All degrees welcome for offshore graduate law and finance jobs

Fact: you don’t need to be a mathematical genius or a legal whizz to get a job in finance or law. Many roles call for ‘soft’ skills rather than specific job-related abilities, which you can learn on the job. Consider, for example, some of the skills required by a trainee actuary working in life assurance and pensions (analytical skills and proven numerical ability), those required in private banking (good interpersonal skills and the ability to work well under pressure) and those needed for a career in law (attention to detail and the ability to work as part of a team).

Sell yourself

Having a non-numerical or non-law degree can be an asset. Whatever your degree background, it’s likely that you will have developed a wide range of skills – exactly the kind that recruiters will be looking for – and you can demonstrate these through examples from your studies and extra-curricular activities. Discussions about your degree choice can also give you the opportunity to talk about yourself and your plans: these are always a good talking point and a way to help recruiters get to know the real you. It’s well known that recruiters look for more than just academic qualifications, so a candidate who can demonstrate that they have a wide range of skills including teamwork communication skills will be very attractive – especially for roles where interaction with clients and customers is necessary.

Whatever your degree background, it’s likely that you will have developed a wide range of skills

It’s also important to remember employers are keen to recruit a balanced work force that reflects the diverse nature of the clients and customers they serve. There isn’t any set blueprint for the ideal candidate so it’s up to you to prove why they should hire you and what you can bring to the business.

Make your experience count

If all this has whetted your appetite, the first step on your road to employment is to find out which area interests you, do some research to find out who the main employers are in that area and then match your skills and abilities to the ones required. Look carefully at the training and induction programme on offer. If you’re new to the area, a longer induction period could be useful to bring you up to speed on any technical jargon before getting stuck in to the job at hand. Make the effort to meet recruiters at careers fairs or on-campus events and ask them if they accept people with your degree background and/or how best you can highlight your skills.

Next, get some work experience if you possibly can. There is no better way to demonstrate your interest in a sector than to get some experience of actually doing the job. When it comes to interviews and assessment centres you’ll then have a bank of experiences to draw on and will truly be able to say why you are interested in a career in your chosen sector. You’ll also be able to prove that you are capable of applying the skills and knowledge you gained during your degree to a work environment.