How to Begin a Career in Banking

The banking industry is a dynamic, global force that presents great career prospects and room for professional development. If you have mettle and the right qualifications, a banking career could be for you. 

The banking industry encompasses a variety of different banking jobs, with banks looking for economists, marketing professionals, investment bankers, statisticians, HR professionals, financial analysts, financial advisors and more. Depending on your area of interest, different qualifications are necessary.

A bachelor’s degree or master’s degree will be highly valuable in the banking industry. In addition to a finance degree, short courses and work experience will ensure you have the appropriate credentials to land a banking job.

There are a number of ways you can kick-start your banking career. Graduate schemes and summer internships are very common in the banking industry, and the perfect starting point for entry-level professionals. These internships will help you determine whether you’re following the right career path for you, while demonstrating your enthusiasm to employers.  Training programs will also equip you with in-demand skills to become highly employable.

Networking is also an essential aspect of being a banking professional, with LinkedIn being a fantastic way of connecting with recruiters and coming across job opportunities. Similarly, networking events are also a great way of getting your foot in the door and meeting potential mentors who can provide career advice.

The role of a banker is a varied one, which is why the set of skills bankers need to possess is equally varied. Examples of skills include:

Your roles and responsibilities will depend on your specialisation in the banking industry, as banking and finance careers can be incredibly diverse. A customer-facing banker will provide services to facilitate a variety of financial transactions and help clients take advantage of financial products, while an investment banker will help their clients raise money in capital markets by issuing debt or selling equity in companies.

Banking is international in nature, offering exciting opportunities to travel and work overseas and other varied career paths. You may wish to specialise in an area such as investment banking, business administration, financial analysis or even branch out into related jobs like accounting or owning your own business – the career options are practically endless in this globally relevant industry.

From entry-level positions to the dream job on Wall Street, incredible growth is possible with a banking career.