How to self-study for finance interviews without a formal background?

Question

Hi all,

I come from an engineering background but have become increasingly interested in transitioning into finance; specifically roles in FP&A or corporate development. I’m teaching myself the basics through Wall Street Prep and reading books like “Investment Banking” by Rosenbaum.

For someone without a formal business degree, what are the most essential topics to master for interviews? Also, how can I signal my interest and preparedness on my CV or in cover letters?

Thanks in advance for your guidance. I really appreciate this community!

Answer 1

Hi There!

It's great that you’re being proactive and structured in your approach. For roles in FP&A or corporate development, focus on mastering financial statement analysis, forecasting, budgeting, and valuation methods like DCF and comparable company analysis. Strong Excel skills are also essential, particularly around building models and working with large data sets. Since you already have a technical foundation from engineering, leverage that analytical mindset and show how it transfers to financial problem-solving.

To signal your interest and preparation, highlight any finance-related coursework, certifications like Wall Street Prep, and personal projects or case studies you’ve completed. In your CV or cover letter, frame your transition as intentional and grounded in both curiosity and effort.

Mention any relevant experience where you worked with data, budgets, or cross-functional teams. Even if the roles weren't in finance, drawing connections to the skills those roles require can show that you’re not just switching fields, but building toward it with purpose and discipline.

Answer 2

Hey! It's fantastic that you're making such a proactive pivot from engineering into finance, and even more so that you're tackling Wall Street Prep and Investment Banking by Rosenbaum on your own – that truly shows incredible initiative! For FP&A and corporate development roles, you're on the right track, and you absolutely can bridge that gap.

For essential interview topics, you'll want to deeply understand the three financial statements (Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement) and how they link. Beyond just definitions, really focus on how changes in one impact the others. Also, grasp financial modeling basics, including forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis. Knowing common valuation methods like DCF and comparable company analysis will be very helpful for corporate development. Lastly, brush up on key financial metrics and ratios relevant to analyzing a company's performance, and be ready for behavioral questions that assess your problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills.

To signal your interest and preparedness on your CV or in cover letters, definitely highlight your self-study efforts. On your resume, consider a "Relevant Coursework" or "Skills" section where you can list programs like Wall Street Prep and specific modeling proficiencies. In your cover letter, this is where you tell your story: explain why you're making the transition from engineering, emphasizing how your analytical and quantitative skills are transferable. You can also mention specific projects where you applied problem-solving or data analysis, linking them to finance concepts. Show your passion for the industry and the specific role, and how your unique engineering background can actually be an asset, bringing a different perspective to financial analysis.

Answer 3

Engineers at times in fact have an edge over other candidates particularly for M&A in sector specific engineering and tech focused M&A roles. Simply because -

Technical Due Diligence: Ability to assess product/IP feasibility, scalability, and risks.
Operational Insight: Understand engineering-driven metrics (e.g., manufacturing efficiency, R&D pipelines).
Valuation Nuance: Better grasp of sector-specific drivers (e.g., patent valuations in tech, capex cycles in industrials)

Example: An engineer analyzing a semiconductor M&A deal can more accurately model production bottlenecks or R&D ROI than a pure finance candidate

Few finance related skills you NEED before you go for interviews:

Financial statements analysis
Financial modeling (DCF, valuation)
M&A lifecycle

On Your Resume/Cover Letter:

Highlight the skills you have learnt - financial modelling is the SINGLE MOST skill you need to know, you can learn this from an experienced coach
Add finance projects (e.g., "Built a DCF model for a tech acquisition")
Frame engineering skills as strengths (data analysis, modeling, sector expertise)

Answer 4

Hi there,

It’s great you’re already building your finance skills. I’d focus on financial statements, forecasting, and Excel basics.

Actually, PrepLounge recently added a finance fundamentals section. Definitely worth checking out for interview prep.

On your CV, highlight your proactive learning and analytical skills from engineering.

Good luck!
Rita