The biggest myth about breaking into finance after 30

If I had a dollar for every time someone told me they’re “too old” to break into finance… I’d probably have a fund of my own by now.

This is one of the biggest myths out there — that if you’re not 21, fresh out of a target school, it’s game over.

And I get why people believe it. The finance world looks like a conveyor belt:

• Analysts straight from uni.
• Associates straight from MBAs.
• VP, Director, MD in lockstep.

But here’s the truth: banks don’t care how old you are. They care if you can deliver.

I’ve seen engineers at 32 break in. I’ve seen consultants at 35 switch over. I’ve even seen a business manager move into project finance (investment banking) with no “related experience” because he was excellent at selling himself.

When bankers look at your CV, they’re not thinking: “Oh, this person is 30+, reject.”

They’re thinking:

• Do you understand numbers?
• Can you handle pressure?
• Can you speak the language of deals?
• Will you be a safe pair of hands when things hit the fan?

If the answer is yes — your age is irrelevant.

In fact, older candidates often have an edge:

• You’ve actually managed projects and people.
• You’ve delivered results under pressure.
• You’ve dealt with senior stakeholders.

That makes you look less like a “student” and more like someone who can add value from day one.

The only time age does hurt you is if you don’t reframe your story.

If your CV still reads like an IT job description, or you show up to interviews sounding like you’re “trying to break in” rather than “ready to deliver”… then yeah, recruiters will pass.

But if you package your background in banker language — suddenly, being 30+ isn’t a liability. It’s credibility.

This is exactly what I work on with my clients inside Charter Mastery to land them 6 figure roles in finance - no matter their age.

So if you’re reading this and thinking “I’ve missed my chance” — remember: the biggest myth about finance is that age shuts doors. It doesn’t.

What shuts doors is how you position yourself.