Some advice from people currently working in the industry...
"I would recommend a career in banking mainly because of the variety it offers. People have a view of banking as the bank teller taking cash in a branch but there is so much more to offer. We have people like me that deal with customers, do large deals, travel and work as teams. But we also have people that trade shares, that manage risk/finance, that work with charities, that manage the largest mergers in the world, that work in green finance, that come up with all the new products and innovation, that look after the wealth of high net worth individuals and many other areas. So it’s worth looking at further to find an area of the very broad sector of banking to find something that suits your interests most." Head of Corporate Banking Ireland Barclays Bank Ireland Brian
"Don’t under-estimate the skills you’re developing while still a student – regardless of what career you choose, communication skills are really important. Any presentation you do in school or college is fantastic experience. Any part-time or summer job you have is so helpful in developing really important life-skills that will stand to you in any career e.g. the ability to work well as part of a team, meeting deadlines, prioritising etc." Investment Consultant Mercer Orla
"I would say that the technical expertise is important but soft skills are also really important. Volunteer yourself to do presentations in school or college so that you can improve your presentation and communication skills." Pricing Actuary New Ireland Assurance Aisling
"Someone considering this career I feel should work well under pressure as we can get very busy at times and you’ll have a lot of tasks to complete. I think it’s very beneficial to be social and outgoing as we all work very closely together as a team and its very helpful to have good relationships with your team when you need a helping hand in completing tasks." Associate Accountant/IFS Apprentice Northern Trust Abbie
"The role is really a portfolio of jobs, so you’d need to be able to vary your skills depending on the situation, be it operational management, people leadership to strategy formulation, etc." Managing Director Private Clients Davy Richard
"In terms of education, people on my team are generally either actuaries or hold the CFA qualification. While I’m an actuary, I would advise anyone setting out on this career path to head down the CFA route. It’s (arguably) more relevant and, while the exams are very challenging, there are “only” three of them, so even if you’re finding it tough, at least the end is always in sight!" Investment Consultant Mercer Orla
