ASK! “For those interested to join the banking and finance industry, ask yourself if you are suitable to work in this field in terms of ASK – Attitude, Skills and Knowledge,” says Carrie Leung, Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Institute of Bankers.

Your ASK
Leung says, “Success is not a chance, but a choice to invest your time.” She points out that to succeed, one has to understand the industry, the company, the team and oneself. In terms of attitude (A), Leung says commitment to the job, a positive attitude, self-motivation, integrity, willingness to learn, and a sense of responsibility are essential. “Banking professionals have to be trustworthy and possess a high ethical standard. In addition, they have to care about people because they need to develop long-term business relationships with clients.

“Job seekers also have to demonstrate that they possess interpersonal, communication, analytical, and time management skills (S).” Leung adds that language skills are important and the ability to speak fluent Putonghua is a must now. “For interpersonal skills, we are not only talking about being sociable, but manners and courtesy,” Leung says, adding that dress codes are included and that job seekers should learn to present themselves professionally. For example, she points out that Hong Kong is an energetic place and candidates can choose colours other than black when they wear a suit.

Leung reminds job seekers that they can highlight transferable skills to potential employers. “For example, people who work in hotels may possess customer service and sales experience, which are relevant and useful for working in banks.”

As for knowledge (K), you should show your professional qualifications obtained. These are especially essential for non-banking and finance graduates because they show your commitment to the industry. In addition, you should be familiar with banking-related regulations, banking products and services, and be updated on market developments.

But which of these three areas do banking employers consider the most important? Leung says that it depends on the job requirements. “For frontline staff, skills may be more important than knowledge because they need to have good communication skills to market the products. On the other hand, for compliance jobs, knowledge should be relatively more essential than sociable skills.”

Show Your Passion
In job interviews, candidates have to demonstrate that they are passionate about the industry. “Show the employers your professional qualifications obtained, and let them know you have conducted research to learn about the company,” Leung says, advising job seekers to read newspapers, visit banks and professional bodies, and attend seminars so that they can have good preparation before the job interview.

Be High-flyers
Leung says that the market demand for banking and finance professionals is high nowadays especially for financial planners. “More hiring is expected in the second half of this year (2008), not only in Hong Kong, but also in Macau and mainland China.” She points out that the developments in banking and finance industry are promising and those engaging in the industry will get lots of learning opportunities in addition to monetary benefits. Nowadays, advancement in banks is based on performance. If people possess relevant professional qualifications and knowledge, it is not hard for them to develop as high-flyers.

For fresh graduates, Leung advises them to be proactive and create opportunities for themselves before graduation. “They can work as part-time staff for banks or participate in corporate events organized by our institute in order to meet people in the industry, establish networks, and gain working experience. When applying for jobs afterwards, these can be highlighted in the CV.”