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6 Skills Employers Look For in Banking Job Applicants

Posted by | March 26, 2015 | Scholarships_CareerTips

Top 6 Skills Employers Look For in Banking Job Seekers

By Elizabeth Benu,

“I have a diploma in Business (finance options) and currently looking for a job in the Banking Industry. Are there any skills that I should have to make me a better candidate for a banking job?” asks Jonah Mureithi in an email.

Florence Mukunya, a Career advisor and CV Writer at Corporate Staffing Services, confirms that the banking industry is one of the most competitive in Kenya.

“Most banking employers are looking for candidates who can work well even with the long hours,” she adds.

With this she lists the following skills that will put you forward in the banking industry:

Skills Needed for Banking Jobs in Kenya

Thorough Industry Knowledge
As a fast growing industry, banking professionals are expected to have sound knowledge of finance and the economy, banking regulations and new changes within the industry.

For example, you should know why the lenders cite a flourishing net interest income and growing returns on loans and advances. You could also have ideas of how to meet the growing demands in the banking sector to further enhance the growth of the banks in the long term.

Analytical Thinking
Analytical skill is the ability to visualize, articulate, and solve both complex and uncomplicated problems and concepts and make decisions that are sensible and based on available information.

As an industry with a focus on the economy, a job applicant should be able to think outside the box, solve problems and predict and avert problems before they materialize.

Analytical skills are essential in the workplace and include analyzing volumes of data, problem solving, programming, report writing, handling assignments effectively and gathering information.

Ability to work under pressure
Your job in the industry involves demanding objectives,rigid and changing deadlines and many targets to meet. Even with this, a banking professional is expected to work efficiently and offer the best service to customers.

Such can be evidenced through: dealing with an emergency, overcoming problems to achieve goals, taking up responsibilities if a team member drops out and managing well when there is too much work and less colleagues.
Customer Service skills are needed in banking job applicants

How good are you at handling people? Even when you are having a bad day, you are expected to deliver customer satisfaction and timely redressing of customer complaints.

These skills include patience, attentiveness, clear communication skills, ability to ‘read’ customers and persuasion.

Thoroughness or accuracy skills
Remember you are dealing with money here and accounting for every single shilling and accurate account balances is the order of the day.

Ethical conduct
Money is sensitive. In an industry that has you in direct contact with money an employer has to make sure that you are honest enough not to transfer funds into your account or steal from customers.