Broadly speaking, financial institutions hire on 2 different tracks -
- One is based on job skills/aptitude for a certain job e.g. sales, front line service (e.g. call centre) and technical expertise.
- The other is based on IQ, EQ, leadership potential, managerial skills, business leadership and business result track record.
(sorry, there is a 3rd option - the 'any warm body who can work' to do some dead-end job kind of thing, trust me, you don't want to go there...)
As you have just graduated and your previous work experience is not related to finance, lets assume you are going in at an entry level position.
So what you want to do is to try and get into the 2nd track which is usually termed as management associate, graduate trainee, management trainee, graduate associate or something along these lines - it offers good training, good exposure and you will be evaluated on your strengths and be channeled into the job scope that best suits you.
How to get this kind of job? You have to demonstrate a strong, positive attitude and personality, you must have some track record of taking on leadership roles in school or university. Your results must be good and your English skills (especially for international banks) have to be perfect. I'm not kidding - PERFECT. It's alright to have an accent if English is not your native language but grammar or spelling mistakes are not acceptable.
Now, don't despair if you were offered something else - if that institution has a reputation for grooming talent, then just grab the chance to GET IN first. Show your strengths, deliver results and you can always ask for transfers into new areas for more exposure in order to climb the ladder.
Good luck.
