More and more, we are headhunting candidates with professional backgrounds that defy conventional wisdom about how to get ahead in finance and banking. In this article, we explore the unconventional career path. How can you use your unique experience to get your dream job?

What does an ‘unconventional career path’ mean?

Career paths in the professional services once followed a typical route: A university education, a summer internship or entry-level job, and finally, up the career ladder from assistant to manager to director. These times have changed.

However you may feel about these changes, the expectation to stay ‘loyal’ to a company is no longer a reality. Nor is it an expectation of companies we may have once considered more traditionally minded! Many companies fully expect, if not appreciate, candidates who bring varied experiences to the table, even across roles and industries.

Even university degrees are no longer the absolute necessities they once were. Many people enrolling in short-term bootcamps and apprenticeships instead. These have the benefit of getting you to grips with work while sidestepping traditional education timelines, such as the three-year bachelor’s degree.

Why unconventional career paths matter in 2025

With the rise of AI, hiring managers are increasingly seeing the benefits of broader experiences and continuous learning in an environment where jobs may be at risk of automation. Problem-solving skills, adaptability, creativity and resilience are all qualities that people hone through unconventional career paths where they are required to think on their feet and find their own success.

The best industries and roles for non-traditional career paths

The obvious candidates for embracing the unconventional career path are:

1) Tech startups, where flexibility and embracing risk are often part of a startup’s day-to-day, and

2) Creative, where writers and graphic designers expect to work as freelancers or contractors on individual projects.

And yet, technology is disrupting many more industries, especially those where adaptability is a highly prized skill. As a recruitment consultancy for the finance and banking sectors, we are seeing more candidates from less traditional backgrounds filling sought-after roles. The most promising have even bypassed several rungs on the corporate ladder to a position that rewards their talent.

How to break into finance without a traditional background

Giving you a cookie-cutter method of how to get a role in finance via an unconventional pathway would defeat the concept of unconventionality, which is necessary for unconventional career paths! Instead, we recommend taking stock of your work, life experience, education, and portfolio. What have you achieved, and what do you still need to learn?

Once you have identified these gaps, you can work on filling them! Consider finance bootcamps, online courses, industry-recognised certifications or a fintech program. These low-risk options help you test the waters and see if a finance career might be the right fit.

Further ways to break in

• Leveraging social media: Work on developing your network. Social media is a great way for people who may not have a university network to break in. LinkedIn is a great way to meet new people and contribute to a discussion, regardless of your background. Just remember to be genuine in your conversations!
• Building a spec portfolio: If you want to work in investment, why not start creating a mock investment portfolio? Investopedia has a Stock Simulator to help you understand how markets work and test assets over time.
• Gaining hands-on experience: The world of finance and banking is extremely competitive. Having some practical experience will be a huge asset. Working in a finance-adjacent role like operations or compliance, or joining a startup where you are likely to work more closely with budgets are great ways to get started without taking the traditional entry-level approach.  
• Revising your CV: Sometimes, your experience and skills are already there, you just need to sell them more effectively! Think how you can highlight your unique experience as directly benefiting each requirement of the advertised role. Hiring committees are used to reading the same CVs over and over again, so don’t underestimate the element of surprise! A fresh perspective could be just what a company is looking for.

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The corporate world is changing. If you feel you have a unique set of skills, we would love to hear from you!