When semester ends and your calendar suddenly opens up, it’s tempting to collapse into full-time relaxation mode (and you absolutely deserve some downtime!) . But if you’re studying finance or starting your career, semester breaks can also be golden opportunities to invest in something even more powerful than your GPA: your professional momentum.
Side projects aren’t just résumé fillers anymore. They’re living, breathing examples of curiosity, initiative, and creativity - traits every graduate recruiter, analyst program, and financial services firm looks for. Whether you’re majoring in accounting, economics, or finance, the break between semesters can be the bridge between “student” and “emerging professional”.
Here’s why side projects matter, how to choose one that aligns with your interests, and how they can quietly supercharge your CV before graduation.
Why Side Projects Matter More Than Ever
Employers in finance often talk about wanting graduates who can “think commercially” or “apply theory to practice”. What they really mean is they want people who don’t just memorise but people who build, explore, and connect ideas beyond the classroom.
A side project shows exactly that.
It says:
“I’m not waiting for a formal internship to learn. I’m already curious enough to start on my own.”
And the beauty of side projects is that they’re self directed. No assessment criteria. No grades. Just proof that you care about understanding how money, markets, and businesses actually work in the real world.
Think about what happens when you spend six weeks creating a mock investment portfolio, analysing ASX-listed companies, or volunteering for a student-run finance society. You’re demonstrating initiative, analytical thinking, and real commitment which are qualities that often stand out far more than another HD on a transcript.
From Classroom Concepts to Real-World Application
Finance theory is fascinating, but it comes alive when you see it play out in practice. A student who’s used their semester break to track market movements, build financial models, or study a company’s annual report will instantly have richer insights in class discussions and interviews.
For example:
If you’re studying valuation, you could pick an ASX 200 company and build your own discounted cash flow model in Excel.
If you’re learning about corporate governance, you could read through a real company’s annual report to see how board structures and risk management are actually disclosed.
If you’re passionate about sustainability, you could analyse ESG disclosures of Australian companies and compare how different industries approach climate reporting.
By turning theoretical knowledge into hands-on projects, you develop practical fluency — something recruiters notice right away.
Choosing the Right Side Project for You
The best side projects come from curiosity, not obligation. They don’t need to be elaborate or technical; they just need to stretch your thinking. Ask yourself:
What area of finance genuinely excites me?
What am I curious to understand more deeply?
How can I showcase initiative while enjoying the process?
If you love storytelling and data, maybe you start a mini finance blog explaining investment trends in plain English. If you’re analytical, perhaps you explore how different asset classes behave under changing interest rates. If you’re entrepreneurial, you could help a small business or student club manage their budget or set up simple reporting tools.
The key is to align your project with your interests and career direction — not just what you think looks impressive. A small, well-executed project is more meaningful than a grand idea that never leaves your laptop.
Examples That Stand Out
Investment Portfolios: Track a virtual portfolio, document your investment thesis, and summarise learnings. This demonstrates both analytical thinking and discipline.
Financial Literacy Projects: Volunteer with local community programs or schools teaching basic budgeting or money management — it shows leadership and social awareness.
Case Competition Entries: Even if you don’t win, participating in CFA, EY, or university finance challenges shows initiative and teamwork.
Automation or Data Projects: Use free tools like Google Sheets or Power BI to visualise financial trends — even simple dashboards can highlight technical fluency.
Research Reports: Analyse how Australian banks or super funds are responding to regulatory changes — short, structured insights can double as writing samples for future employers.
How to Present a Side Project Professionally
The power of a side project lies not just in doing it, but in framing it.
If you’ve built a portfolio or analysed a company, write a short summary of your insights and results. Use visuals if possible such as charts, dashboards, even a one page “findings” document. Upload it to LinkedIn or your digital portfolio.
On your CV, describe what you achieved in outcome-driven terms:
“Created a virtual investment portfolio tracking ASX mid-cap stocks, achieving an 8% return over three months. Analysed market sentiment and macroeconomic indicators.”
That single line says more about your drive and commercial awareness than most academic awards can.
Soft Skills You Build Without Realising
The quiet magic of side projects is in the soft skills they sharpen: curiosity, resilience, time management, and adaptability.
When you plan a project, you’re practising prioritisation. When you hit roadblocks, you’re learning problem-solving. When you publish your work online or discuss it with peers, you’re building communication confidence.
And these are precisely the skills that set apart high performing graduates in finance. Technical knowledge can be taught; curiosity can’t. A side project is living proof that you’re self-motivated and that mindset that makes you employable anywhere.
Balancing Rest and Productivity
It’s worth saying: semester breaks shouldn’t be a productivity marathon. Rest is vital — creativity often comes from stillness. But if you set aside just a few hours a week for a focused project, you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve before classes start again.
Even something as small as journalling your market observations or shadowing a family business’ budgeting process can evolve into portfolio-ready experience.
The goal isn’t to fill your break — it’s to enrich it.
Final Thoughts
When recruiters review finance graduates, they often see similar degrees, grades, and extracurriculars. What makes a candidate stand out is evidence of curiosity and initiative — the things you do when no one’s telling you to.
Your semester break is one of the few times you can explore, experiment, and build without pressure. Use it to deepen your understanding, showcase your initiative, and demonstrate that you’re not just studying finance, you’re living it.
Because one well chosen side project can do more for your confidence and career direction than a dozen theory heavy units ever could.