Career Development in Financial Accounts in a Bank - Assignment Example

Career Development in Financial Accounts in a Bank INTRODUCTION The report will highlight my interest in financial accounts in a bank. Working in a bank is among my top career plans that I hope to achieve soon enough after my graduation. The report covers a clear view of the specific qualifications that modern banking services entail. The qualifications must lead to the betterment of the bank in whichever department one is assigned to work in. Jobs are few, and the unemployed with distinct qualifications are many hence a career development plan is important. In addition, any bank will only employ someone with excellent soft and hard skills. Academic qualifications area must have, but the soft skills describe a person’s readiness to learn and work. Experience is a definite bonus in any job qualification specifics. PERSONAL ANALYSIS As an account student at the university, it is with no doubt that I am on the verge of getting the basic as well as the preliminary skills required to work as a bank teller. Academically, I took various subjects during my first year which are relevant to finance and banking. Accounting and management accounting are among the units I took. I did well in my exams thus my confidence in working as a bank teller. I have full comprehension of the fundamental theoretic in those subjects among others. Additionally, I have covered other subjects including business environment, people and organization. This subject entails the relations at work place and how to create an effective environment in order to achieve the work place objectives. This is knowledge needed in the bank industry according to the career research I undertook. Having worked as a sales assistant, I have experienced firsthand how to deal with customers. It is very interesting and engaging and bank tellers do it similarly. They engage with customer issues and ensure they deliver the services to suit the customer’s needs. The experience as a sales assistant proved to many as well as myself that I am a reliable person in my work among other qualities like team work. A sales job involves team work and assisting your colleagues where necessary. A quality that I always employed. Moreover, my current job as a cashier in a petrol station has increased my knowledge in customer service. I enjoy my work in relating with customers. On the other hand, I work voluntarily in oxford church. In my work, we always get involved with different people in the society and attend to them. We clean public halls, collect litter, as well as visit old people homes and orphans. The work is a worthwhile experience as it builds my eagerness to want to help people in the society where I have the means. Voluntary work develops enthusiasm for work without pay. Enjoying to help others without expecting anything in return is part of customer service. This means offering the best service to people who need, something that works in banks. I have gained a wide variety of soft skills through my work experiences especially communication with a large number of people in one day without getting tired or irritated. Personally, my confidence in what I do is prove that I can work in a fast paced environment like a bank. I determine gaps in my community and give suggestions to the church on areas we can visit or improve within our society. I have learnt to be a leader as well as to voice out issues that may come in the way of achieving any objective. Leading a group of sales persons while working at Welcombreak Service as well as a cashier and the voluntary work has taught me to multitask and achieve several objectives within a set time schedule. Ideally, my school work and different job experiences has managed to empower me in the business environment and shape the beginning of my career. Gap Analysis The bank will only hire a teller with the best qualities among the many who send CV’s as well as attend interviews. Currently as an undergraduate student, my aim is to find a job that will help me understand the hard skills from my academic work practically. I have most of the soft skills that relate to a job as a bank teller although I may need to improve where necessary for instance job etiquette in a bank. I have knowledge and expertise in customer relations in any business environment but weak in accounting and management. The idea is to find an internship during my free time or a job that will help me become conversant with accounting. Having the theoretic knowledge in accounts does not guarantee me a place in a bank as a teller as I have not worked in an all account kind of job. Apart from dealing with the customers, tellers have the technical knowhow on accounting like book keeping, financial reporting which involves preparation of balance sheet, profit and loss accounts, cash flow statements ,monthly bank reconciliations which involves tracking errors between cashbooks and bank statements. These are all categories of accounting that I have learnt in my school work but I need to apply them practically for me to be confident before applying for a job as a bank teller. CAREER ACTION PLAN The activities during the plan Applying Academic knowledge of accounting Ask the church to allow me to participate in the finance department thus observe, learn and work with the experienced team of accountants. This will help me understand my theory work on a practical level. The church finance department is a busy place thus I am guaranteed of a learning experience. Carry out online tests from bank statements and learn how to solve them Training opportunities and workshops Constantly check for training workshops by banks for interested bankers. Join the young bankers group in my school where they try to conduct petty finance works amongst themselves as well as trainings with invited guests from banks. Network with already established accountants and look out for more trainings. Job search Search for companies that need trainees or interns in accounting department and apply. This will give me a platform to work with the accountants and learn from them and the environment at large. Review of Interview of questions Go through sample interview questions and learn how to answer them. Online review of how to conduct oneself during an interview and the dos and don’ts of an interviewee. Have wide knowledge on what to expect during interviews, common questions and other interview happenings. Improving soft skills Learn about work etiquette in a bank, dress code, language and barriers to keep at the workplace. CURRICULUM VITAE Personal Details Name: Sofia Teresa Martins Branco Sarmento Email Address: Phone number: Nationality: Career Profile I am a dedicated accounts students at IPS College currently trying to focus on career developments in the account section. I am a fast learner and can work in a fast paced environment ensuring the set goals are met. I have worked as a sales assistants as well as a cashier and have gathered skills and expertise in customer service. I am polite, focused and diligent in my work. I believe in team work and can easily cope with people at a workplace. I am a versatile person who has two jobs, a student and a volunteer in a church. I am fluent in English as the official language and I work with competency in whatever task I am assigned. I aim to be of value in any workplace. Employment History Currently- Cashier at BP petrol station Roles Customer service Taking fuel payments and recording Basics of book keeping 2010 to date- sales assistant at Welcombreak Service Roles Conducting sales to customers Book keeping Training new sale personnel on what is done at work Education Background Currently (2014) - IPS college studying Accounting and Finance Skills and Expertise Computer skills Spreadsheets- Microsoft Excel Worde processing- Microsoft word Emails Preparation of PowerPoints Customer service Fluency in English and Portuguese Voluntary work- currently a volunteer at oxford church CONCLUSION My career is currently at a stage of development since I possess some of the basic requirements in the job market today. I am good in the soft skills but that is not half of the job qualifications. My goal is to work on the career plan to suit the current bank market searching for graduates. Building on applying my academic knowledge in a practical way will help me reach higher heights easily as skills sell. Internship search is mandatory as it will not only help me develop my career but enable me to network with individuals working in the industry of my interest. Moreover, I hope to learn and earn from what I love doing, accounting. The main gap in my career right now will be fixed within one year or so to enable me maximize on my career plan. Training sessions happen all the time thus I have no doubt I will miss out on that. My plan is learn, grow and enter the banking industry as a successful graduate who has the experience. The ability to gain the relevant skills from trainings, personal online reviews as well as a great internship will help me achieve a lot in my career. Bibliography CRAVEN, L., & MURASKI, E. J. (1974). Career self analysis. Huntington Beach, Calif, D & E Pub. Co. GREENHAUS, J. H., & CALLANAN, G. A. (2006). Encyclopedia of career development. Thousand Oaks, Calif, Sage Publications. http://site.ebrary.com/id/10367424. KOTTER, J. P., FAUX, V. A., & MCARTHUR, C. (1978). Self-assessment and career development. Englewood Cliffs, N.J., Prentice-Hall. KRUMBOLTZ, J. D., & HAMEL, D. A. (1982). Assessing career development. Palto Alto, Calif, Mayfield Pub. Co. STURMAN, G. M., & STURMAN, G. M. (1993). The career discovery project. New York, Doubleday. UNITED STATES. (1997). Financial management career development plan. [Washington, D.C.?], Defense Finance and Accounting Service. Read More