How to get into Banking industry?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Having been in the banking & financial industry for more than 10 years previously, my word of advice, don't enter into back office operations now, especially if you are new, young and thinking of working your way up the corporate ladder in BO ops. As someone has shared previously, many banks have shifted their BO functions to overseas offices, unless you are aiming for local banks. Alternatively, I would suggest asset/fund management companies, which also have operations functions.

If your desire is to get into the banks (in any kind of role), and is willing to learn and pick up official certification or degrees, why not try taking up a specialise degrees in areas like quants finance or data science, or certifications like risk management? These niche skills or certification will give you an edge to apply for specific roles in the banks.

In today's world of fast moving technology, automation, and data science, generic BO operations functions are being phase out very quickly. I have started out as Ops many years ago, and over the years my role evolved to something that is no longer pure Ops (of course in between include alot of retraining, taking up new skills, etc.).

In any case, good luck in your search.

Thank you for the enlightened post. I am a degree holder but don’t want to pursue what i studied at the same time I don’t want to do Masters as it expensive. What kind of certifications should I do?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Thank you for the enlightened post. I am a degree holder but don’t want to pursue what i studied at the same time I don’t want to do Masters as it expensive. What kind of certifications should I do?

Certification like FRM or CFA are quite popular with banks or FM.
Alternatively look at the job description of the roles you are interested in, and see what qualifications or skills they need and work towards that.

There are many functions in the banking and financial industry, you have to be clear of which and what you want. If you are unsure, go lookup and search at some of the short courses conduct by local universities on financial markets and instruments, etc. Get yourself familiar with the industry, and understand the different functions.

And if you don't care about the functions but just want to gain exposure working in the bank, another option is to look for temporary roles or short contract roles (which are usually created to tide over sudden shortage of manpower such as maternity coverage). You can easily search and find these in efinanical page, many of which are via job agents. Try to apply, if they reject, talk to the agents and tell them your desire to find a job in the industry and is willing to accept temp or contract roles. Ask them to keep you posted.
However, do note usually big banks and FMs are quite specific on their requirement for such roles and will normally require for people with prior experience, hence try to gain some experience by starting out in smaller foreign banks or small FMs.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I don't think it is worth doing operations and programming type of jobs in banks. These type of jobs have moved to India for one fifth of your salary.

dont understand the misconception about workins in Ops sector in bank. i knew a few colleagues who started in Ops andworking in analyst positions now.. what say

Originally Posted by Unregistered

dont understand the misconception about workins in Ops sector in bank. i knew a few colleagues who started in Ops andworking in analyst positions now.. what say

those are exceptions unfortunately. The 100% truth is that if you want to work in the front office , you start off in the front office.

Simple analogy - if you are Real Madrid and you are looking for a striker, will you look for a good striker in Aston Villa or a good defender in Barcelona to fill the role?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

those are exceptions unfortunately. The 100% truth is that if you want to work in the front office , you start off in the front office.

Simple analogy - if you are Real Madrid and you are looking for a striker, will you look for a good striker in Aston Villa or a good defender in Barcelona to fill the role?

Not really la.. I started in Ops now a FI RM after 3 years. I know quite a few folks also transited into FO roles from Ops/IT. It's the mindset and hunger for success - too many BO people resigned to fate and never moved up from there.

Will it be easy to jump to banks or investment firms from working in corporate finance/treasury department of companies or what are the exit opportunities?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Will it be easy to jump to banks or investment firms from working in corporate finance/treasury department of companies or what are the exit opportunities?

Or jumping to banks or investment firms from insurance companies?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Or jumping to banks or investment firms from insurance companies?

This one shouldn't be too difficult, but fund management companies will be easier.
But really depends on what kind of job you are doing in insurance. Say if you are financial planner or sales, it would be possible to move to similar sales jobs in banks. If you are in the investment management arm of insurance firms, moving to fund mgmt will be an almost similar industry move.
But if say you want to move from sales in insurance to IT in banks, then of course not easy unless you have the relevant qualifications. Simply to say, different industry is not the hinder, it is the skillset and qualifications, whether it is transferable or not. Otherwise if you willing to reset and start from bottom.. Anything also possible.

What is the annual package range for associate / senior associate at DBS? Assuming ops role or mid office

Originally Posted by Unregistered

What is the annual package range for associate / senior associate at DBS? Assuming ops role or mid office

if you get the offer they will tell you.