Summer’s here and so is your golden window to get ahead in finance. While it’s tempting to switch off completely after finals, these few months offer a rare chance to hit pause, reflect and realign with your career goals, without the daily grind of classes and deadlines. 

As someone who has navigated the uncertainty of figuring out “What exactly in finance do I like?” I know how overwhelming this path can feel. But I also know how helpful the right resources can be when you’re trying to make sense of different roles in finance. From brushing up on essential tools to making meaningful connections, you’ll find resources here to help you grow at your own pace and still make time for summer sunsets.

– Tushita, MSF’26

Finance Career Community

Start here! This is the home base for all things finance at Brandeis. It’s regularly updated with finance-focused job postings, events, alumni stories and blog posts. Bookmark it, check in weekly and don’t forget to follow it so you get notified about new opportunities.

What Can You Do With a Master of Finance Degree?

If you’ve ever wondered what your MSF can lead to, this article by Indeed breaks it down nicely. It walks through popular job titles, what they typically involve and the kinds of skills employers look for in each role.

15 Expert Tips to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile Like a Pro

Your LinkedIn profile is your digital first impression and it’s often where recruiters start. This guide offers practical, easy-to-implement tips to make your profile stand out. These insights can help you make your profile recruiter-ready over the summer.

7 Skills You Need for a Finance Internship

If you’re prepping for a finance internship or just curious what employers are looking for, this article lays it out clearly. From analytical thinking and Excel proficiency to adaptability and communication, these are core skills you can absolutely sharpen over the summer.

Vault Guide to Finance Interviews

This guide offers in-depth sample questions and practice cases covering key financial concepts such as corporate valuation, equities, bonds and interest rates and mergers and acquisitions.

LinkedIn Learning

If Excel hasn’t been your best friend yet, this summer is your time to change that. With your Brandeis login, you get free access to amazing tutorials on Excel for finance, financial modeling, Power BI and much more. Just 30 minutes a day can make a big difference by fall. Check out the Boston Public Library Website for information on how you can get an E-card that gives you free access to LinkedIn Learning.

Informational Interview

This might sound scary at first, but reaching out to alumni for coffee chats (virtual or in-person) is one of the best ways to understand what working in finance actually looks like. Don’t overthink it and just be curious. Use LinkedIn to search Brandeis alumni in roles you’re interested in and shoot them a kind, short message. Most people are happy to help!

The 2-Hour Job Search

If you’re feeling stuck or don’t know how to even begin your job or internship search, I totally get it—been there! One resource that helped me get moving is The 2-Hour Job Search by Steve Dalton. It’s actually a super practical guide that breaks everything down into manageable steps, from picking target companies to sending emails that people actually reply to. This book is also recommended by Jennifer Voldins, MSF career coach, in her Launching Your Global Career Class.

Big Interview

This tool has a dedicated “Finance” track that simulates common behavioral and technical questions asked in finance interviews. Practice on camera, hear yourself back and build that confidence. It’s free with your Brandeis email.

Bonus Tip: Make Your Own Summer Sprint Plan

Instead of trying to do it all, choose 3 resources from this list and block out time for them in your calendar. Whether it’s 20 minutes a day on LinkedIn Learning or one informational interview per week, keep it light, realistic and repeatable.

Good luck, and enjoy the summer and some well-deserved rest! 

Tushita Shrestha is a Master of Science in Finance (MSF) candidate at Brandeis International Business School, currently preparing for her FP&A internship at Insulet Corporation this summer.