Getting Into Banking: 4 Key Tips for Aspiring Female Financiers
Several years ago the banking sector was solely seen as the dominion of cigar toting men, running rampant on testosterone and otherwise relying on masculine bravado to climb to the top. Needless to say, a lot has changed since then. In today’s world the banking sector is far more receptive to females, with women holding top posts as CEO’s at some of the world’s leading banks and financial institutions.
For female’s looking to get into banking then, there’s never really been a better time. With the world’s financial markets open to all ranges of people from all kinds of social backgrounds, banking jobs are now a hot favourite among many new female graduates coming out of college as well as many others with different educational backgrounds. Scoring a job like this? A lot easier when you keep the following four things in mind.
People Skills
Developing client relationships, keeping co-workers in the loop as to what’s happening and answering the calls and requests of upper management makes up a large part of what it’s like to work in the banking sector today. For people looking to enter the industry, developing great people skills is absolutely essential. Show you’re a warm, respectful and inviting person, one who takes the time to carefully listen and deliver on what’s expected and you’ll put yourself in pole position for a job. Perhaps get requisite experience in other customer-facing roles, or perhaps take on volunteering work to show you can deal with a whole range of people, these are the kind of things that will help make any application stand out.
Knowledge
In depth knowledge is an absolute fundamental for aspiring candidates looking to enter the banking world. Take your time to learn about the sector, what the most pertinent issues are impacting the industry and who the key players are behind the scenes. When lining up applications demonstrate your expertise and knowledge of the organisation in hand. Research them thoroughly online and in-person. Seek out people working in the sector and continually strive to learn. You never know when these meetings might help develop into something that can help mutually benefit both parties involved.
Technologically Skilled
Gone are the days of ledger books and other outdated banking processes. Technology, as it has in so many other sectors, has changed banking from class to mass, with online banking continuing to grow in popularity and the number of tools people use to bank becoming more intuitive and direct. Make sure you keep up to date with what’s happening technologically in banking. Understand the new processes being implemented and show that you have experience using them both as a customer and as someone helping to craft and implement these new systems.
Analytical
Managing risk is another core concept of banking. As a candidate looking to get into the industry you should show your ability to be calm under pressure and your ability to be analytical without being emotional. If you gain competency in these skills through other work experience or through any other extracurricular activities, the better. Recruiters want to see your ability to be able to handle pressure and work in a measured way. Do this and you’ll no doubt deserve your place on any shortlist.
Getting into banking, for anyone, can be challenging given the competition. Work hard to develop these core fundamentals however and you’ll be well on your way.
