I was checking for vacancies on the Bank of Ireland intranet and saw an advertisement for the position of Senior Bank Official (Customer Advisor) in the South Dublin Region.
I spoke with my own Branch and Sales Managers to get advice as to whether or not they felt I was ready for the role. As a result of their feedback I decided to make the application for the position.
I submitted an application and was called to interview shortly afterwards. The interview itself was very challenging and nerve wrecking but I managed to get through it by being well prepared and knowing the key aspects of the job I was applying for.
A few weeks later my Manager called me into his office to let me know how impressive I had been in the interview, and that congratulations were in order!
Describe a typical day?
A typical day in the bank starts at 9:00.
This is when we get ourselves set up for the day ahead depending on the area you are in. We open to customers from 10am and it is very important that we have all our materials ready for the day.
In my position as a Customer Advisor I meet customers in relation to all aspects of banking from lending to savings and day-to-day service. My meetings are scheduled from 10am and I aim to meet and help as many customers as I can throughout the day.
The branch closes at 4pm and we then have an hour to complete any outstanding administration from the day to make sure all our customers’ requirements have been met.
What are the main tasks and responsibilities?
As a Customer Advisor I am responsible for all the Personal and Motor Loan applications, as well as all short-term lending facilities, including overdrafts and credit cards.
As a Senior Bank Official I am a mentor for a lot of the junior staff in the branch and I see it as part of my role to ensure that I am available to help them with anything they need.
What are the main challenges?
The main challenge in this position is to be confident in your own ability. We work in an environment where customers come to us for advice on all aspects of their finances, and we must be comfortable and knowledgeable in our area of expertise.
What's cool?
The thing I find most “cool” about the bank is that no day and no customer is the same.
I would also have to say that the Bank of Ireland promotes a very rewarding and challenging environment, which leads to a good career.
What's not so cool?
I am not very fond of the admin side of the job i.e. making sure my filing is up to date and that I have all my daily reports done. It has to be done though so what can you do!
What particular skills do you bring to your workplace?
I would like to see myself as being a very honest person.
I also consider myself to be a very calm and patient individual – these are necessary traits to have when dealing with the public every day.
I pay very good attention to detail, which is very helpful for a career in the bank.
