Levi Pettit Emphasizes the Importance of In-Person Learning for New Finance Professionals

While the post-pandemic era has ushered in numerous remote work opportunities, Pettit advises early-career professionals to prioritize in-person positions. “Young people who want to pursue finance may find remote work attractive,” he acknowledges. “However, for entry-level jobs, they really should be looking for opportunities where they can be face-to-face with people every single day.” This perspective comes from his own experience of learning through direct observation and mentorship in various financial roles.

Maximizing Learning Opportunities

According to Levi Pettit, the most valuable professional development often happens through direct observation and interaction. “Being able to shadow leaders or be next to them when they’re going through some type of decision-making process is extremely important,” he explains, noting that remote environments rarely provide these crucial learning opportunities. The informal conversations and impromptu learning moments that happen in an office setting, he argues, are difficult to replicate in a virtual environment.

Building a Strong Foundation

For those entering the field today, Pettit recommends seeking positions that require regular office presence and offer strong team culture. “If I was graduating today, I would try to find something that required me to be in a seat five days a week, and make sure there was some type of team culture,” he advises. The emphasis on team culture, he notes, is particularly important for developing professional networks and understanding industry dynamics.

Beyond just being present, Pettit emphasizes the importance of actively engaging with colleagues and seeking out learning opportunities. “You want to surround yourself with people you look up to and leaders,” he says. “Just seeing how they carry themselves on a day-to-day basis is extremely important.” This kind of observational learning, he argues, is particularly crucial in the early stages of a finance career when professionals are building their foundation of industry knowledge and professional practices.

The value of in-person work extends beyond just technical skills, according to Pettit. It also helps develop crucial soft skills like communication, professional presence, and relationship building. These elements, he notes, become increasingly important as finance professionals advance in their careers and take on more client-facing and leadership roles.