Officer Role in Bank of Tokyo - Mitsubishi UFJ

a bit off topic here.

I just grad recently and currently working in a foreign bank as AML compliance drawing $3k basic excluding meal allowances and whatnot.

I am thinking of jumping to a jap bank as I heard they offer quite good basic salary (I've colleagues with 2-3yrs of exp jumped to a jap bank for 20% increment) plus I am currently taking japanese language classes. Probably could achieve a JLPT N2 by next yr or 2016 i guess. (i take jap classes purely out of interest btw )

I am barely 6 months into my job and I am 25 this yr. Most of my friends encourage me to make a jump after clocking 1 yr at my current bank and should be looking at elsewhere offering mid to high 3s . Is it possible? I do not know what is the market rate like...

But from this thread i see some folks advising against joining the jap bank as a newbie.. Or will it be better for me to sniff around elsewhere other than the UK banks ?

Sorry for asking so much here. Would really appreciate if someone could advice a lost sheep here..

Originally Posted by Unregistered

a bit off topic here.

I just grad recently and currently working in a foreign bank as AML compliance drawing $3k basic excluding meal allowances and whatnot.

I am thinking of jumping to a jap bank as I heard they offer quite good basic salary (I've colleagues with 2-3yrs of exp jumped to a jap bank for 20% increment) plus I am currently taking japanese language classes. Probably could achieve a JLPT N2 by next yr or 2016 i guess. (i take jap classes purely out of interest btw )

I am barely 6 months into my job and I am 25 this yr. Most of my friends encourage me to make a jump after clocking 1 yr at my current bank and should be looking at elsewhere offering mid to high 3s . Is it possible? I do not know what is the market rate like...

But from this thread i see some folks advising against joining the jap bank as a newbie.. Or will it be better for me to sniff around elsewhere other than the UK banks ?

Sorry for asking so much here. Would really appreciate if someone could advice a lost sheep here..

Actually no need to think so much. If you are keen just apply for the Jap bank position and see if you can get it. If they really offer you 20% then think want to take or not. Alot of people think 'oh should I join xx or xx' but doesn't mean you apply means you will get. So only start thinking if you are getting a offer.

On the other hand, Jap banks are not a great place for fresh grads to join as they offer limited job progression etc. So if you are in a foreign bank, better to clock 1 - 2 years first and go to another foreign or local bank. Go to a Jap bank when you are mid career or want more work-life balance.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi, thanks for all the kind replies. Appreciate it a lot!

i)4-6yrs... i wonder if it's worth the wait... yeah, it's special grade clerk.. the designation definitely doesn't attractive.. haha.. upon promotion to officer, isn't the work generally the same? are most private degrees recognised in BTMU?

ii)I heard there's 2 increment a year? one is annual increment, the other is inflation increment... so your pay would be reviewed twice a year?

iii) I have actually been offered a sales executive role in a manufacturing company. Pay is $400-500 more than that of the special grade clerk role in BTMU... I wonder if the bonus from BTMU can cover the loss in salary... Any idea what's the average VB like in a manufacturing company?

i) ya generally the same, anyway promotions are mostly based on seniority. Also not very sure if they 'auto-promote' you once you graduate. Private degrees are recognized tho.

ii) not that i know of. I only got 1 increment a year. Anyway the increment is based on your performance review.

iii) Wa seems attractive, $400-$500 more a month is alot. Not sure of manufacturing bonus tho i usually think it sucks? Anyway manufacturing work place is prolly like tuas not swanky raffles place where you can see chio office ladies everywhere. But you pay more for lunch too

Originally Posted by Unregistered

i) ya generally the same, anyway promotions are mostly based on seniority. Also not very sure if they 'auto-promote' you once you graduate. Private degrees are recognized tho.

ii) not that i know of. I only got 1 increment a year. Anyway the increment is based on your performance review.

iii) Wa seems attractive, $400-$500 more a month is alot. Not sure of manufacturing bonus tho i usually think it sucks? Anyway manufacturing work place is prolly like tuas not swanky raffles place where you can see chio office ladies everywhere. But you pay more for lunch too

i) Does BTMU really have 21 days of leave for everyone? or is it based on individual scheme?? the manufacturing company(jap) only has 10 days leave...

ii) If promoted from clerk to officer, what is the diff in job scope?? are u still with the bank?

iii) haha yeah,$400-$500 diff is a lot.. that's why I wanted to see if bonus from the bank can cover up for the loss in income.. but if based on 3 months bonus(the average), it's not going to cover the loss sum..
Location: initially when I knew where the place was i was abit dejected,it's not in tuas, but close to.. haha, but my conclusion is I'm here to work and what I look forward to is job progression+$$....so the location did not bother me anymore

Originally Posted by Unregistered

i) Does BTMU really have 21 days of leave for everyone? or is it based on individual scheme?? the manufacturing company(jap) only has 10 days leave...

ii) If promoted from clerk to officer, what is the diff in job scope?? are u still with the bank?

iii) haha yeah,$400-$500 diff is a lot.. that's why I wanted to see if bonus from the bank can cover up for the loss in income.. but if based on 3 months bonus(the average), it's not going to cover the loss sum..
Location: initially when I knew where the place was i was abit dejected,it's not in tuas, but close to.. haha, but my conclusion is I'm here to work and what I look forward to is job progression+$$....so the location did not bother me anymore

i) 21 days is for officers. er i think clerical staff have 14 or something like that.

ii) If you are in the same dept and promoted usually no change in job scope. Nope left the bank already.

iii) But if you joined a bank you can always move around later once you get a degree. I don't think it is so easy to move around in the manufacturing industry.

With regard to Japanese language learning, from my experience with some Japanese companies, they do reward you for passing the different levels of the JLPT while you are working with them so it may do you good to get hired before you pass a certain level.

Not too sure about BTMU but I suppose they do appreciate workers who are enthusiastic about Japanese. However, I had friends from BTMU who were changing banks so I don't really have a good impression of the working environment.

Was offered a job one day after the interview, which was to be part of marketing operations. But I declined the offer as I was to be the only bilingual member in the team so I was to become a middleman between the Japanese manager and other team members if he could not express himself well in English.

***pardon me if I have any misconceptions about BTMU

Originally Posted by Unregistered

With regard to Japanese language learning, from my experience with some Japanese companies, they do reward you for passing the different levels of the JLPT while you are working with them so it may do you good to get hired before you pass a certain level.

Not too sure about BTMU but I suppose they do appreciate workers who are enthusiastic about Japanese. However, I had friends from BTMU who were changing banks so I don't really have a good impression of the working environment.

Was offered a job one day after the interview, which was to be part of marketing operations. But I declined the offer as I was to be the only bilingual member in the team so I was to become a middleman between the Japanese manager and other team members if he could not express himself well in English.

***pardon me if I have any misconceptions about BTMU

Maybe companies have rewards for passing JLPT, certainly not the banks. BTMU and SMBC don't give you any incentives to take or pass. But they will sponsor your exam fees if you want to take, thats all.

Most of the Jap team managers can generally speak acceptable english not much additional 'work' to be had cos about 99% of the locals working in Jap banks do not know any jap lol.

How often is the promotion in Jap bank and when does it happen?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

How often is the promotion in Jap bank and when does it happen?

Promotions twice a year sometime march/april and another round in around oct.

For junior ranks usually get promoted in 2-3 years. Senior ranks 3-4/5 years depending on how senior liao.

Hi. Is here anyone worked at SMBC before?
How is the environment and benefit there?let say AM rank.
I have met with the head of dept for the interview, normally how Soon can I have the outcome?
Thanks all.