Banking involves a number of areas, specializations and a wide range of roles. Careers in banking and finance can be a very exciting option but given the vast and varied industry that it is, arriving at a career path and making a choice to follow it, can sometimes be daunting. In addition, the vast number of designations and specializations in each area differ from bank to bank and sometimes there might also be overlaps in certain areas. However it is a given that the number of career opportunities within banking and finance are numerous. For example, some careers might involve client interaction, some might be operational in nature, and some would involve trading and derivatives and so on and so forth.
Large investment banks are usually divided into two main areas: corporate finance or investment banking and sales & marketing with trading. Careers in banking and finance in an investment bank usually involves capital raising, debt and equity, mergers and acquisitions, services involving financial advisories and in some areas activities concerning merchant banking. Within the sales and trading division an employee might be engaged in analysis and research, distribution and brokerage of trading securities amongst other such activities. It is important to know the difference between the numerous functionalities within an investment bank during your quest for the right career path in banking and finance.
If you are a young graduate who has just passed out from a management school or college, you might want to enroll in a specific training program or banking internship that will provide you the valuable opportunity of gaining an understanding of what a financial institution is all about and kinds of opportunities available. These specific programs in different banking departments maybe of varying nature; some programs may offer a cyclical structure in various areas while others might have a specific emphasis on a particular specialization. An internship that offers a cyclical structure can give you the chance of experiencing the various opportunities available in a particular department within the bank. Prior to entering into an internship program or graduate plan, remember to look into the duration of the program. At the end of the day, irrespective of the kind of program you enroll in, a good internship will give you valuable knowledge about the basics of banking or finance before you even start on your career path. In addition to the technical and soft skills needed to succeed in careers in banking and finance, a good training program will also offer you an inside knowledge about the institution’s vision and strategy and a broad introduction of what the company stands for.
Careers in banking and finance are usually well paying, but if you are starting out your career as an intern do not look at the salary, rather look at the reputation of the banking or financial institution you are going to be a part of and the valuable knowledge that you will gain for your future.
