In the current economic climate, those who are planning to pursue a career in finance should make sure they have a broad set of skills to offer employers. Soft skills - such as leadership, teamwork and communication - are some of the most important qualities that employers will look for in a competitive job market, according to a report in the Philadelphia Inquirer. These qualities are especially useful because they can be applied to a number of different roles within the finance sector. At the same time, associate professor of economics Beth Paulin told the publication that a person's education level is an important indicator of their likelihood of finding a job. "If you look at the March unemployment rate, it was 5.1%. But it was only 2% for those with a bachelor's degree," she said. One route that is open to graduates with a finance degree is that of personal financial advisor, a role that involves using knowledge of investments, tax laws and insurance to give advice to individuals. People working in this profession should be confident, competent with financial software, and be able communicate well and present concepts in language that is easy to comprehend. The median yearly salary for personal financial advsiors is $66,120, according to the latest Department of Labor statistics. Bonuses and commissions are common in this line of work.  |