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Reviewed by Ibnujala
Many commerce students might think that they could crack an interview only if they are experienced. However, this is a common misbelief. Recruiters indeed consider experience, but it does not mean that no experience equals no job.
Nevertheless, to become a financial analyst with no experience, you must have a clear plan, build proper knowledge and insights expected from an entry-level or junior financial analyst, and be comfortable working with financial data.
This guide offers a roadmap to improve your chances of landing an entry-level financial analyst role, even without prior full-time experience. From a complete guide on the procedures to things to consider while preparing your resume, this article can help you in your job hunt.
So, let’s dive deeper into the details without much ado.
A financial analyst analyses financial data to assist companies and investment teams in making decisions.
In an entry-level or junior financial analyst role, your day-to-day activities typically consist of reviewing the Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow, observing trends, and building simple budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis reports. Much of the work is often done in Excel (and sometimes tools like SQL/Power BI) and shared via presentations or dashboards.
Further in your career, you may support financial modelling (three-statement model) and valuation basics, such as DCF, Comps, and WACC. Some people might also use Power BI or Tableau, while larger firms use Bloomberg Terminal or S&P Capital IQ.
If your goal is to get an entry-level financial analyst job, common paths include:
Many commerce students assume that they need to have a long work experience to get a job. But the fact is that the employers hiring junior analysts usually look for a mix of basic skills and evidence that you can apply them, even if you don’t have long full-time experience.
They would want to see that you can perform on finance data, know how to perform an analysis of financial statements (Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement), and be able to articulate your findings through clear communication, through the very same tools used by all finance analysts to perform their day-to-day tasks: Microsoft Excel and MS PowerPoint.
Just demonstrating basic finance project skills, such as a 3-statement model, along with the basics of equity valuation methods, such as Discounted Cash Flow or Comparable Company Analysis (“Comps”), can make you a stronger entry-level candidate and improve your chances of getting shortlisted.
So what counts as credible evidence of skills for freshers? Take a look at the points mentioned below:
Experience is an important factor recruiters consider while hiring. However, becoming a financial analyst without experience is also possible if you follow the required roadmap. So, this section will provide a step-by-step guide on getting into your dream financial analyst job even without prior experience.
To begin with, select a field to be directed in your resume and portfolio. A financial analyst translates data into decisions. They analyse statements, develop forecasts, and provide insights.
Depending on your chosen field, your day-to-day activities will differ. So identifying a proper area can be helpful.
Develop your financial literacy and vocabulary. This will help improve your knowledge and build professionalism in your job.
First, practice financial statement analysis and concepts like the time value of money. Later, start monitoring the market on a daily basis.
The simpler and more consistent pattern is better than a complex and erratic one. Follow business headlines, pick a sector of choice (banks, FMCG, or IT), and make a list of what drove market price changes.
Simply, keep yourself updated about the financial market, its trends, and all that is related to your job.
Even if employers do not ask for experience, they ask for evidence. Create a few high-quality, well-documented projects (even 1–2 strong ones can work) and link them in your resume and LinkedIn. Make them clean, assumption-driven, and simple to scroll through.
Try adding similar projects such as:
In today’s digitally driven society, working alone might not be enough. It is important that you share sanitised samples on platforms like LinkedIn, GitHub, or Drive links, as they improve visibility, but without exposing confidential data.
Similarly, publish blogs and short posts related to your work, your thoughts, and more. This can help attract recruiters.
The following structure might be helpful:
Certifications and course certificates, although not as favourable as projects and practical outputs, can help showcase your expertise in practical knowledge. Select courses with an output, rather than ones solely for a certificate.
Focus on learning Excel, financial modelling, valuation, and financial reporting, as these courses translate directly to tasks in forecasting and financial reporting. Consider learning courses in either Power BI or Tableau if you’re making dashboards. You can also mention tools, such as the Bloomberg Terminal, S&P Capital IQ, FactSet, or Refinitiv Eikon, only if you personally used them.
Choosing courses that provide deeper insights into modern innovations, such as AI intervention in finance, can help you work faster in areas like research, summarisation, and data cleaning.
Courses like Certified Finance and Business Analyst (CFBA) and others offered by platforms like FinQuo Versity and various other recognised institutions can also be considered.
Colleges can be a strong support system, if utilised well, to get an entry-level financial analyst job. From career centres and alumni networks to clubs and faculty referrals, many colleges offer a variety of resources that can help students enter the job market without prior experience.
Applying for internships, even short-term ones, right from college can also help reduce the perceived risk of no experience.
Here’s a quick checklist:
Networking also has an important role in helping students get a job without experience. Through networking, you can gain access to professionals, experts, and others in your field, helping improve your connections and referrals at times.
You can utilise LinkedIn and other platforms to get connected with alumni and professionals. Ask for their feedback on your portfolio, the skills they actually use, and how they got their first break. Combining this with your interview preparations can improve your chances of cracking the job.
To get an entry-level financial analyst job like Financial Data Analyst or Junior Financial Analyst, your resume must quickly show that you are eligible to do real-world work even without a full-time title.
Here are some tips to consider while preparing your resume that can help you crack jobs without experience.
A financial analyst is the one who translates numbers into decisions, interpreting financial statements such as the Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow, and developing forecasts.
A junior financial analyst assists with budgeting, forecasting, and monthly reporting with clean and accurate financial data.
Your resume needs proof of skills beyond your bachelor’s degree (finance, accounting, economics, business, or statistics).
Additionally, add your portfolio projects immediately after your profile in your resume to ensure the recruiter gets reference evidence before anything else.
List your projects in bullet points with outcomes and analyst language. This can help improve visibility and showcase your professionalism.
Add Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, SUMIFS, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP functions, charts), or if applicable, Power BI/Tableau. Include Bloomberg Terminal, S&P Capital IQ, FactSet, or Refinitiv Eikon in your resume.
However, remember, include these tools only if you have knowledge or experience using them.
Provide links to your portfolio folder and case study or posts on your blog. This helps recruiters verify your work and see evidence of analyst-style skills.
Make sure the internship, trainee, apprenticeship or analyst programme experience is highlighted well in your resume. This can help you gain an edge.
Many students want to become financial analysts without experience, but stay stuck because their effort doesn’t translate into job-ready proof.
A course can add credibility, but recruiters shortlist candidates who can show output, like a financial statement analysis, a simple financial modelling file, or a basic DCF or comps valuation.
Without portfolio links on your resume and LinkedIn, certificates rarely convert into interviews.
Waiting too long reduces access to referrals and internship, trainee, or analyst programme openings, which are common entry points into entry-level analyst jobs.
Early LinkedIn networking and informational interviews help you learn what teams actually expect and get your profile noticed.
Junior analyst interviews test communication skills, such as whether you explain assumptions, trends in financial data, and what the numbers mean for a business.
If you can’t summarise your project clearly or defend your Excel logic, you’ll struggle even with strong technical skills.
As we reach the conclusion of this article, we have discussed various factors that can help you become a financial analyst with no experience. From building a solid financial foundation to practising real-world projects, we have come across various tips and tricks. However, the most important among them is to turn your interest into proof.
Even though employers might not expect perfection from freshers, they would look for curiosity, ambition, consistency, and the ability to work in real time. So, if you keep learning, applying, and improving your portfolio over time, you’ll move from “no experience” to “job-ready” faster than you think.
Uma Nair is a professional content writer with over 3 years of experience and a strong foundation in crafting engaging and informative content across diverse domains. Over the years, she has dealt with various niches, and her growing interest in finance has led her to explore the world of financial writing. As an English Language and Literature postgraduate, her educational background supports her ability to convey complex topics in easy and accessible content. In her free time, she stays updated on industry trends to continually enhance the value of her content.
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Ibnujala is a seasoned financial expert of Indian and Middle Eastern markets with an experience of over 15 years. His deep interest in neuroscience fuels his research in seamlessly blending finance and science. With a bachelor’s degree in law from India and an MBA from the UK, his diverse academic background makes him an expert in financial management and mentorship. In addition to being a seasoned investor and serial entrepreneur, he currently serves as the CEO of Finquo Versity.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial or investment advice. Stock market investments are subject to market risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. Readers are encouraged to do their own research and consult with a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions. The author and publisher are not liable for any financial losses or damages incurred from following the information provided in this blog.
Uma Nair
