Career planning concepts and strategies

¶ … commitment to serve others. In my current employment at a bank, I am well aware that many individuals see the work as 'just a job,' or as something that is used to merely fill the time between 8-5. I genuinely enjoy helping customers and solving their problems. I also love to learn and see each day at work as an opportunity to enhance my education. I view banking as a service industry, not a job that is merely about facts and figures. One of the aspects of working at a bank that I love the most is that I do not feel as if I need to choose between working "with people, data, things or ideas" as my job combines all of these facets (Farren 2009).

What are my capabilities?

My capabilities include handling large amounts of cash and being entrusted to review the personal financial data of bank customers. I give advice to customers regarding their banking needs or direct them to staff who can give them more information about these critical areas. My supervisors entrust me to keep customers happy, to deal with problems, and to create a positive and trustworthy image of the bank. Customer service is highly valued by my organization, as is accuracy of information. I believe I am strong in all of these skills, although there is always more to learn about banking.

What are my aspirations?

My short-term aspiration is to get an MBA, which will enable me to obtain a higher-level position in the world of finance, most likely as an investment banker. I would like to be in a position where I could use my knowledge for the financial advancement of others and my organization in a positive fashion. In ten years, I would like to be working for a large investment banking firm or to have opened up my own small, boutique investment firm.

How can I accelerate my learning?

Every day at work I try to learn something new. I have also embarked upon a journey of higher education to further enhance my knowledge. Talking to other people in my field who have the types of positions I would like to fill one day is another critical component of learning.

Question 2: Questions for a mentee

-What makes you excited about coming to work every day?

-What would be your ideal position, at what ideal company?

-What aspect of your work do you need to learn more about and how do you intend to rectify this?

-Who was your favorite manager to work for?

-Why is having an MBA important?