Click on a role below to reveal a dropdown with the technical skills, success skills, and knowledge areas employers value, along with ways you can develop them through online learning, certifications, and hands-on experiences. These are just a few examples to get you started, but there are many other ways to build skills and explore careers that align with your interests.
Skills Employers Seek - Consulting, Finance, and Marketing
Top Technical Skills
- Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint
- Capital IQ
- FactSet
- Market Research technologies (DealCloud, Salesforce, Bloomberg Terminal, Moody’s RiskCalc)
- Microsoft Power BI
Ideas to Gain These Technical Skills
- University of Rochester Courses
- CIS 211 Business Modeling with Excel
- ACC 222 Financial Statement Analysis (Pre-Requisite: ACC 201 & FIN 205)
- Self-learning through online courses & certifications
- Forage Career Path for Investment Banking– J.P.Morgan, Citi, Bank Of America, HSBC, Fidelity International, and Standard Bank
- Power BI training on Coursera, such as “Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst”
- Bloomberg Terminal and Market Concepts Certification
- Excel basics on Coursera, such as “Getting Started with Microsoft Excel”, “Excel Skills for Business: Essentials” and “IMB: Excel Basics for Data Analysis”
- For tailored Excel use Forage: “Goldman Sachs Excel Skills for Business”
- Wall Street Prep
- Free content: Excel, LBO tutorial, Walk Me Through a DCF
- Paid content: PowerPoint Crash Course, Excel Crash Course
- Wall Street Oasis
- Paid content: Financial Modeling and Valuation courses
Top Success Skills & Knowledge
- Analytics
- Strategic Communication and Presentation
- Resilience and Stress Management
- Flexibility
- Networking
Ideas to Gain These Success Skills
- University of Rochester Courses
- ENGL 134 Public Speaking
- Join a University of Rochester or External club
- Self-learning through online courses & certifications
- Wall Street Prep
- Free content: IB Knowledge Base
- Paid content: IB Soft Skills
- Wall Street Prep
- Forbes and Wall Street Journal subscriptions
- Gain practical experience through on or off campus positions and events
- Internships highlighted in This Week in Consulting & Finance on the Community page
- Schwartz Community Based Internships Program, or the Bond Family Scholars Program
- Signature Events, Employer Road Trips
- JobLink for University of Rochester positions
Top Technical Skills
- Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint
- SQL, R, Python
- Tableau/Power BI
- Alteryx
- Salesforce
- Project management software
Ideas to Gain These Technical Skills
- University of Rochester Courses
- Self-learning through online courses
- Excel basics on Coursera, such as “Getting Started with Microsoft Excel”, “Excel Skills for Business: Essentials” and “IMB: Excel Basics for Data Analysis”
- For Python and programming Forage- “Deloitte : Technology”
- Power BI training on Coursera, such as “Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst”
- Tableau training on Coursera, such as “Data Visualization and Communication with Tableau”
- Salesforce training through Trailhead
Top Success Skills & Knowledge
- Market Research
- Problem-Solving
- Effective Communication
- Organization and Time Management
- Collaboration
- Adaptability
- Emotional Intelligence
Ideas to Gain These Success Skills
- University of Rochester Courses
- ENGL 134 Public Speaking
- BUS 201 Impactful Presentations
- BUS 389 Business Research (Juniors and Seniors)
- Self-learning through online courses
- For Market Research, problem-solving, and communication use Forage
- Gain practical experience through on or off campus positions and events
- Internships highlighted in This Week in Consulting & Finance on the Community page
- Schwartz Community Based Internships Program, or the Bond Family Scholars Program
- Signature Events, Employer Road Trips
- JobLink for University of Rochester positions
- Join a University of Rochester or external club
Top Technical Skills
- Analytical skills
- Effective communication skills
- Knowledge of investments
- Regulatory compliance
- Critical thinking and analytical abilities
Ideas to Gain These Technical Skills
- Coursera-Markets and Market Trends Course (Meaningful Marketing Insights | Coursera)
- Bloomberg Market Concepts certification (Bloomberg for Education)
- Forage-Goldman and Sachs Excel (Goldman Sachs | Excel Skills for Business | Forage)
- Excel Trainings (6 Free Online Excel Courses With Certificates – Forbes Advisor)
- Join University Clubs:
- Meliora Finance and Investment Group (Home – Meliora Finance & Investment Group | University of Rochester)
- Finance and Economic Council (Home – Undergraduate Finance and Economics Council | University of Rochester)
- Toast Masters (Toastmasters International -Home)
- Forbes and Wall Street Journal subscriptions (link the subscription pages)
- CFP exam (CFP Board | Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.) and prep courses (Practice Tests and Online Courses | Study.com)
Top Success Skills & Knowledge
- Soft skills
- Customer service
- Organization
- Active listening
- Regulatory knowledge
Ideas to Gain These Success Skills
- University of Rochester Courses
- ENGL 134 Public Speaking
- BUS 201 Impactful Presentations
- Internships-wealth management, valuation, investments
- Join E-boards – communication, student-to-student opportunities
- Learn Market Trends using Bloomberg for Education
- Study regulatory expectations 2023 Wealth & Asset Management regulatory priorities
- Join a University of Rochester or External club
Top Technical Skills
- Proficiency in financial modeling
- Knowledge of Excel and other analytical tools
- Understanding of valuation methodologies
- Ability to analyze financial statements
- Proficiency in building financial models
- Conducting thorough due diligence to identify and mitigate risks
Ideas to Gain These Technical Skills
- Coursera-Markets and Market Trends Course
- Join a University of Rochester or External club
- Bloomberg Market Concepts certification (Bloomberg for Education)
- Self-learning through online courses
- For Python and programming Forage- “Deloitte : Technology”
- Power BI training on Coursera, such as “Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst”
- Tableau training on Coursera, such as “Data Visualization and Communication with Tableau”
- Excel Trainings (6 Free Online Excel Courses With Certificates – Forbes Advisor)
- Masters (Toastmasters International -Home)
- Forbes and Wall Street Journal subscriptions
Top Success Skills & Knowledge
- Understanding of valuation methodologies
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Experience in sales or client relations
- Adept at deal sourcing, negotiation, strategic thinking, and team management
Ideas to Gain These Success Skills
- Learn Market Trends (Deals, Bloomberg)
- Internships-wealth management, valuation, investments
- Toast Masters (Toastmasters International -Home)
- Study regulatory expectations (Private Equity Laws and Regulations Report 2024-2025 USA)
Top Technical Skills
- Financial analysis
- Tableau
- Microsoft Excel
- Power BI
- Financial Reporting
- Market Analysis
Ideas to Gain These Technical Skills
- University of Rochester Courses
- CIS 211 Business Modeling with Excel
- ACC 222 Financial Statement Analysis (Pre-Requisite: ACC 201 & FIN 205)
- Self-learning through online courses & certifications
- Power BI training on Coursera, such as “Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst”
- Bloomberg Terminal and Market Concepts Certification
- Bloomberg Market Concepts certification (Bloomberg for Education)
- Self-learning through online courses
- For Python and programming Forage- “Deloitte : Technology”
- Power BI training on Coursera, such as “Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst”
- Tableau training on Coursera, such as “Data Visualization and Communication with Tableau”
- Excel Trainings (6 Free Online Excel Courses With Certificates – Forbes Advisor)
- Masters (Toastmasters International -Home)
- Forbes and Wall Street Journal subscriptions
Top Success Skills & Knowledge
- Analytics
- Strategic Communication
- Presentation Skills
- Resilience
- Leadership
Ideas to Gain These Success Skills
- University of Rochester Courses
- ENGL 134 Public Speaking
- BUS 201 Impactful Presentations
- Join a University of Rochester or External club
- Self-learning through online courses & certifications
- Wall Street Prep
- Free content: IB Knowledge Base
- Paid content: IB Soft Skills
- Wall Street Prep
- Gain practical experience through on or off-campus positions and events
- Internships highlighted in This Week in Consulting & Finance on the Community page
- Schwartz Community Based Internships Program, or the Bond Family Scholars Program
- Signature Events, Employer Road Trips
- JobLink for University of Rochester positions
Top Technical Skills
- Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook
- SAS
- MATLAB
- SPSS, SQL, Python, Tableau, R
Ideas to Gain These Technical Skills
- University of Rochester Courses
- CIS 191 Introduction to Programming for Business Analytics
- CIS 211 Business Modeling with Excel
- Self-learning through online courses
- For Python and data analytics use Forage- JPMorgan Chase & Co. Quantitative Research
- Tableau training on Coursera, such as “Data Visualization and Communication with Tableau”
- For MATLAB use Coursera courses and videos or MATLABacademy.com
Top Success Skills & Knowledge
- Risk Management
- Communication
- Emotional Intelligence
- Problem-solving
- Ethics, Negotiation, Critical Thinking
Ideas to Gain These Success Skills
- University of Rochester Courses
- BUS 219 Negotiations
- Self-learning through online courses
- For Risk Management, Problem-solving & Critical thinking use Forage- Goldman Sachs Risk Simulation and Goldman Sachs Operations
- Gain practical experience through on or off-campus positions and events
- Internships highlighted in This Week in Consulting & Finance on the Community page
- Schwartz Community Based Internships Program, or the Bond Family Scholars Program
- Signature Events, Employer Road Trips
- JobLink for University of Rochester positions
- Join a University of Rochester or External club
Top Technical Skills
- Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook
- Salesforce
- SAP
- Tableau
Ideas to Gain These Technical Skills
- Self-learning through online courses
- Excel training on Coursera, such as “Getting Started with Microsoft Excel” and “Excel Skills for Business: Essentials”
- PowerPoint training on Coursera, such as “Designing and Formatting a Presentation in PowerPoint”
- Salesforce training through Trailhead
- SAP training and videos at SAP Learning Resources, Forage “SAP- Technical Consulting”
- Tableau training on Coursera, such as “Data Visualization and Communication with Tableau”
Top Success Skills & Knowledge
- Sales and Marketing
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- Persuasion and Active Listening
- Critical Thinking and Effective Communication
Ideas to Gain These Success Skills
- Self-learning through online courses
- Sales Job Simulation on Forage, such as “Discover Sales at CBRE” and “Discover Sales at PepsiCo”
- Customer Service Simulation on Forage, such as “Bloomberg Client Service”
- Persuasion training on Coursera, such as “Understanding Buyer Behavior for Persuasive Communication”
- Communication & Active Listening training on Coursera, such as “Effective Communication and Active Listening”
- University of Rochester Courses
- ECON 108: Principles of Economics
- MKT 203: Principles of Marketing
- Join a University of Rochester club
- Gain practical experience through on or off campus positions and events
- Internships highlighted on Consulting& Finance Community page, as a part of the Schwartz Community Based Internships Program, or the Bond Family Scholars Program
- Signature Events, Employer Road Trips
- JobLink for University of Rochester positions
Top Technical Skills
- Microsoft Excel
- Salesforce
- Power BI
- Tableau
- Oracle Eloqua
Ideas to Gain These Technical Skills
- Self-learning through online courses
- Excel training on Coursera, such as “Getting Started with Microsoft Excel” and “Excel Skills for Business: Essentials”
- Salesforce training through Trailhead
- Power BI training on Coursera, such as “Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst”
- Tableau training on Coursera, such as “Data Visualization and Communication with Tableau”
- Oracle training through Oracle Learning Explorer
Top Success Skills & Knowledge
- Market Research
- Project Management
- Negotiation
- Strategic Thinking
- Collaboration
Ideas to Gain These Success Skills
- Self-learning through online courses
- Market research through “Bloomberg Market Concepts Certification”
- Project Management training on Coursera, such as “Project Management Principles and Practices Specialization”
- Negotiation training on Coursera, such as “Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills”
- Strategic Thinking on Coursera, such as “Business Strategy Specialization”
- University of Rochester Courses
- ECON 108: Principles of Economics
- CIS 220: Business Information Systems
- BUS 221: Operations and Strategy
- Join a University of Rochester club
- Gain practical experience through on or off campus positions and events
- Internships highlighted on Consulting& Finance Community page, as a part of the Schwartz Community Based Internships Program, or the Bond Family Scholars Program
- Signature Events, Employer Road Trips
- JobLink for University of Rochester positions
Top Technical Skills
- Data Analysis Software
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software
- Database Management
- Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software
- Information Retrieval Tools
Ideas to Gain These Technical Skills
- Data Analysis Software
- Case Studies: Utilize Forage to help build skills and competencies from real-life scenarios created by leading organizations.
- Python: Enroll in CSC 161: Introduction to Programming at the University of Rochester to learn Python, a powerful tool for data analysis.
- Tableau: Join the Undergraduate Data Science Council, which often hosts workshops and training sessions on data visualization tools like Tableau, as well as skill-building with Microsoft Excel.
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software
- Salesforce: Learn on-demand with Trailhead by Salesforce, which helps provide you with resume-ready skills.
- HubSpot Academy: Take a FREE certificate course on Content Marketing, providing you with the ability to gain skills in SEO
- Tableau: There are free course options available through Tableau with pathways to certification as well.
- Database Management
- SQL: Enroll in CSC 170: Introduction to Web Development, which includes SQL and database management modules.
- Microsoft Access: Utilize the University’s resources, which offer access to LinkedIn Learning for comprehensive tutorials on Microsoft Access, among many other tools.
- Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software
- Systems Applications and Products: Participate in online courses and certifications offered by platforms like Coursera, offering SAP training.
- Information Retrieval Tools
- Querying: Enroll in CSC 172: Data Structures and Algorithms, which covers querying techniques and information retrieval.
- Boolean Logic: Take PHIL 110: Introduction to Logic, which provides a strong foundation in logic, essential for effective information retrieval.
Top Success Skills & Knowledge
- Research and Analysis
- Communication
- Collaboration and Teamwork
- Attention to Detail
- Critical Thinking
Ideas to Gain These Success Skills
- Research and Analysis
- Understand Reliable Sources: Take WRT 105: Reasoning and Writing in the College to learn how to identify and use reliable sources.
- Work with Data: Enroll in STT 211: Statistics for Social Sciences to gain a foundational understanding of statistics and methodologies.
- Practice Report Writing: Use your academic projects to practice writing and summarizing reports and seek feedback from professors.
- Labs: Utilize the Office of Undergraduate Research to search for research-related opportunities and potentially join labs.
- Communication
- Public Speaking: Join Toastmasters or participate in the Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program to improve your public speaking skills.
- Leadership Roles: Seek leadership positions in student organizations to enhance your communication and leadership abilities. Consider becoming a Resident Advisor or Orientation Leader.
- Style Guides and Grammar Checkers: Refer to resources like the Purdue OWL and use tools like Grammarly to refine your writing skills.
- Collaboration and Teamwork
- Class Projects and Student Organizations: Engage in group projects in your classes to practice active listening, delegation, and other team-related skills.
- Athletics and Intramurals: Participate in team sports or intramurals to practice collaboration in diverse settings.
- New Clubs: Try out a new club every year to experience different team dynamics and broaden your collaborative skills.
- Attention to Detail
- Review and Learn from Feedback: Actively seek and review feedback on your work to improve attention to detail (academic & personal).
- Focus-Friendly Environments: Work in environments that minimize distractions to enhance your focus and attention to detail. Utilize UR Library spaces and The Learning Center for quieter atmospheres.
- Critical Thinking
- Class Participation: Actively participate in your classes, clubs, and student organizations to develop critical thinking skills.
- Read with Reflection: Read academic and professional materials with a reflective mindset to enhance your critical thinking.
- Multiple Perspectives: Challenge yourself to consider multiple perspectives in discussions and projects to broaden your critical thinking abilities. This includes working with people who have different backgrounds and beliefs than you.
- Escape Rooms and Team-Based Activities: Improve observation skills and critical thinking by participating in escape rooms or other team-based activities.
Top Technical Skills
- Social Media Platforms
- Spreadsheet Software
- Presentation Software
- HTML
- Video Conferencing
Ideas to Gain These Technical Skills
- Social Media Platforms
- Stay Current on Trends: Follow industry leaders and influencers on platforms like LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram to stay updated on the latest trends.
- Training Programs: Participate in Greene Center workshops and events to enhance your social media skills.
- Spreadsheet Software
- Microsoft Excel: Take advantage of the workshops offered by Coursera and LinkedIn Learning on beginner, intermediate, and advanced Excel training sessions.
- Google Sheets: Utilize online tutorials and resources available through Google to master this platform.
- Internships and Jobs: Apply for internships and part-time jobs that require the use of spreadsheet software to gain practical experience.
- Presentation Software
- Google Slides: Utilize online tutorials and resources available through Google to master this platform.
- Canva: Test out Canva for creating engaging presentations, posters, and various other marketing materials.
- Microsoft PowerPoint: Take advantage of the workshops offered by Coursera and LinkedIn Learning on beginner, intermediate, and advanced Excel training sessions.
- HTML
- Khan Academy: Utilize free resources on Khan Academy to learn the basics of HTML.
- Codecademy: Enroll in Codecademy’s HTML courses to gain hands-on experience with coding.
- Microsoft Visual Studio Code: Use Microsoft Visual Studio Code for practice and projects and attend coding events hosted by the Department of Computer Science.
- Video Conferencing
- Zoom: Attend workshops and training sessions offered by Zoom.
- Microsoft Teams: Utilize Teams for group projects and collaboration and access training materials provided by the University.
- Google Meet: Participate in webinars and online courses through LinkedIn Learning to become proficient in various video conferencing tools.
Top Success Skills & Knowledge
- Analytical
- Communication
- Data Collection
- Organization
- Public Speaking
Ideas to Gain These Success Skills
- Analytical
- Questioning Assumptions: Practice questioning assumptions and exploring the reasons behind facts or actions (Why? How? What?) when reading, working on projects, or in class.
- Evaluate Arguments: Evaluate arguments and different perspectives when reading and learning information.
- Software Tools: Learn to use software like Excel, Google Sheets, R, or Python to organize and analyze data.
- Classes: Enroll in CSC 161: Introduction to Programming or STT 211: Statistics for Social Sciences.
- Communication
- Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program: Participate in the University’s Writing and Speaking Program to enhance your communication skills.
- Leadership: Join the Medallion Program to develop your leadership skills in a structured manner.
- UR Debate Union: Join the Debate Union to develop your argumentation and public speaking skills.
- Data Collection
- Research Positions: Seek research positions through the Office of Undergraduate Research to gain hands-on experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection, analysis, and general research methodologies.
- Software Tools: Enroll in courses like CSC 170: Introduction to Web Development for practical experience.
- Organization
- Time Management Strategies: Utilize resources from the Greene Center for workshops and tips to help identify time management and prioritization strategies.
- Project Collaboration: Engage in collaborative projects to practice and improve your organizational skills.
- Public Speaking
- Public Speaking: Join Toastmasters or participate in the Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program to improve your public speaking skills.
- UR Debate Union: Join the Debate Union to develop your argumentation and public speaking skills.
- Studio X: Make use of UR’s Studio X to practice communication skills by participating in AR/VR activities.
