Can I still break into finance by learning the necessary skills on my own?
Hello po! I have a rather unusual background and I’d like to know your opinions if I can quickly break into finance after graduation by learning the necessary skills on my own via the internet.
I’m currently a freshman from DLSU Manila studying Business Management and I plan on getting a minor degree in Econ. I also plan on graduating with Latin Honors. I’m currently a part-time worker as well (Web Content Writing) and I’m active in 2 orgs at school (pursuing leadership roles). I’m very passionate about finance and I plan on learning the necessary skills (financial modeling, planning, excel, etc.) while I’m still in college so I can build my technical skills for my CV. I also plan on getting a MSFin later on in life but that’ll likely be in my mid-late 20s.
I know my course holds me back a bit as I’ll likely compete with students who took up BSA, Econ, and BSBAFM. What do you guys think? Do I have a chance?
Jobadvisor
The short answer? Yes, absolutely.
In fact, you aren't as far behind as you think. While BSA (Accountancy) and BS Finance students have the "home court" advantage on technicals, a Business Management degree from a top-tier school like DLSU-Manila, paired with Latin Honors and an Econ minor, is a very strong foundation. Finance firms love "trainable" candidates with high academic standing and leadership potential.
Here is how you can bridge the gap and make your CV unignorable:
1. The "Technical Gap" Strategy
Since you aren't learning advanced financial modeling in your major, you need to treat your self-learning like a second degree.
Master Excel: Don't just "know" it. Learn shortcuts (no mouse!), pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and basic VBA.
Certifications: Look into Wall Street Prep, CFI (Corporate Finance Institute), or even free resources like ASBI for Financial Modeling and Valuation. Putting "Completed 40-hour Financial Modeling Course" on a resume carries weight.
Bloomberg Market Concepts (BMC): If DLSU still has Bloomberg Terminals in the library, get your BMC certification. It’s a great signal to employers that you know your way around market data.
2. Leverage the DLSU Brand
You are in one of the "Big 3" schools for recruitment. The "Green Archer" network in Makati and BGC is massive.
Internships are King: Use your summers. Don't just settle for any office job; target internships in Equity Research, Investment Banking, or Corporate Finance.
Org Leadership: Being active in 2 orgs is great, but try to pivot toward finance-oriented orgs (like DLSU’s Management of Financial Institutions Association) or take the Finance/Treasury role in your current orgs.
3. Positioning Your "Unusual" Background
Your part-time work in Web Content Writing is actually a secret weapon.
Communication: Most finance roles require taking complex data and explaining it clearly to clients or bosses. Highlight your ability to synthesize information and meet deadlines.
Econ Minor: This fixes the "macro" gap. It shows you understand the broader market forces that drive the numbers you're modeling.
Comparison: You vs. The "Standard" Finance Major
| Feature | BS Management (You) | BS Finance / BSA |
| Technical Knowledge | Self-taught (requires discipline) | Classroom-led |
| Versatility | High (Leadership + Content Skills) | Narrower focus |
| Recruitment | Target School (DLSU) | Target School (DLSU) |
| Math/Analysis | Strong (via Econ Minor) | Built-in |
Important Note on the CPA Route
In the Philippines, many "Finance" roles in local firms are gatekept by the CPA license. If you want to go into pure Accounting or Audit, you're at a disadvantage. However, if your goal is Investment Banking, Wealth Management, or FinTech, they care much more about your analytical skills and "fit" than a license.
Next Steps
You have 3+ years before you hit the job market—that is plenty of time.
People who got out of a life rut: what really helped you stay consistent?
I’ve been reflecting a lot on why so many people, including myself at times, get stuck in a life rut or struggle with consistency. For me, I often start with clear plans and motivation, but after a few days, it fades. Trying to change too many habits at once also feels overwhelming, and I sometimes fall back into old patterns before seeing real progress.
I’m trying to understand the human side of this, the real challenges people face when trying to get back on track.
If you’ve been through a similar experience, I’d love to hear about it:
What was the hardest part about staying consistent?
Did motivation fade after a few days, or was it something else?
Did certain strategies actually help you stick with your habits?
I’m interested in real, personal stories, what worked, what didn’t, and the obstacles you faced. I want to learn from real experiences so I can design better systems to stay consistent and help others do the same.
Thanks for sharing, even small stories or lessons are incredibly helpful!
Jobadvisor
It is incredibly common to mistake intensity for consistency. When we are in a rut, we feel a desperate need to "fix everything now," so we go from 0 to 100—new diet, new wake-up time, new study habits—all on a Monday.
By Thursday, the "motivation" (which is just a chemical spike) runs out, and we’re left with the friction of a life we haven't actually built yet. Here is the reality of how people actually climb out, based on behavioral psychology and shared experiences:
1. The Hardest Part: The "Boredom Gap"
The hardest part isn't the struggle; it's the lack of immediate feedback.
In a rut, you want a sign that your effort is working. But for the first 2-3 weeks of a new habit, you usually feel worse—you’re tired, you’re sore, or you’re missing your old comforts.
The Lesson: Consistency is what happens when you decide to do the thing even when it feels pointless. You have to learn to value the act of showing up more than the result of the day.
2. Why Motivation Fades
Motivation is an emotion, not a system. Relying on it to change your life is like relying on the weather to power your house—it's unreliable.
Decision Fatigue: When you try to change five habits at once, you exhaust your "willpower battery" by noon just by making choices.
The "All-or-Nothing" Trap: If you miss one day, you feel like the "streak" is broken, so you give up for the rest of the week. This is the most common reason people stay in ruts.
3. Strategies That Actually Work
If you want to design a system that sticks, focus on reducing friction rather than increasing willpower.
The "Two-Minute Rule": Whatever habit you’re building, scale it down so it takes less than two minutes. Want to study Finance? Just open the textbook and read one heading. The goal isn't the reading; it's the act of sitting down.
Never Miss Twice: This is a golden rule. Life happens. You will miss a day. The difference between a rut and a routine is that people in a routine never miss two days in a row. Missing once is an accident; missing twice is the start of a new habit.
Environment Design: If you want to study Excel, leave your laptop open on that spreadsheet before you go to sleep. If you want to stop doomscrolling, put your phone in another room. Make the "good" habit the path of least resistance.
The "Personal Story" Pattern
Most people who successfully exited a rut report that it didn't feel like a "movie montage." It felt slow, frustrating, and often quite boring. They didn't "find" motivation; they built infrastructure (schedules, alarms, pre-prepped meals) that functioned even when they felt like garbage.
A grounded perspective: You are a DLSU student with honors goals and a job. You are already doing more than the average person. Your "rut" might actually just be burnout disguised as a lack of discipline.
Coming to terms that my current employer might be toxic
I currently work for firm, ran by a boss with a high probability of being depressed, that is very handsoff for the most part, with some leadership being entirely lacking (which I guess is normal for any company) to a point that it feels like you're sometimes being fed to the wolves. I enjoy the privilege of working independently whenever I can since I'm introverted, but recently I've been working with my boss and he's just very unhappy and unapproachable.
From past experience, I learned that taking initiative means communication: asking questions whenever necessary to do your due diligence. But it feels like here, initiative means sort of having the intuition already on what to do for assignments, without being given the proper context or relayed info to perform independently.
I'm always being told by my boss not to go above and beyond, and try to hit the mark. But also, he tells me "you're not a machine, I shouldn't have to tell you to do this" meaning that when I chose not to go above and beyond, I actually didn't hit the mark.
He's not as extreme as other narcissists I have seen before, but I know what he's capable of. A guy left the company on my first month, because it wasn't a good fit for that employee. But my boss sent an email painting him in an extremely bad light, and validated a rumor created by my coworker that employee was an alcoholic.
My boss has also complained to me because of these issues I have working with him that he feels like I'm not as experienced as I should be or as how we discussed during my interview. Personally, there were a few red flags even by the interview stage that I noted. I have gut feeling he's going to let me go on this basis when my yearly review approaches.
Jobadvisor
This sounds like a classic case of "Moving Goalposts Syndrome." When a boss tells you "don't go above and beyond" but then snaps that you "shouldn't have to be told what to do," they aren't actually looking for high performance—they are looking for a mind reader. It is a defensive mechanism often used by leaders who are disorganized or, as you noted, struggling with their own mental health.
The most alarming part of your story isn't the poor management, though—it’s the character assassination of the former employee. That is a massive, glowing red flag. If he will validate rumors of alcoholism to an entire team, he will have no qualms about doing the same to you the moment you are no longer "useful."
1. The Psychology: "Depression vs. Toxicity"
While you feel empathy for his potential depression, remember: his struggles do not give him a license to mismanage your career. * The "Machine" Comment: This is a double-bind. He wants the output of an expert without providing the input (context/data) required to get there.
The Reputation Trap: By painting the previous guy as an alcoholic, he creates a culture of fear. It signals to you: "If you leave or fail, I will destroy your name too."
2. The Professional Reality Check
You mentioned a "gut feeling" that he might let you go during your yearly review. Trust that gut. In a toxic environment, your intuition is usually six months ahead of your logic.
If he’s already claiming you "aren't as experienced as discussed," he is building a paper trail to justify a termination or a low raise.
You are currently "guilty until proven innocent" in his eyes, which is an exhausting way to work.
3. Strategy: Defensive Driving for your Career
Since you are a DLSU student with high aspirations for Finance, you cannot let this environment erode your confidence or your CV.
| Action | Why it matters |
| The Paper Trail | After every "vague" verbal meeting, send a "Per our conversation" email. “Just to confirm, we agreed the priority is X, and I will proceed with Y.” |
| The "Exit" Fund | Save as much as you can from your writing gig. Financial cushion = the power to walk away. |
| External Validation | Reach out to mentors or peers outside this firm. Toxic bosses make you feel incompetent; you need a "sanity check" from the real world. |
| Update the CV Now | Do not wait for the review. Start looking for that Finance-related role you’ve been eyeing. |
A Final Thought
You are a high-achiever (Latin Honors track, Econ minor, leadership roles). A boss who tells you "not to go above and beyond" is effectively telling you to stunt your own growth to make his life quieter. That is the opposite of what you need at this stage of your career.