I think I want a career change-- suggestions on how to start?

[lolar2]

I have been a starving artist for about as long as I can stand, I think. Anyway, I am thinking I want to do something a little more business-y and a lot more lucrative but I haven't the first clue how to start. My degrees are in music history, and most of my experience is in teaching music in some capacity. I've also published one article (music-related) and I have done some temp office work and some sales.

So what do I do? Some of my classmates from high school went straight from undergrad into investment banking for two or three years, saved up money, and then went to grad school or into teaching. I'd more or less like to do the reverse-- I've been in grad school and/ or teaching, and I'd like to go into finance or investment banking or... something like that. Some of my starving-artist temp work was on Wall Street, so I have a fairly good idea of the culture and working environment of that kind of job. As for how to get hired at an entry-level position though-- no clue. Would I have to go back to school, or what?

[Halfasianmomma]

If you've got some temping experience and are willing to work, you could try to get hired by an investment banker as an assistant. You'd most likely need to take a few courses (here in Canada, you'd take the Canadian Securities Course and another one...can't remember the name). In my limited experience (I worked in corporate banking), investment banking is about customer service and appearance, at least on the assistant's side of things. You definitely need to look/dress sharp all the time, be willing to do anything for your customers and be willing to work a lot of overtime hours. I interviewed for quite a few investment bankers and when I realized that they expected me to work overtime with them, I backed out. There's TONS of cash to be made though, especially when bonus time rolls around.

I don't really think you'd need further schooling. Perhaps find out what the American equivalent of the CSC is and look into starting it on your own. Some firms will pay you back for taking it if you remain with them. Even just having it started while you go to employment agencies, and saying that you're really interested in working in that field can get your foot in the door. Oftentimes, that's all it takes.

You don't have to work in investment banking though...just working in finance would get you a solid salary with some benefits. I'd just go back to the employment agencies you previously worked for and tell them you want a permanent position. You can get hired someplace as an entry-level employee, gain experience and knowledge, perhaps take a few in-house training course and then upgrade to a better position/better salary in another firm after a year or two.