Films like Limitless, Wall Street or Margin Call have misguided many up-and-coming professionals into thinking that the only way to have a successful career in finance is by becoming a ruthless stock trader. This is simply not the case.

Do yourself a favor: Forget about what you’ve seen in the movies. If you’re considering earning a finance degree in order to land a job as a professional in the field, then it’s important to begin by learning more about the jobs and the variety of industries with career opportunities.

Finance job outlook

You may already know that to work in finance many positions are going to require a bachelor’s degree. And while going back to school is something that may not be number one on your bucket list, you know that your career options are significantly improved by investing in an education.

For example, did you know that over the past year some of the top job titles for finance professionals included financial analyst, accountant and business analyst?*

People in these roles play critical roles in managing the financial well-being of companies and organizations. And as the field of finance continues to grow – 23% through 2020 – you can expect employment opportunities for individuals with these skills to be in high-demand.

As you continue working toward those elite finance jobs, just remember that finding a position with an employer that specializes in an area of personal interest to you is just as important as finding one that pays well.

Because even if your paychecks are ample, life becomes a daily grind when you’re not interested or don’t enjoy what you are doing. That’s why it’s important to learn as much as you can about the range of industries in which finance professionals can work.

Industries with the most finance job openings

It’s a little known fact that the need for finance professionals stretches across nearly all professional industries. Learning more about these industries can help you determine which types of employers will best fit with your interests and which will make your job more enjoyable.

An analysis of more than 950,000 jobs from the last 12 months (see chart) identified the top ten industries that are looking for finance professionals.

Contrary to what is often portrayed in the movies, this chart shows that finance professionals have the ability to pursue career options within a wealth of different industries and types of organizations. This is because at its most basic level, every business needs proper financial management in order to operate.

The reason for learning about these different industries is so that you can also start identifying potential employers that conduct business within these areas. So once you’re ready, you can target your job search by looking at organizations whose mission and values best match your own.

If you’re a people person, imagine the satisfaction of helping manage the finances of a hospital or school or homeless shelter. Likewise, if you’re more money-minded, think about the rush of working everyday with securities, commodities and insurance offerings. Either way, you would be a critical part of something that is changing people’s lives on a daily basis! It’s not something that all industries or career paths can do.

It’s time for a decision

Confucius once said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” It’s up to you to determine what career you should choose. Earning a finance degree can be your ticket to a fresh start in a promising career field that you can be proud of and enjoy.

Forget the past. Star in your own story about your finance degree job. Take the initiative to begin building a career filled with opportunities that you will enjoy and others will envy.

You can learn more about the specific industries by visiting the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Source: BurningGlass.com (Analysis of top job titles for individuals with finance skills and a bachelor’s degree, 5/4/12 to 5/3/13)