Does the concentration of your mba degree matter if you would like a career on Wall Street or banking? I have

Question

an undergraduate degree in geography and an M.B.A. in business management. i have been working on wall street for 10 years and have 4 or 5 brokerage licenses. ex. series 7. when i got my mba i choose general management rather than finance because at the time i thought i might want to work in HR. After changing my mind and deciding I wanted to spend my career on Wall Street, I wonder if the fact that I have an MBA in management rather than an MBA in finance will hurt my career. how much will something like this matter? I have though about going back for a post graduate certificate in finance but it would be hard to find the time now that I am married with kids. will something like this matter in my career much or are my credentials enough to climb the wall street ladder? i already have worked on wall street for 10 years.

Answer 1

I also work in a financial services firm on Wall St with 11 yrs of experience.  The concentration of your MBA only matters for certain jobs -- you don't mention what you are looking to specialize in.  

If you are looking for a more elite sort of role in investment banking, then your education, as well as your ability to discuss the fundamentals of financial statements and deals, will be key.  

If you are looking at other sorts of roles, then you should be less concerned about your academic background.  In fact, these days a more unusual academic background is considered an asset that you can sell to the bank.  Just be sure that you know enough about the job that you are applying for to be able to prove that you deserve the job.

BTW, 2008 is a tough year to get hired on Wall Street.  Times are tough.  2009 is looking like a more likely hiring environment.

Good luck!