Careers in consulting, finance, and business (CFB) offer a wide range of opportunities to use analysis, critical thinking, and leadership to increase efficiencies, maximize profitability, and solve challenges facing organizations in a global economy.
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Learn about specific fields within Consulting, Finance, and Business
Accounting
Accounting is the systematic and comprehensive recording of financial transactions pertaining to a business. Accounting also refers to the process of summarizing, analyzing, and reporting these transactions to oversight agencies, regulators and tax collection entities. Accountants prepare and examine financial records. They ensure that financial records are accurate and that taxes are paid properly and on time. Accountants assess financial operations and work to help ensure that organizations run efficiently.
Types of Positions
- Public Accountant
- Management Accountant
- Government Accountant
- Internal Auditor
- External Auditor
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- Ernst and Young
- PricewaterhouseCoopers
- KPMG
- Deloitte
- RSM
Hiring Timelines
- 79% received job offers before senior year
- 16% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 5% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
Professional Associations
- Accounting & Financial Women’s Alliance (AFWA)
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
- National Association of Black Accountants (NABA)
DEI Resources
Do I need to go to graduate school?
The number of students earning a master’s degree in accounting has increased over the past few years. This growth is largely attributed to the implementation of the “150-Hour Rule” by many states, which requires accountants to earn 150 semester hours of education in order to be eligible for CPA certification. Many accountants earn graduate degrees as a means to fulfill this requirement.
Consulting
Consulting is the practice of helping companies increase their efficiency and profits by addressing the major operational or strategic challenges they’re facing. There are four main types of consulting: management strategy consulting, financial consulting, information technology consulting, and human resources staffing/consulting.
Types of Positions
- Managment Consultant
- Business Consultant
- Strategy Consultant
- Financial Consultant
- Healthcare Consultant
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- Deloitte Consulting
- FTI Consulting
- KPMG
- L.E.K. Consulting
- Charles River Associates
Hiring Timelines
- 26% received job offers before senior year
- 44% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 21% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 8% received job offers the summer after senior year
Online Resources
- Consulting Crossing
- Consulting Toolkit
- CSOM Career Advising: Consulting
- Management Consulting Prep
- Management Consulted
- Vault Consulting Best Firms in Each Practice Area, 2021
- Vault Consulting Top 50, 2021
- Vault Guide to the Top 50 Management and Strategy Consulting Firms, 2020 Edition
- Vault Guide to Consulting Jobs, Second Edition
Campus Resources
Professional Associations
DEI Resources
Case Interviews
Case interviews are used by consulting companies to assess your problem-solving abilities. Interviewers in these situations will observe your thought process, test your ability to think logically and organize your answer, and assess your confidence and communication skills under pressure. Resources on our interviewing page will help you prepare.
Do I need to go to graduate school?
A bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for most consulting careers, but many consultants have a master’s degree in business administration. Others have advanced degrees in their specialty, such as engineering, human resources, or accounting. Attending a college with a top-rated MBA program increases your chances of landing a consulting job.
Consumer Products/Retail
The general consumer products industry produces goods that the public wants or needs. It produces two types of goods: durable and nondurable. Durable goods have a long life span and hold up over time; examples of durable goods are cars, electronics, tools, and washing machines. Nondurable goods, which do not last as long, include such products as food, cosmetics, and clothing. General consumer products are sold in retail stores, door-to-door, by mail order, and online.
Today, retail is a complex and diverse field. It involves the selling of all types of physical goods, such as automobile parts, pharmaceuticals, clothing, health care products, books, and food, as well as services, such as automobile repair or rug cleaning. The retail field consists of supermarkets, department stores, chain stores, specialty stores, variety stores, franchise stores, mail-order houses, online merchants, and door-to-door sellers.
Types of Positions
- Client Services/Relations Manager
- Export/Import Specialist
- Fashion Designer
- Product Manager
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- Wayfair
- The TJX Companies
- Bloomingdale's
- Walmart eCommerce
- BMW
- Converse
Hiring Timelines
- 9% received job offers before senior year
- 38% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 35% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 18% received job offers the summer after senior year
Professional Associations
- American Association of Exporters and Importers
- Fashion Group International
- National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)
- National Customer Service Association (NCSA)
- National Retail Federation (NRF)
- Retail Industry Leaders Association
- Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals (SCAP)
DEI Resources
Do I need to go to graduate school?
Many people who want management positions in the export-import field are now deciding to get a master's in business administration (MBA), with an emphasis in international trade.
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is the process of starting and developing a company, with the aim of delivering something new or improved to the market, or by organizing the means of production in a superior way. This process is principally organized through the formation of a startup company, is managed by entrepreneurs, often under considerable personal and financial risk, and is temporary in duration, as a phase in a business’s lifecycle.
A key distinction between start-ups and other small or young businesses is an aspiration (realized or not) to substantially grow. As companies mature out of the start-up phase, they evolve into sustainable businesses, are acquired or sold to public investors, or decay and may eventually shut down, as new companies start-up and take their place.
Types of Positions
- Engineer
- Product Manager
- Salesperson
- Business Developer
- Marketer
- Account Manager
- Office Manager
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- Vettery
- Atlantic Visuals
- Canvas Worldwide
- Drizly
- DraftKings
- Jebbit
Hiring Timelines
- 5% received job offers before senior year
- 10% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 54% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 31% received job offers the summer after senior year
Online Resources
- AngelList
- Bostinno
- Boston Startups Guide
- Built in Boston
- National Federation of Independent Business
- SSC Venture Partners
- 3 Things You Need to Know Before Joining a Startup (Vault)
- Vault Guide to Entrepreneurial Jobs, Second Edition
- Startup Nation: Top Small Business Grants for Women and Minorities
Campus Resources
Professional Associations
- Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization
- Entrepreneurs’ Organization
- International Council for Small Business World Congress
- National Association of Business Owners & Entrepreneurs
- National Association of Women Business Owners
- Social Enterprise Alliance
- Small Giants
- Startup Grind
- Venture for America
- Vistage
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- MassChallenge
Startup and Entrepreneurship Fair
Every Spring, Start@Shea and the Career Center host a Startup and Entrepreneurship Fair for students interested in working in these industries.
Do I need to go to graduate school?
Every entrepreneur, from owners of roadside cafes to global startups, needs to be versed in management, finances, taxes, and other business-related topics. You don’t necessarily need a master’s degree in economics, but an educational foundation in business will certainly help. An entrepreneurship education could mean an actual entrepreneurship degree or a more general business education that will prepare you to meet the day-to-day challenges of an entrepreneur career.
Finance/Banking
Finance is a broad term that describes two related activities: the study of how money is managed and the actual process of acquiring needed funds. It encompasses the oversight, creation and study of money, banking, credit, investments, assets and liabilities that make up financial systems.
Types of Positions
- Financial Analyst
- Financial Advisor
- Financial Services Broker
- Loan Underwriter
- Investment Banker
- Mortgage Banker/Loan Officer
- Research Analyst
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- Fidelity Investments
- Citi
- John Hancock
- JPMorgan Chase and Co.
- Morgan Stanley
- Goldman Sachs
Hiring Timelines
- 53% received job offers before senior year
- 26% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 15% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 7% received job offers the summer after senior year
Online Resources
- Corporate Finance Institute
- CSOM Career Advising: Finance
- E-Financial Careers
- Finance Careers
- Mergers & Inquisitions
- Peak Frameworks
- Street of Walls
- Vault 2021 Best Banking Firms to Work For
- Vault Guide to Commercial Banking
- Vault Guide to Investment Banking
- Vault Guide to Private Equity
- Vault Guide to Sales and Trading
- Vault Guide to Venture Capital
- Vault Guide to Wealth Management
- Wall Street Oasis
- Wall Street Prep
Campus Resources
Professional Associations
- CFA Institute
- Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
- Financial Management Association
- Institute of Financial Consultants
- Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association
- Women in Banking and Finance
DEI Resources
- (Goldman Sachs): Undergraduate Camp; Pride Summit; Hispanic Latino Leadership Summit; Women’s Leadership Camp; Diverse Abilities; MBA Women’s Symposium; Scholarship for Excellence; MBA Diversity Symposium; Veterans Summit
- (Morgan Stanley): Veterans Early Insights Program; Black, Hispanic and Native American Early Insights Program; Career Discovery Day; Women Early Insights Program; LGBT + Early Insights Program; Richard B. Fisher Scholarship Program; 2019 Freshman Enhancement Program
- (JPMorgan): Launching Leaders-Undergraduate; Proud to Be-Undergraduate; We See Ability-Undergraduate; Winning Women-Undergraduate; Early Advantage-MBA; Launching Leaders-MBA; Proud to Be-MBA; Winning Women-MBA; Military & Veterans
- (Bank of America Merrill Lynch): Spring Diversity & Inclusion Forum; Diversity Scholarship of Distinction; Ignite With STEM Diversity & Inclusion Forum; MBA Diversity Fellowship
- (Credit Suisse): Sophomore Diversity Program; Women’s Mentor Program (Investment Banking); Steps to Success Diversity Event; MBA Fellowship Program
BC Bank Week
Every February, we host Bank Week for sophomores interested in learning more about the finance/banking industries. The week features informational sessions, skills workshops, and networking sessions. Find details in Handshake in the Spring.
Do I need to go to graduate school?
A master’s degree in finance or business administration can improve an analyst’s chances of advancing to a higher/managerial position.
Human Resources
Human resources is the department or division of a business, corporation, or organization that manages all aspects related to its personnel, including recruiting employees, training and career development, overseeing compensation packages, managing benefits plans, and other duties that serve to maximize a company's business and its employees' satisfaction with their jobs. Simply, the function of the human resources industry is to produce competent personnel and to keep employees productive. More than 800,000 people work in human resources and related fields today. (Source: Vault)
Types of Positions
- Human resources generalists
- Employment and placement managers
- Employment, placement, and recruitment specialists
- Employer relations representatives
- Job analysts
- Compensation managers
- Benefits managers
Professional Associations
Insurance
The insurance industry comprises companies and people who develop insurance policies, sell, administer, and regulate them. Some insurance companies offer investment products and employ people who develop, sell, administer, or service these products. Insurance is about managing risk, for both the insurance company and its customers. The insurance industry is divided into three main branches: life insurance, health insurance, and property and casualty insurance.
Types of Positions
- Actuary
- Sales Agent
- Broker/Consultant
- Risk Manager
- Underwriter
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- Liberty Mutual
- AIG
- Optum
- Aetna
- Harvard Pilgrim
Hiring Timelines
- 32% received job offers before senior year
- 30% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 25% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 14% received job offers the summer after senior year
Online Resources
- Great Insurance Jobs
- Insurance Jobs
- Insurance Journal
- Vault Guide to Insurance
- Vault Guide to Insurance Jobs, Third Edition
Campus Resources
Do I need to go to graduate school?
Generally speaking, the entry-level roles in this industry do not require a postgraduate degree. There are few that may seek those with a masters in finance, real estate or an MBA. Certification or licensure, however, is required for many of the roles and must be maintained through completing periodic continuing education classes/exams.
Real Estate
The real estate industry encompasses the many facets of property, including development, appraisal, marketing, selling, leasing, and management of commercial, industrial, residential, and agricultural properties. This industry can fluctuate depending on the national and local economies, although it remains somewhat consistent due to the fact that people always need homes and businesses always need office space.
Types of Positions
- Assessor and Appraiser
- Property and Real Estate Manager
- Real Estate Agent and Broker
- Real Estate Developer
- Real Estate Lawyer
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- Cushman and Wakefield
- JLL
- CBRE Group
- Corcoran Management Company
- Kingsley Associates
Hiring Timelines
- 13% received job offers before senior year
- 18% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 45% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 23% received job offers the summer after senior year
Professional Associations
- American Institute of Architects
- Building Owners and Managers Association International
- Commercial Real Estate Development Association
- CREW Boston
- Institute of Real Estate Management
- Mortgage Bankers Association
- National Association of Real Estate Investment Funds
- National Association of Realtors
- Urban Land Institute
- Wellness for Women in Real Estate
DEI Resources
- Builders of Color Coalition (BCC)
- CREST (Commercial Real Estate Success Training)
- Goldman Sachs Scholarship for Excellence
Do I need to go to graduate school?
For most positions in real estate, individuals will need a Bachelor’s degree, along with appropriate training/certification, as an advanced degree (e.g. master’s) is unnecessary for entry-level access.
Sports Business
Sports business (management) is the study and practice of all people, activities, businesses, or organizations involved in producing, facilitating, promoting, or organizing andy sports-related business or product. The sports business industry consists of numerous other segments, some of which are sports tourism, semi-professional sports, recreation, high school and college sports, outdoor sports, and sports-service businesses such as sports marketing firms, sports sponsorship management companies, and sport governing bodies. Essentially, in the sports business industry, there are numerous jobs that combine two interests into one job (e.g. photography, computer programming).
Types of Positions
- Sports Agent
- Sports Executive
- Sports Facility Manager
- Sports Publicist
- Sports Scout
- Sports Trainer
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- Boston Red Sox
- Athletes First
- New England Patriots
- MLB
- NFL
Hiring Timelines
- 9% received job offers before senior year
- 4% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 65% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 22% received job offers the summer after senior year
Professional Associations
- American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
- National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA)
- National College Athletic Association (NCAA)
- North American Society for Sport Management
- Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE)
- Sports Lawyers Association
- Women’s Sports Foundation
DEI Resources
Do I need to go to graduate school?
Plan to earn a master’s degree in sport management, preferably from an accredited sports-focused school in sport management, business, or college student personnel for more opportunities and advancement. Work as a graduate assistant (GA) in the athletic department.
Earn a law degree and develop skills in investment management and negotiation to represent players as an agent.
Business Analytics
A Business Analyst helps companies improve their processes, products, and services by analyzing data and identifying areas for improvement. They also work with stakeholders to develop and implement solutions. These roles may also be referred to as Data or Operations analyst positions.
Types of Positions
- Business Analysis
- Operation Analysis
- Data Analytics
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- IBM
- Fidelity
- JPMorgan Chase
- PwC
- UBS
- Wayfair
- Wells Fargo
Business Development / Sales
Sales development and business development are different functions within a company that both work to increase awareness and sales. Sales development focuses on identifying leads, researching and developing them and moving them along the sales cycle toward a closing. Business development involves finding new growth opportunities for the company and forming strategic partnerships that open up new markets.
Types of Positions
- Outside Sales (Field Sales)
- Inside Sales (Business Development Rep or Sales Development Rep)
- Sales Operations (Sales Enablement)
- Account Manager (Account Executive)
- Client Services (Customer Success)
- Professional Services
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- Oracle
- Epsilon
- E&J Gallo Winery
- Hubspot
- Toast
- Dell/EMC
Hiring Timelines
- 21% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 39% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 39% received job offers after graduation
Key Resources
Handshake
As you look for opportunities, start with Handshake, our centralized platform where employers post positions for Boston College students. All of the top employers are hiring on Handshake. You can also find campus recruitment opportunities.
Featured CFB Employers
Follow these employers and others you like on Handshake to receive email alerts when new jobs and events are posted. Following employers also helps improve your job recommendations.
Eagle Exchange
Eagle Exchange is an interactive virtual platform that fosters connections between students and Boston College alumni. You can use Eagle Exchange to build your professional network, ask career-related questions, find alumni mentors, apply to projects to build skills, and more.
Big Interview
Build confidence in your interview skills through free access to Big Interview. You can record yourself answering questions that are tailored to specific industries.
CFB Question Library
Start practicing mock interviews in hundreds of industries and job titles. Below are a few featured question sets – browse these and more in Big Interview.
Forage
A formal internship is not the only way to gain professional experience. Projects are a great option to boost your résumé/portfolio, build skills, and grow your professional network. The Forage platform offers hypothetical projects from top employers that you can complete to learn more about working in a specific field.
Forage Virtual Work Experiences
Check out these bite-sized 5-6 hour virtual work experience programs that give you a genuine career advantage with Fortune 500 companies.
CFB Linkedin Learning Content
LinkedIn Learning provides free access to thousands of on-demand courses giving you an opportunity for self-paced learning about topics of interest from industry experts. This is also a great way to develop the skills all employers seek in their entry-level candidates.
Firsthand
Find out what it is like to work within an industry, a company, or a profession. View the career guides for up to date information on a variety of careers as well as interviewing strategies and job search tips.
To access: Register for an account using your Boston College email address.
CFB Career Guides
These career guides provide essential information about key CFB careers and industries, including industry trends, employment and earnings statistics, and what employers look for in job candidates.
Industry-Specific Content
Your CFB coaches have curated this set of custom tools, data, and resources to assist you in your career exploration and preparation.
Browse our jobs and internships pages to prepare to apply to CFB positions.
Update your career interests in Handshake to receive regular updates from our coaches with exclusive resources, reminders, event invites, job/internship postings, and more.
Use the database to find students who completed internships that you may be interested in and reach out to them to discuss their summer experience.
Explore where Eagles land after they graduate from Boston College. Filter first destinations data by school, major, industry, location, and more.
Check out a list of Diversity and Leadership opportunities specific to Consulting, Business, and Finance.
Review recruiting timelines for internships and full time positions.