Christine Sim Senior Director (Regional) KCS Executive Recruitment Services

Although my major lies in engineering, I have always maintained a passion for banking and finance.

Throughout my tertiary education years, I have built up a strong interest in financial markets, especially in areas such as investment analysis, portfolio management and investment banking.

Recently, I found myself in a predicament. I have been told that banks are also hiring engineers. However, despite numerous attempts at applying to both offshore and onshore banks, my applications have been unsuccessful.

I would really like to get a job in a bank, be it in the front office, back office or middle office.

I have even thought of taking another related degree. Do you have any suggestions on how I can proceed from here? Will an additional degree or an MBA improve my chances?

A I NOTE that your core training in terms of subject matter is in electrical and electronic engineering.

For ease of gaining entry level job experience that might be a valuable training ground, you might wish to test yourself in this field first, where you have a greater chance of success, as your first major career inroad.

Although your passion lies in banking and finance, this approach will allow you to master career skills such as managing diverse customers' expectations; interpersonal communication; problem-solving and conflict resolution; and supervisory techniques.

These are essential skills that are not acquired through textbooks but are sharpened by the daily work routine and diverse experiences.

Once developed and innate, these skills become transferable from career to career and industry to industry. It is part of a wholistic transformational career development strategy.

Most banks have recruitment websites with positions advertised and that will provide you with a clearer understanding of the activities covered under the various portfolios, the potential of the roles and what qualifications you will need to have. Do check them out.

Some banks even offer career transition programmes to help 'convert' non-banking professionals into potential banking hires so long as they meet the selection criteria.

Surprisingly, it is about attitude, people skills, intellect, maturity, service skills and the willingness to unlearn and relearn versus just the basic academic qualifications.

As a job search strategy, you may wish to gain help from your professional network in terms of asking for help from other parties to connect you to potential employing banks as an apprentice or intern.

You might even consider joining as a contract staff member as one way to garner first-hand working experience in a bank, as part of your exploratory process.

Having provided career counselling to past students from NTU, I am confident that the staff at the university's office of professional attachments will be a helpful bridging party to the commercial sectors.

Moving forward, with regard to the question of garnering additional qualifications, do explore the masters in financial engineering further, a course which is also conducted locally.

Financial engineering is fast catching on in the financial industry. It could turn out to be the master key to a career in banking in the long term.

Finally, seek out good mentors/life coaches to guide you in your career search, based on your strengths, personality, temperament, interests and values.

To enable you to gain valuable career search insights, I would highly recommend you read What colour is your parachute? by Richard Bolles.

Christine Sim
Senior Director (Regional)
KCS Executive Recruitment Services

Advice provided in this column is not meant as a substitute for comprehensive professional advice. E-mail questions to lorna@sph.com.sg