This is the story of Sumer, a BBA in Finance student who knew that just having a degree wouldn’t be enough to break into the core finance industry.
During his BBA program, Sumer started to notice a gap. While his curriculum gave him a solid foundation, it didn’t offer the kind of practical exposure that most finance roles require. The more he explored roles in investment banking and equity research, the more he realised that classroom knowledge alone wouldn’t be enough.
That’s when he decided to take a different path and joined the Financial Modeling course at The Wall Street School. It wasn’t just about learning Excel or formulas. It was about thinking like a real analyst. From building valuation models from scratch to preparing pitch decks and industry reports, Sumer picked up skills that companies these days actually look for.
Today, Sumer is working as a Financial Analyst at Knowcraft Analytics. He is involved in deal evaluation, financial due diligence and market research, using both his academic knowledge and practical skills every day. That combination is what helped him stand out in the job market . But getting here wasn’t easy.
Here’s how Sumer made it happen, in his own words:
1. Congrats on your job at Knowcraft Analytics! Can you tell us about your background and why did you choose finance as a career?
Thank you. Getting the opportunity to join Knowcraft Analytics has been a big step for me. I’ve done my BBA in Finance and over time I realised that finance is something I genuinely enjoy.
In college, I was always more drawn to practical subjects, especially the ones where you could connect what you learn to what actually happens in companies. Finance aligned right with my needs because it wasn’t just theory. It made me think and analyse.. Whether it was about how businesses raise capital, where they invest or how they manage financial risks, it all felt real and useful.
I also liked that finance is always changing. There is always something new to learn and I really enjoy that kind of environment. That’s when I knew I wanted to build my career in this field. I wanted to be in a space where I could keep learning and also contribute to the way businesses grow and make decisions.
2. With a BBA in finance, what motivated you to pursue financial modeling?
While my BBA gave me a good base in finance concepts, I realised that knowing only theory wasn’t enough. I didn’t feel fully confident when it came to applying that knowledge in a practical way. That’s where financial modeling came in.
It helped me connect the dots. I learnt how to take raw financial data and turn it into something meaningful using Excel and different valuation methods. Through modeling, I understood how companies are actually evaluated in the real world. From building revenue projections to doing DCF and comparables, it gave me a clearer picture of how things work beyond textbooks.
For me, learning financial modeling felt like building the missing link between classroom learning and real finance roles. I genuinely believe it’s an essential skill for anyone aiming to work in areas like investment banking, equity research or valuation.
3. What were some challenges you faced either during your BBA journey or doing a financial modeling course or while applying for jobs?
There were challenges at every stage, to be honest. During my BBA, the main issue was that most of what we studied was theory-based. I understood the concepts, but I didn’t always know how they were used in real finance jobs. That gap became more clear when I started applying for internships and jobs.
Then came the financial modeling course. I thought it would be easy since I was already from a finance background and had sound financial knowledge, but I struggled in the beginning. Applying the concepts to actual case studies, especially in forecasting and valuation, was tougher than I expected. It took time as I had to put in consistent effort to get comfortable with it.
And finally, while applying for jobs, it was a different kind of challenge. A lot of rejections at first. It can get frustrating, especially when you feel like you’re trying everything. But I kept updating my resume, worked on mock interviews, improved my technical answers, and stayed patient. Getting shortlisted after that phase felt like a big win.
4. How did the financial modeling course help you build skills and confidence for interviews?
The course helped me a lot, both in terms of practical skills and confidence. We worked on real case-based assignments where we had to build three-statement models, do DCF valuations, and even make basic pitch decks. These tasks were very close to what you actually do in finance roles, so when similar topics came up in interviews, I was able to speak about them with more clarity.
I also got comfortable with Excel, especially with shortcuts, formatting, and how to make models look clean and professional. Apart from that, the mock interviews we had during the course really made a difference. The feedback I got after each mock test and assignments, helped me understand where I was going wrong and how to improve. As time went by, I became more confident in creating models from scratch, structuring my answers and handling technical questions without getting too nervous.
5. What advice would you give to other finance students who are struggling to get placed?
My advice would be to not let rejections demotivate you. They are just part of the process and can actually teach you a lot if you look at them as feedback. It’s also really important to have your basics clear whether it’s finance, accounting or Excel because without a strong knowledge, it gets hard to move forward.
I would say focus on practical learning too. This could be through courses, internships, or small projects. It really helps you understand how things work in real life. Also, spend time building a good resume and make sure to customize it for every job you apply to.
Networking matters a lot as well. Try to connect with alumni or professionals on LinkedIn and learn from their experience. And most importantly, stay consistent, practice a lot and keep improving yourself. With the right preparation and patience, the right opportunity will come.
Sumer’s journey proves that even with the right degree and a clear goal, the path to success is not always straightforward. What made the real difference was his decision to take charge, upskill himself and build the kind of practical knowledge that recruiters truly value. He did not wait for opportunities. He created them. And that is what helped him turn his ambition into reality…
You can connect with him on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sumer-bhardwaj/
