Helping my brother prepare for an interview at a bank

ShinyRedKnight

Hi everyone,

It's been awhile since I've posted here, but it's always been helpful. My brother is preparing for a job interview/open house at a bank for several client-facing/personal banker positions, and has asked that I help him prepare. However, due to the context, I want to make sure I am giving him the right advice.

My brother has had difficulty finding regular work for several years, so his resume is sporadic. He originally went to school for animation (bachelor's and master's), but due to the difficulty of finding work he later went into web design; however, he is still unable to find a position. He is an introvert and has been dealing with depression for a very long time. This combination of factors has made him very worried about the interview at the bank, as it is the first interview he has been given in a long time (he was recommended to them by a family friend), it is out of his area of expertise and interest, and is a VERY socially orientated position.

However, he really needs to find a regular job, and it seems like they are willing to take the chance on him. First, how can he prepare for such an interview? I discussed with him how working at a bank involves the ability to learn industry specific software very quickly, while also being able to handle private information - something he could relate his web design and coding skills to. He has also freelanced as a web designer several times, so he can say he has personally worked with clients. My worry is that because he doesn't have recent, regular work on his resume, they may question his experience and training in these areas. Should he highlight these skills/experiences anyway? If so, how can he prepare to deal with follow-up questions about the lack of such experience in recent years?

The second question is how can he prepare for the social aspect of it? Basically, the job would entail working face-to-face with external clients for the majority of the time, but he finds it very challenging to relate to people or engage with them. This part I understand is more of a challenge of him accepting that any job will require such social interactions constantly, and that while he is an introvert, he has to prepare for this aspect in any line of work. How do I present this to him?

Finally, what can he expect in such a position, especially as someone who is more introverted and would be in a professional, 9-5 job for the first time in years? What kind of challenges come with working in a bank? What expectations should he prepare for? How can he prepare for those daily routines?

I am worried that my brother has had such difficulty in finding a job, and that such an unexpected interview is so intimidating. As well, I do not want him to miss out on the chance to start working regularly and filling out his resume - even if it is outside of his original plans and interests - especially after so many years without work. Any advice would be helpful.

Here are position descriptions:

Personal Banker Job Description:

You’re outgoing. You care about people. You have great ideas – and you’re willing to roll up your sleeves to make them happen. Join us as a Personal Banker and use your outstanding people skills to help shape the customer banking experience at Chase.

As a Personal Banker in our Branch Banking team, you are at the forefront of delivering an exceptional customer experience. You’ll maintain long-lasting, meaningful relationships with customers, resolving customer issues, engaging them to understand their financial needs and providing thoughtful solutions that make a real difference in making their lives more convenient.

You’ll contribute significantly to the success of the branch and helping customers by:

Resolving customer service issues
Providing other convenience services
Opening new accounts and assisting with Teller transactions as needed
Complying with all policies, procedures and regulatory banking requirements
Adapting, as needed, to meet the ever-changing needs of our customers and the communities where we do business
Making their lives easier by sharing and setting up self-service options to access their accounts 24 hours a day/7 days a week
Partnering with your branch team and Specialists to connect them to experts who can help with specialized financial needs
Relationship Banker Job Description:

You’re a great listener and a natural collaborator. You enjoy interacting with people and build lasting relationships – in fact you thrive on it. You have a knack for finding creative solutions to everyday challenges. Join us as a Relationship Banker and apply your exceptional people skills to shape the customer banking experience at Chase.

As a Relationship Banker in our Branch Banking team, you’ll take a lead role in delivering an outstanding experience to Chase customers. You’ll acquire, manage, retain meaningful relationships with our customers, using your financial knowledge to offer thoughtful solutions to help address their financial needs. You’ll contribute to the success of the branch by:

Managing assigned customers and proactively meeting with them - in person and over the phone - to build lasting relationships, discover financial needs and tailor product and service recommendations
Making lives of customers easier by sharing and setting up self-service options to access their accounts 24 hours a day/7 days a week
Partnering with Specialists (Financial Advisors, Mortgage Bankers and Business Relationship Managers), to connect customers to experts who can help them with specialized financial needs
Adhering to policies, procedures and regulatory banking requirements

ceres

As someone who has a tough time being outgoing or even relatively normal in a social setting, this job sounds like a special hell. If he has a hard time with it too, it's unlikely to change overnight. If he can get the job, that's going to be a much bigger obstacle to keeping it than anything else.

MichaelLC

Yeah that's not the job for him.

The software & office stuff anyone can pick up, but being outgoing at your job if you're not is exhausting and will slowly eat away at you; I speak from experience.

Have him take this personality test that's based on Myers-Briggs. That will guide him when seeking jobs.

https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test

Noizlanif

Hey there, as a person who actually works for a bank, that role totally would not fit for your brother. Most of the personal bankers or Tellers, that's what the really are, are very entry level associates. Most of those roles are filled with people taking a shot at their first job and the training program is fairly comprehensive. Yes there is social interaction, lots of it, its what you do all day unfortunately in that role.

Luckily, banks have many roles that are not customer facing, and most of them don't really care what your education focus was (unless you are an exec). If you want someone to review his Resume, and possibly help him find a role that fits him, I can help just PM me. I have a few contacts in my network from different Financial Institutions as well and can pass it along to them.

ShinyRedKnight

Hey all, sorry for the late reply, its been a busy week.

Yeah, my brother also has had the same concerns that such social position is not for him. It didn't seem to work out, but he seemed relieved with that.

Thank you for the offer @Noizlanif ! I am unsure if he is specifically interested in working for a bank/finance, but I will ask him if he would be interested in positions in the industry that are not sales/customer oriented.

Kyougu

Depending on where he is interviewing, that position may entail a lot of required upselling of services and what not.

His job will literally hinge on how engaging he can be with the customers.