Career Change?

JDouglas2506

I currently work in the water industry and have wanted to change sector for the last 6 years (currently 24). I have a natural interest in banking and other financial services. I have looked at apprenticeships non-stop for the last 7 months but nothing seems to come up that I am eligible to apply for due to UCAS points. I'm thinking of taking a basic job with a bank in the hopes of advancing and taking any courses on offer to move into different roles of banking. Is this realistic or if I join a bank in an entry role such as customer service will I end up stuck there?

Catplan

Can you do something online to make yourself more appealing to the banks? Or any transferable skills that will appeal?

JDouglas2506

Catplan said:

Can you do something online to make yourself more appealing to the banks? Or any transferable skills that will appeal?

I have a lot of transferable skills just no actual experience which seems to be the downfall. I was looking into doing a CEMAP qualification and heading in that direction if nothing else comes up soon. 

Sandtree

JDouglas2506 said:
I have a natural interest in banking and other financial services.

What is this in more detail?

To be honest, its exceptionally difficult to go from a customer service agent in retail banking to, for example, being a quant in an investment bank. It really depends what you want to do as there are thousands of paths through banking and many types of banking. 

What do you do for the water industry?  Are there any transferable skills? 

Marcon

JDouglas2506 said:

Catplan said:

Can you do something online to make yourself more appealing to the banks? Or any transferable skills that will appeal?

I have a lot of transferable skills just no actual experience which seems to be the downfall. I was looking into doing a CEMAP qualification and heading in that direction if nothing else comes up soon. 

So are many others on this forum, but just sitting at home and getting a paper qualification won't give you the practical skills, contacts and experience you need to attract clients. 

If you're 24 now and have been wanting to change sector since you were 18, what's been holding you back? What practical steps could you take to remove the barriers? Getting a job in a bank, or indeed any job in any financial services organisation, would do two things: give you a chance to assess whether your natural interest will survive a brush with reality; and possibly open doors to a more interesting world.