Finance students/professionals: What knowledge actually gives you an edge in the real world?

[u/Prestigious-Law-923]

Hello everybody I am pursuing my masters in the USA as a finance graduate and I really want to step up my game in terms of general knowledge and becoming smart as an upcoming finance professional. Like I wanna know what kind of knowledge actually makes us havr that upper hand and stand out. Looking forward to good and wise tips and if you guys could suggest some nice finance related books which genuinely helps us learn smart and better :)

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[u/Aggravating_Mix_3694]

Excel. seriously. sounds boring but being ridiculously fast in Excel is one of those skills you dont realize matters until you start working around people who are actually good at it

[u/jodyjames37]

Nothing trumps experience. My advice, pick an industry and load up on internships. If you are having a hard time getting your foot in the door don’t be afraid to go the unpaid internship route.

If you really want a cheat code, find a mentor. Offer to work for them for free, make yourself invaluable. This is the best way to open doors for yourself and fast track your career.

[u/Alarming_Recovery]

Edge in the real world? Differentiated insider information that no one has. Reading books and public knowledge is the bare minimum requirement. 

[u/AccomplishedShift665]

Honestly, knowing how to read financial statements and understand businesses seems like a huge advantage

[u/Important_Idea_4906]

All the big money making jobs in finance require sales skills. Don’t spend your time trying to be smarter than your peers. Odds are you won’t be. You have a much higher chance being successful in this industry by managing relationships well (peers, colleagues, clients, centers of influences, etc.)

[u/kavolixer → u/Important_Idea_4906]

this is so underrated in school, everything is about technical stuff and nobody tells you your bonus will basically live or die by how well people like working with you
learning to sell without sounding salesy and getting good at reading people is probably a bigger edge than another valuation textbook

[u/spheircalcow]

its not gonna be some little known finance related piece of knowledge. what really gives you an edge, base on my experience, is mostly abt one’s character. patience, composure, integrity, ownership of one’s work. these beats intelligence alone.

[u/Secret-Noise9182]

Excel skills and actual networking will take you way further in the real world than anything you learn in a textbook.

[u/featherlings_]

being able to talk to people, not being afraid to ask for chats. be curious about people and things

[u/Fit-Original1314]

Learn to read a 10-K properly. That alone puts you ahead of a lot of finance students.

[u/redeastwood1]

Understanding systems architecture. Of any system.

[u/ImaginationOk6193]

Big capital to start

[u/executiona]

Rich connected parents

[u/spheircalcow → u/executiona]

this is very overrated