Can You Get a Job After a Financial Modeling Bootcamp?

While college degrees are more traditional, financial modeling bootcamps are one of today’s most efficient paths to landing a job in finance. Bootcamps were specially designed to provide accelerated vocational training and typically come with built-in professional experience. Many finance bootcamps also offer additional benefits intended to help you get a job more easily. 

What Job Prospects and Career Paths are available for Financial Modeling Bootcamp Graduates?

Because financial modeling bootcamps vary substantially in terms of content, the careers that are open to you at graduation can also vary somewhat. In general, however, a career-focused bootcamp can provide you with enough training and experience to earn yourself an entry-level finance job. Advancing to a more senior position will likely require years of experience and additional training. 

Financial modeling is widely used in many high-earning finance disciplines but is most common in analytics, investing, and accounting roles. 

• Analytics Roles. Analytics relies heavily on financial modeling to predict outcomes and inform decisions. Coveted job roles in this category include Financial Analyst, Investment Analyst, and Research Analyst.
• Investing Roles. Investing careers (such as Investment Banker and Private Equity Associate) utilize financial modeling to turn informed investments into profits.
• Corporate Finance Roles. Corporate finance roles focus on the growth and management of business finances and include job titles like Accountant and Bookkeeper. Jobs in this category typically use financial modeling to maximize profits and inform business decisions.

Are Financial Modeling Bootcamps Good for Beginners?

When you know next to nothing about financial modeling, joining an intensive training program can feel intimidating, but it could be the first step in a fulfilling journey. Some bootcamps are indeed aimed at experienced professionals. However, the majority of financial modeling bootcamps were created with beginners like you in mind. Through hands-on training assignments, these programs immerse you in financial modeling, teaching you skills through practice. As a result, it’s possible to enter a financial modeling bootcamp with zero experience and graduate ready to land a job. 

However, because some financial modeling bootcamps are intended for students with prior experience, you should wait to sign up until you’ve read the course description thoroughly. 

If you’re looking for a comprehensive yet beginner-friendly bootcamp, Noble Desktop offers several finance certificates. The highly-rated Financial Analyst Training Program will guide you through the process of creating financial models for real businesses. As you master Excel, corporate finance, and accounting, you’ll work one-on-one with an expert who can support you when you’re down and help you polish your portfolio to perfection. By the time you graduate, you’ll have enough experience underfoot to get your shoe in the door to your first finance job. 

What Career Services Do Financial Modeling Bootcamps Offer?

Bootcamps outperform many other class styles in terms of professional resources, making them an ideal option for anyone with career ambitions. Because many financial modeling bootcamps are intended as vocational training, they often include services designed to optimize your career launch or advance in your current career. 

Noble Desktop courses include mentored tutoring sessions outside of class. In these meetings, you’ll have the chance to plan your career, work through challenging assignments, and get personalized feedback from an expert. Many other vocational schools offer similar services, including career coaching sessions and interview training. 

Although not all bootcamps include a dedicated portfolio workshop, most programs will provide you with opportunities to improve your portfolio. With the help of your instructor, you’ll have an easier time identifying weaknesses in your portfolio so that you can transform it into something that will impress hiring managers.

Vocational training programs typically include built-in networking opportunities. In addition to connecting with classmates and instructors, you’ll likely gain access to a larger network of alumni. Some programs may also connect you with active businesses and finance experts in your area. With a stronger network behind you, you’ll have an easier time connecting with employers who are on the hunt for people like you. 

What Jobs Will a Financial Modeling Bootcamp Qualify Me For?

With the skills and experience you gain in a financial modeling bootcamp, you’ll be capable of earning an entry-level finance job. 

Financial Analyst

Financial analytics is a rewarding career that boasts competitive salaries, solid job security, and higher-than-average job satisfaction. Once you become a Financial analyst, you’ll also have plenty of options for climbing the career ladder. To become a Junior Financial Analyst, you need a mix of financial modeling and corporate finance skills. Having a high degree of financial literacy around topics like business profits and investing is an advantage for this role. 

Investment Banker

Investment banking promises a similarly high-paying career path with a strong social element. To develop lasting relationships with clients, a good Investment Banker needs solid communication skills. When it comes to technical know-how, the most important areas for an aspiring Investment Banker to study are investing, accounting, and financial modeling. Like Financial Analysts, Investment Bankers rely on extensive knowledge of financial concepts to help businesses and individuals make more profitable decisions. 

Financial Project Manager

If you choose to pursue project management training alongside financial modeling, you may be eligible for small-scale management roles. In this type of role, you’ll have the opportunity to help manage capital for local (or remote) projects in industries like product design, infrastructure, and entertainment. Keep in mind that even at entry level, this job role entails knowledge of specific project management methodologies which can’t be replaced by regular management experience. 

Bookkeeper

While becoming an accountant generally requires additional training, financial modeling training can help you get a job as a Bookkeeper. Many Bookkeeping roles don’t require a college degree and can be a great starting point for a much longer finance career. In addition to financial modeling, important skills for Bookkeepers include financial reporting, documentation, and an understanding of business finance laws. 

Can I Freelance After Completing a Financial Modeling Bootcamp?

With remote work entering the mainstream, bootcamp graduates now have more job options. Freelance work is now a popular way to break into financial modeling after completing a bootcamp. In some areas of the world, you may even find that online freelance opportunities are more abundant for financial modelers than traditional ones. 

If freelance sounds like it’s up your alley, don’t forget to consider career services and strategies that can help increase your success. When choosing a training program, look for bootcamps that include portfolio development, networking opportunities, and other career benefits. In particular, having an impressive portfolio that’s easy for potential clients to access online can help you secure work more readily. You may also find it valuable to choose classes that offer free retakes, which offer additional chances to improve your portfolio. 

Are Financial Modeling Bootcamps Good for Upskilling?

If you’re a working professional who’s looking for ways to enhance your marketability or move up in an existing career, attending a financial modeling bootcamp is a great choice. In comparison to college-run finance programs, financial modeling bootcamps are relatively short and cost-effective. What’s more, not all financial modeling bootcamps will expect you to prepare for a specific job role all in one go. Alongside these, you’ll find oodles of bootcamps that focus on fewer skills to help you level up in strides. 

Attending a class like Noble Desktop’s Excel Bootcamp, you’ll add one simple skill to your resume while increasing your job prospects tenfold. Get comfortable using the world’s top office tool to perform a versatile array of tasks—financial modeling included. You don’t need any experience with financial modeling to understand Excel, making this class an ideal way to add some FinTech to your repertoire while you’re less experienced. With an Excel foundation in place, you’ll be primed to take on more challenging skills in finance and data. 

If you want to turn your pre-existing Excel experience into financial modeling proficiency, Noble Desktop’s Financial Modeling Bootcamp offers advanced training in Excel and corporate finance. Working with an expert, you’ll develop complex financial models based on real businesses. These active learning projects will give you hands-on experience with advanced finance concepts including market capitalization, leveraged buyouts, and accrual versus cash accounting. Prepare to graduate with a high-caliber portfolio that can score you an entry-level Financial Analyst job. 

While bootcamps are mainly seen favorably when it comes to upskilling, they do have several drawbacks that you should consider. In particular, bootcamps work incredibly well for providing entry-level financial modeling know-how, but may not be as helpful for acquiring an upper-level finance job. For roles like Senior Financial Analyst, hiring managers may look for candidates with college degrees. Because some finance skills require more advanced training, many finance professionals need to continue learning throughout their careers. 

What Does a Financial Modeling Bootcamp Offer Over Other Means of Finding a Job?

When considered in light of other advanced training modalities, financial modeling bootcamps are by far the most efficient way to launch a new career. A financial modeling bootcamp can get you ready to enter the workforce in just a few weeks, while attending college can take four years or more. One of the biggest reasons for this time difference is that college programs include intensive theoretical training while bootcamps focus on providing you with practical skills that you can use right away. In addition to providing you with hands-on experience and portfolio content, the skills training you’ll receive in a bootcamp course can prepare you to pass a certification exam and qualify for higher-earning jobs. 

Financial modeling bootcamps have dozens of financial benefits as well. When contrasted to traditional college degrees, financial modeling bootcamps cost much less, averaging several thousand dollars in contrast to tens of thousands. The upfront cost isn’t the only financial advantage these programs have, however. Because bootcamps get you into the workforce more quickly, you’ll also earn back the money you spent on your training sooner. In contrast, you might spend decades working to pay off debts incurred during college, making it challenging to profit from your training. 

Bootcamps also have several advantages over traditional on-the-job training programs. While on-the-job training is a great way to get your foot in the door to a new job, it comes with far fewer resources than bootcamp training. Most on-the-job training programs typically don’t offer support regarding portfolio development, career planning, networking, or other professional skills. 

Additionally, many on-the-job training programs have strict requirements that may disqualify you from earning a spot. In most cases, an on-the-job training program will expect you to be a current college student or demonstrate relevant experience. If you have a disability, you may even face discrimination as many programs require applicants to submit official medical documentation.