While your résumé might tick all the boxes to get a job in the banking industry, recruiters expect more than a great track record. Wanting to make it in this competitive industry, you also need a fitting personality and attitude – soft skills and certain personality traits are the true keys to getting hired.
To help you hone those skills, we have put together a list of character traits that will help you hit the ground running.
Take a close look at the points below for more on how to make the cut.
1. Emotional intelligence
It’s no secret that the finance industry can be a high-pressure environment. To be successful in this line of work, one needs to be personable and have strong emotional intelligence. Recruiters in this space don’t just examine your CV, but are looking for candidates who can interpret not only spreadsheets, but human behaviour, too.
2. Adaptability
In a constantly changing environment, the ability to adapt and be resilient is crucial. As the banking and investment industry moves at a very fast pace due to emerging technologies and rising interest rates, employees need to learn how to keep up and adjust to ever-new conditions. Learning on-the-go and demonstrating that you can grow alongside these changes will go a long way in this sector. While you can’t always control the market changes, you can control the way deal with it.
3. Communications skills
While analysing markets and spreadsheets is a key component of the job scope in the banking industry, being able to foster long-term relationships with clients and coworkers is equally important. Most recruiters and hiring managers will look out for candidates that are capable of both being an effective listener and someone who can explain complicated processes in an easily understandable manner.
4. Vision
More than in other industries, banking professionals need to have vision. Due to the rapid pace at which investment transactions are made, individuals need to be able to project outcomes. The financial world is extremely complicated, which can make it hard for individuals to understand where and how their work fits into the larger corporate ecosystem. However, people who are able to define their goals and see a clear path on how to reach them will succeed in the banking space.
5. Determination
It’s not news that the financial industry is highly competitive. There is not only fierce competition among companies in the industry but also between coworkers. While being tough and smart should a given to hone your skills in this field, it’s determination that will get you further. You’ll receive no hand-holding and be presented with challenging KPIs, which means the path to success will be paved with daily obstacles that need to be overcome. Persistence to not give up and continue to learn with will help you get there.
6. Loyalty
The financial sector has been fighting off a bad image thanks to the last global financial crisis, and loyalty remains an important character trait that recruiters are looking for. Companies don’t look for people who want to earn a quick buck but are looking for individuals who can grow and learn together with the business.
