeed or Glassdoor. Visit our Search Online page to learn more.
Visit our events page for events that are “Discovery” themed. These events are low pressure, casual, and meant to help students get insight into a specific field or industry.
EWU’s librarians welcome questions from students and are eager to help you. Call or email with your questions, or stop by the Library and ask if they are available.
Seek on-campus opportunities for networking, experiential learning, and employment
Engage with related student clubs, on-campus organizations, and their activities:
- Beta Alpha Psi (co-ed accounting and finance fraternity)
- Future Business Leaders of America – Phi Beta Lambda
- EWU Economic Society
- Alpha Kappa Psi – Eta Phi (co-ed business fraternity open to all majors)
Visit our events page for events that are “Connect” themed. These events include connecting with employers in the area to learn more about their professions, organizations, and/or available job and internship opportunities. Expect a higher level of preparation including wearing business professional or business casual attire and practicing professionalism. Learn about professional etiquette.
Sample Connect Events:
- Career Fairs
- Professional Power Hours
- Meet the Professionals (September)
If you plan on working while taking classes, some on-campus opportunities may involve activities and skills related to this industry. All on-campus jobs and on-campus internships are listed on Handshake. Visit the Student Employment page to get started.
Seek off-campus opportunities for networking, information gathering, and experiential learning
To find the opportunities below, we strongly recommend connecting with people and organizations in the fields you’re interested in. This is called networking. To learn more about how to network and where to find networking opportunities, visit our Learn How to Network page.
Ask people that work in the industry if they are willing to answer some questions about their job and experiences. Not sure what questions to ask? Check out our Informational Interview tips.
Ask to follow someone in the industry for a few hours to learn more about what it’s like to spend a day in their job. Need help setting this up? Make an appointment with a career advisor.
Give back to the community while gaining insight and experience. You can find volunteer opportunities through:
If you plan on working while taking classes, look for part-time jobs that have industry related activities and skills. View our Jobs and Internships page for information about job searching.
Sample organizations:
All majors are required to complete a variety of different core requirement classes in humanities and fine arts, natural sciences, and social sciences to graduate. Use this opportunity to be curious and try classes in different areas to learn more about what you are and are not interested in.
Another course to try is CRSV 210: Career Development. In this two credit class, Career Services staff will engage you in examining your personal career interests in and outside of the classroom.
Research, apply, and complete an internship to develop skills relevant to the industry
Internships are a great way to experience a field of interest and see if it’s a good fit. Visit the Do an Internship page for more information about how internships work, how to find them, and how to set them up. Here’s a brief list of example internships. This is not an exhaustive list.
Sample internships:
- Strategy & Corporate Affairs Intern, U.S. Bank
- Marketing Intern, Bank of America
- Retail Banking Intern, KeyBank
- Corporate Legal Intern, Travelers
- Crop Insurance Intern, Crop Risk Services
- Corporate Insurance Risk Management Intern, PepsiCo
- Quantitative Investment Strategy, Russell Investments
- CRSV 295 Career Exploration Internship
