Data Analyst or Financial Analyst?
I'm majoring in Statistics in college and have mostly been thinking about a career in finance. However, the more I think about my internship experiences at investment banks I don't know if I'm cut out for a super competitive environment. Maybe it's because I interned at GS? Are other investment firms better, or should I be looking outside IBs? On the other hand, I've also been thinking that maybe being a data analyst at these finance companies might be a better option in terms of culture? Or should I just steer away from these finance companies and start looking into tech? Is the culture at tech companies really that good? Seems from the discussions here that tech is also a dog eat dog world.
Tech is not even remotely in the same scale of dog eat dog that finance is. People here complain because that’s the nature of an anonymous app full of introverted engineers. Why else would you download the app? To sign and in and post “had a great day at work today, go team go!” Nope, people use it as an outlet. Long story short tech >>>> finance all things considered. Aim for data science over analyst though for long term.
I am having a blast today. I was able to code from 9am to 1pm without being interrupted. I hope my afternoon will be as good.
Today was a good day, I got to be a total smartass and prove someone wrong on Blind.
I've been both and find data much more rewarding
Do you want to work 12 hour days 6 days a week for less money?
I worked in consulting...finance...tech is way less stressful, leverage your finance skills to be data scientist/finance specialist.
Be on the data science side in finance. Definitely don't be a traditional financial analyst but add value by applying the tech to finance. Won't go into all the benefits of it but it's really what banks and asset managers are looking for, both to scale investment processes and for marketing
Data science is more lucrative longterm. Tech will grind you, yes.
Uh....not necessarily. It can be extremely lucrative if you become a leader around ML or AI, but traders/analysts make a ton of money. For example, my friend from college works at a bank as an analyst and makes minimum 180 up to 250 w/ 3.5 yoe. If you manage to make your way to the right buyside shop as an analyst you can make 500k with only 4 or 5 yoe total (including prior to moving over). You do have to be talented and driven and work hard af, but there’s a lot of money there. Engineering at a major tech firm is a more plush world with inherent perks and good base. Finance is more intense results-based environment, which has greater variety in pay. But in either case, the super high pay comes to those that are intense and driven and leaders. Tech is definitely more accepting of lower intensity work environment/attitude than finance in my experience.