Investing in your Career - Is Retail Banking for you?
For several years, leading banks have not just looked to financial services candidates as potential recruits. Candidates with retail backgrounds have also been targeted for roles leading up to Head of Sales and Operations due to their transferable skill set.
What is Retail Banking?
Retail banking is typical mass-market banking where individual customers use local branches of larger commercial banks. Services offered include savings and checking accounts, mortgages, personal loans, debit cards, credit cards and other high street banking services.
Why move into in Retail banking?
• The environment is similar to other retail settings as the focus is still on product selling but in the form of financial services. But don’t think you will be stuck behind a desk all day because you won’t!
• There are potentially more opportunities to move out of Branch or Area type roles
• The connotations of working in Financial Services can be very attractive to some
• The earning potential can be quite lucrative.
• Working in a more ‘Monday-to-Friday’ environment has massive appeal to many
What do companies commonly look for?
Typically, the skill set required in retail banking is quite broad.
A detailed understanding of the retail industry, sales experience, proven customer service and people management will help in the long term. All of these things make experienced retail professionals from other sectors ideally suited to the challenges of retail banking.
Candidates tend to have certain competencies. People who are resilient, competitive, confident but at the same time non-complacent have a tendency to succeed. Future managers display an aptitude for good performance management and coaching.
What companies does Michael Page Retail Banking recruit for?
Michael Page International has relationships with most of the big players in the sector. For example Barclays, HBOS, HSBC, Lloyds TSB, Alliance & Leicester, Bradford and Bingley and Nationwide are a few Michael Page have worked with. In some cases, Michael Page is a preferred supplier.
As the Retail Banking market-place becomes more competitive these institutions look to introduce inspirational leaders who have a proven track record in delivering sales and customer service results and for this they often look to Retail Operators.
Michael Page International
Michael Page Retail Banking is the UK’s leading specialist recruitment consultancy for the Retail Banking sector.
We have a reputation for quality, service and knowledge in this market place, so whether you are an existing banker or a retailer wanting to make the move across to retail banking Michael Page can offer a solution. Working alongside our specialist finance business, MP has dedicated Retail Banking Consultants throughout our network of nine UK Retail offices. Consultant expertise, unparalleled service and total UK coverage with local market knowledge has made Michael Page Retail Banking the number one choice for both client and candidates.
If a career in Retail Banking appeals to you or to find out more information, please contact Michael Page International on 020 7831 2000. Alternatively, you can search our portfolio of jobs online by clicking here.
